Present stage of the Sarykamysh depression's evolution

Abstract

The Sarykamysh is one of largest desert depressions of the Middle Asia, which was filled with the Amu-Darya water more than once throughout the Pliocene-Holocene. During Early and Middle Pleistocene as well as during last 350 years it was dry and modeled by arid processes. Since late 950th a disposal (mostly of waste waters) began from fields of the left-bank Khoresm oasis. At present a lake has been created within the Sarykamysh depression of about 2000 sq. km area and up to 40 meters depth, the water being brackish. The-inflow of water still exceeds the loss through evaporation; therefore the lake area is gradually increasing.