Lake Aidar
The Lake Aidar (Aidar-Kul) belongs to the man-caused Aidar-Arnasai system
of lakes, which covers an area of 400 000 hectares (approx. 988,422 acres). This
system includes 3 brackish water lakes (Aidar-Kul, Arnasay and Tuzkan) located
in the salines of south-eastern Kyzyl Kum (now
in Uzbekistan and
Kazakhstan).
Up to middle of the last century Arnasai lowland most of time during a year
remained a dry saline. Only in spring at the lowland glistened small ephemeral
Lake Tuzkan disappearing in hot time. In the early sixties
Syr Darya was dammed up.
Simultaneously Chardarya irrigation dam was constructed. There were provided the
floodgates in the dam for the flood control. Soon in 1969 an extremely raging
flood happened. Since February 1969 till February 1970 almost 60 percents of
average annual Syr Darya's water yield (21 cubic kilometers) were drained from
Chardarya Reservoir into Arnasay lowland. In such a way new lakes was
unintentionally created. Since 1969 Lake Aidar constantly receives the waters of
Syr Darya River when they overflow capacity of Chardarya Reservoir. This
gradually filled up the natural cavity of Arnasai lowland to create the second
largest (after
Aral Sea) lake at the region. In 2005 Lake Aidar has contained 44.3 cubic
kilometers of water. Today the area of Lake Aidar amounts 3,000 sq km (approx.
1170 sq mi). It is nearly 250 km (approx. 155 miles) long and up to 15 km (approx.
9 miles) wide.
Mineralization of the water in Lake Aidar averages only 2 gram (0,07 ounces) per
one 1 liter.
Many sorts of fish including (Sazan) (Cyprinus caprio), Pike perch (Stizostedion
lucioperca), Bream
(Abramis brama),
Cat-fish (Silurus glanis), Hzereh (Aspius aspius), Chehon (Pelecus cultratus)
Ophidian fish (Channa argus) were introduced to the Lake, which nowadays works
as a source of industrial fishing. The lake system provides between 760 and
2,000 tones of fish annually (according to statistic data between 1994 and
2001).
In addition to animality common for Kyzil Kum, there are many kinds of water
birds migrating from Aral Sea that make their homes around the lake.
The Lake Aidar is located away from inhabited locality, therefore around the
lake there is perfect silence. At the present time 345 families (near 1760
people) reside near the lake.
The region of Aidar Lake is an area of great potential for fishing,
yurting and
camel-back riding tourist activities.
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