Man-made lake in the heart of desert: ecology, economics, exotic
Let’s go for fishing to the Karakum! Such an invitation will not seem strange soon...The construction of a unique hydrotechnical system - artificial lake Altyn Asyr continues in the north-west of Turkmenistan. This project takes one of the top positions in national water economy and environmental agenda of Turkmenistan. The Turkmen Lake Altyn Asyr project, located in the natural cavity of Karashor in Dashoguz province, is designed for three stages. The first stage was completed in 2009. And for the first time, the drainage-collector waters were dropped into the reservoir in 2013. Upon completion of second and third phases, the single drainage system will be created in the country. The total length of the main and supplying collectors will reach 2,654 kilometers. The length of the Turkmen lake will be 103 kilometers, width - 18.6 kilometers, average depth - 69 meters, capacity - 132 billion cubic meters, surface area - about 3,460 square kilometers. Annually, up to 10 billion cubic meters of drainage mineralized water will be discharged into the lake along the 381-km lengthy Dashoguz collector and the main collector with a length of 720 km. According to the National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna, the region of the lake Altyn Asyr is the home for 250 species of birds, 50 mammals, and more than 15 species of fish. Since 2014, specialists of the desertification monitoring and sand control laboratory study the formation of sedentary habitats and stops of wintering and migratory birds. Various species of fish, including carp, bream, pikeperch, carp, pike, asp, sabrefish, snakehead are found in waters of Altyn Asyr lake. The scientists recommended to breed phytophage fishes such as grass carp, carp, white and motley silver carp with purpose of cleansing the reservoir from excess vegetation. In the future, the fish productivity of Altyn Asyr lake, taking into account the low salt concentration, may vary from 0.5 to 20 centners per hectare. The construction of Lake Altyn Asyr is aimed at the effective solution of such agro-industrial tasks as the removal of excess moisture, regulation of the leavel of mineralized groundwater, improvement of erosive and saline soils. Moreover, collectors run through the most waterless areas of the Karakum desert, creating opportunity for reuse of drainage water. With the commissioning of the Turkmen Lake, the regular outflow of collector-drainage water from irrigated areas is set in motion. The huge desert pastures were returned to reclamation. The lake will prevent flooding of lowlands on an area of 4060 square kilometers. The concrete positive contribution to improving the ecological and socio-economic situation in the Aral Sea basin serves as the essential ecological aspect of the project. And that was recognized by the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea. Construction of the Altyn Asyr lake will lead to full stopping of discharge of mineralized drainage water into the Amu Darya. Undoubtedly, the ambitious mega-project, like the creation of a lake in the heart of the desert, can only be realized by an economically progressing country like Turkmenistan. Moreover, the project, which can be categorized as “the impossible is possible”, would become quite exotic tourist destination. The plans are one the table to create the recreation centers with camping, servicing and boat-hiring around the artificial lake and along its collectors, framed by green thickets. Really, among the endless dunes and barchans the travelers will admire the picturesque view of the swashing lake, along the shore of which the oasis is gradually growing. And this is not a mirage in hot sands ...
