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Sarygamysh Lake
Sarygamysh Lake also spelled Sarykamysh or Sary-Kamysh is the largest lake in Turkmenistan, situated roughly midway between the Caspian Sea and the Aral Sea. Approximately one-quarter of the lake lies within Uzbekistan. The Sarykamysh basin and the Sarykamysh delta of the Amu Darya River form distinct physical and geographical regions within Turkmenistan’s Daşoguz Province.
Historically, until the 17th century, the lake was fed by the Uzboy River, a former distributary of the Amu Darya that flowed into the Caspian Sea. Today, its primary water source is a canal from the Amu Darya, supplemented by runoff from surrounding irrigated lands, which carries high levels of pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metals.
History
Throughout its history, Lake has repeatedly disappeared and re-emerged depending on the inflow of Amu Darya waters. Periods of drying corresponded to times when the river flowed directly into the Aral Sea. The lake first existed at the end of the Neogene period, over 2.5 million years ago, at an elevation of approximately 58 m, covering what is now the Sarygamysh basin and the modern Assake-Audan region. It later reappeared between the 14th and 16th centuries at elevations ranging from 50 to 62 m. The lake was first formally documented and mapped by Russian geographer Nikolai Petrusevich in 1876. The last recorded direct inflow of the Amu Darya into the Sarygamysh basin occurred during the flood of 1878.
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Sarygamysh Lake Map
Sarygamysh Lake is situated in northern Turkmenistan, with its southern, southeastern, and southwestern shores lying within the Sarygamysh District.
Sarygamysh Lake Vacations Packages
Sarygamysh Lake is a less-developed tourism destination, and there are no widely available vacation packages. Visitors typically need to arrange their trip independently or through a local tour operator in Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan. Recommended options include contacting a local agency such as Ayan Travel Agency in Turkmenistan or booking a tour to the Republic of Karakalpakstan in Uzbekistan.
Flights to Sarygamysh Lake
To reach the Lake, travelers typically start from a major city such as Urgench in Uzbekistan or Dashoguz in Turkmenistan. Access requires a private vehicle and permits from the relevant authorities to enter the Kaplankyr Nature Reserve, where the lake is located. Hiring a local tour operator is recommended, as the journey passes through extensive desert and steppe landscapes to reach this remote and geographically significant destination.
