PHOTO-REPORT ABOUT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPEDITION TO THE

ARAL SEA

N. Aladin, I. Plotnikov, Ph. Micklin, D. Piriulin, L. Kuznetsov, I. Pankratova, S. Sokolov, E. Putnam, B. Mukhamadiev,

J.-F. Cretaux, G. Reznichenko, C. Pala

11th World Lake Conference October 31 – November 4, 2005, Nairobi, Kenya

August 22 – September 23, 2005

Aralsk

Tastubek

Akespe

Akbasty

Shevchenko Bay

Chernishev Bay

Small Aral Sea

Karateren

New Dike

NORTHERN ARAL SEA TRIP (Image date September 4, 2004)

Kulandy

Tshche Bas Bay

Large Aral Sea (west)

Large Aral Sea

(east)

Barsekelmes Island

SOUTHERN ARAL SEA TRIP (left image, April 8, 2005)

During NG expedition we made 4 main routes:

1. Aralsk city – Kamyshlybash lake – Syrdarya river delta – Karateren village – former Barsakelmes island – medieval Kerdery village – Berg strait area – Aralsk city

2. Aralsk city – Zhalanash village – Tastubel village – Butakov bay – Aralsk city

3. Aralsk city – Butakov bay – Akespe village – Chernyshov bay – Kulandy vilage – Tschebas bay – Akbasty vilage – Shevchenko bay – Aralsk city

4. Nukus city – Muinak city – Mezhdurechensky, Sarbas, Muynak reservoirs – Amudarya river delta – Akdarya river bed – Uchsay vilage – Ustjurt plateau – Large Aral Sea coast near New Aktumsyk meteostation – Sudochie Lake – Nukus city

Aral Sea today

Group photo of National Geographic Aral Sea expedition participants

Prof. P.Micklin from Western Michigan University, the leader of expedition

Syrdarya River

Kamyshlybash lake in lower reaches of Syrdarya River

Bridge of boats across Syrdarya River

Expedition mini-bus is traveling over Syrdarya

Kazakh children in Karateren village

The Aral Sea dried bottom at the way to former Barsakelmes island

Very hot Aral Sea sun

Short stop on the Aral Sea dried bottom at the way to former Barsakelmes island

E.Putnam with remnants of medieval saxaul tree trunk

Shells of bivalves on a dried Aral Sea bottom

Road to Barsakelmes Wildlife Reserve over the dried Aral Sea bottom

Main entrance to Barsakelmes Wildlife Reserve

E.Putnam near the main entrance to Barsakelmes Wildlife Reserve

Barsakelmes Wildlife Reserve village

The main tree in the Aral Sea desert – black saxaul

The former artificial pool of Barsakelmes Wildlife Reserve is totally dried off now

Old house of Barsakelmes reserve about to collapse

The same building after collapse

Ruins of meteorological station on former Barsakelmes island

Broken equipment inside research building

Monument to lieutenant A.Butakov expedition (1848-1849) erected on Barsakelmes island

Southern cliff of former Barsakelmes island

N.Aladin and E.Putnam are walking to the Aral Sea over dried bottom near Butakov cape

Dried bottom near Butakov cape

P.Micklin and J.-F.Cretaux are taking photos of a dead dried fish Cyprinus carpio

A dead dried fish Cyprinus carpio

Cliff near Butakov cape, Barsakelmes island

Broken jug on the dried Aral Sea bottom, Kerdery area

The close look to the same jug

Broken millstone on the Aral Sea bottom, Kerdery area

Unbroken millstone on the Aral Sea bottom, Kerdery area

Remnants of a small mausoleum on the Aral Sea bottom, Kerdery area

Ruins of medieval mausoleums on a dried bottom of the Aral Sea, Kerdery area

Ruins of a medieval mausoleum on a dried bottom of the Aral Sea, Kerdery area

Ruins of a medieval mausoleum on a dried bottom of the Aral Sea, Kerdery area

Ruins of medieval mausoleums on a dried bottom of the Aral Sea, Kerdery area

Element of decorations of medieval mausoleums on a dried bottom of the Aral Sea, Kerdery area

Elements of decoration of medieval mausoleums on a dried bottom of the Aral Sea, Kerdery area

Elements of decoration of medieval mausoleums on a dried bottom of the Aral Sea, Kerdery area

Elements of decorations of medieval mausoleums on a dried bottom of the Aral Sea, Kerdery area

Fragment of human skull from medieval mausoleums on a dried bottom of the Aral Sea, Kerdery area

Mandible of domestic animal on a dried bottom of the Aral Sea, Kerdery area

N.Aladin and elements of decorations of medieval mausoleums collected by him, Kerdery area

Short rest after field work near Syrdarya

Evening meal in the field camp

Field base of Russian company “Zarubezvodstroy”

In the field office of “Zarubezhvodstroy”

Technical documentation in the field office of “Zarubezhvodstroy”

Monument to Taras Shevchenko in “Zarubezhvodstroy” camp

Construction of a new dike across Berg strait by “Zarubezhvodstroy”

Construction of water gates of a new dike across Berg strait built by “Zarubezhvodstroy”

9 water gates of a new dike across Berg strait built by “Zarubezhvodstroy”

Northern side of a new dike across Berg strait

Small Aral Sea northwards from a new dike across Berg strait

Depth-gauge in the Small Aral Sea

Traveling by boat in the Small Aral Sea (D.Piriulin and E.Putnam)

Local horses near Small Aral Sea (they are breaded for meat)

Broken building in the former Soviet military base near Aralsk city

Dr. D.Piriulin are taking photos of salt crust on a salt lake near Aralsk city

Crystals of salt on this lake

Former harbor of Aralsk city

Wooden building of museum and 2 old ships at the area of former harbor in Aralsk city

Meal in local house

Aral Sea coast near Tastubek village

Motorcyclist from Tastubek village

Drinking water for camels in Tastubek village. P.Micklin measures salinity of it

Camels in Tastubek village (mother and baby)

Eroded cliffs of Butakov bay

View to the eastern part of Butakov bay from the cliff

View to the eastern part of Butakov bay from the cliff

View to the central part of Butakov bay from the cliff

View to the western part of Butakov bay from the cliff. P.Micklin is making notes about current weather

Oil and gas drill tower on the former Aral Sea bottom.

Gas condensate plant not far from Muynak.Western tip of former Tigrovy Khvost (Tiger’s tale) island.

Permanently closed tube that formally gives water to Muynak reservoir. Gate is

closed forever in order to decrease groundwater level in the area.

Sampling of benthos in Muynak water reservoir (former it was a gulf of the Aral Sea)

N.Aladin near beautiful rock at the western coast of the Large Aral Sea

The same rock. Local people name it “steam locomotive”

Salinity is so high that you could read while floating.

Salinity is so high that you could read while floating.

Mark of GEF Agency at the coast of the Large Aral Sea

Rocky coast of the Large Aral Sea and water sampling on shoals

Sampling of benthos in the Large Aral Sea

Sunrise over the Large Aral Sea. At the horizon the famous Vozrozhdenie

(Renaissance) island.