Lake Aydarkul

Aydarkul is a young lake. In 1969, after an exceptionally snowy winter, floodwater released from the Chardara reservoir on the Syr Darya was diverted into the Arnasay depression, a basin in the desert north of the Nuratau mountains. The water stayed, and with later inflows the Aydar–Arnasay lake system became one of the largest bodies of water in Central Asia, with Aydarkul alone stretching for well over 200 kilometres.

A lake in the desert

The contrast is what makes it memorable: dunes and saxaul scrub running down to a blue-green expanse of water. The water is brackish, the shores shelving and sandy, and in summer the lake is warm enough for a long swim. Fishermen work the lake, and fried fish is often on the menu at the yurt camps.

Birds and wildlife

The lake system is an important wetland on migration routes between Siberia and South Asia, and it has been listed under the Ramsar Convention. Cormorants, herons, gulls and ducks are common, and in spring and autumn birdwatchers can see large flocks on passage, sometimes including pelicans and flamingos.

Visiting

Most travellers reach the lake from a yurt camp, a short drive away, for a swim or a sunset. There are few facilities on the shore, so bring water and something to sit on. Spring and early autumn are the best seasons; in midsummer the heat is intense and mosquitoes can be a nuisance at dusk.