1. PHOTO-REPORT ABOUT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPEDITION TO THE ARAL SEA
11th World Lake Conference October 31 – November 4, 2005, Nairobi, Kenya
PHOTO-REPORT ABOUT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPEDITION TO THE ARAL SEA
August 22 – September 23, 2005
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

2. NORTHERN ARAL SEA TRIP (Image date September 4, 2004)
Akespe
Aralsk
Tastubek
Shevchenko Bay
Small Aral Sea
Akbasty
Tshche Bas Bay
New Dike
Karateren
Chernishev Bay
Kulandy
Barsekelmes Island
Large Aral Sea (west)
Large Aral Sea (east)

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

4. During NG expedition we made 4 main routes:
Aralsk city – Kamyshlybash lake – Syrdarya river delta – Karateren village – former Barsakelmes island – medieval Kerdery village – Berg strait area – Aralsk city
Aralsk city – Zhalanash village – Tastubel village – Butakov bay – Aralsk city
Aralsk city – Butakov bay – Akespe village – Chernyshov bay – Kulandy vilage – Tschebas bay – Akbasty vilage – Shevchenko bay – Aralsk city
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

5. Group photo of National Geographic Aral Sea expedition participants

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

7. Syrdarya River

8. Kamyshlybash lake in lower reaches of Syrdarya River

9. Bridge of boats across Syrdarya River

10. Expedition mini-bus is traveling over Syrdarya

11. Kazakh children in Karateren village

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

13. Very hot Aral Sea sun

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

15. E.Putnam with remnants of medieval saxaul tree trunk

16. Shells of bivalves on a dried Aral Sea bottom

17. Road to Barsakelmes Wildlife Reserve over the dried Aral Sea bottom

18. Main entrance to Barsakelmes Wildlife Reserve

19. E.Putnam near the main entrance to Barsakelmes Wildlife Reserve

20. Barsakelmes Wildlife Reserve village

21. The main tree in the Aral Sea desert – black saxaul

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

23. Old house of Barsakelmes reserve about to collapse

24. The same building after collapse

25. Ruins of meteorological station on former Barsakelmes island

26. Broken equipment inside research building

27. Monument to lieutenant A
Monument to lieutenant A.Butakov expedition ( ) erected on Barsakelmes island

28. Southern cliff of former Barsakelmes island

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

30. Dried bottom near Butakov cape

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

32. A dead dried fish Cyprinus carpio

33. Cliff near Butakov cape, Barsakelmes island

34. Broken jug on the dried Aral Sea bottom, Kerdery area

35. The close look to the same jug

36. Broken millstone on the Aral Sea bottom, Kerdery area

37. Unbroken millstone on the Aral Sea bottom, Kerdery area

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

50. Short rest after field work near Syrdarya

51. Evening meal in the field camp

52. Field base of Russian company “Zarubezvodstroy”

53. In the field office of “Zarubezhvodstroy”

54. Technical documentation in the field office of “Zarubezhvodstroy”

55. Monument to Taras Shevchenko in “Zarubezhvodstroy” camp

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

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

58. 9 water gates of a new dike across Berg strait built by “Zarubezhvodstroy”

59. Northern side of a new dike across Berg strait

60. Small Aral Sea northwards from a new dike across Berg strait

61. Depth-gauge in the Small Aral Sea

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

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

64. Broken building in the former Soviet military base near Aralsk city

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

66. Crystals of salt on this lake

67. Former harbor of Aralsk city

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

69. Meal in local house

70. Aral Sea coast near Tastubek village

71. Motorcyclist from Tastubek village

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

73. Camels in Tastubek village (mother and baby)

74. Eroded cliffs of Butakov bay

75. View to the eastern part of Butakov bay from the cliff

76. View to the eastern part of Butakov bay from the cliff

77. View to the central part of Butakov bay from the cliff

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

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

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

81. Permanently closed tube that formally gives water to Muynak reservoir
Permanently closed tube that formally gives water to Muynak reservoir. Gate is closed forever in order to decrease groundwater level in the area.

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

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

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

85. Salinity is so high that you could read while floating.

86. Salinity is so high that you could read while floating.

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

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

89. Sampling of benthos in the Large Aral Sea

90. Sunrise over the Large Aral Sea
Sunrise over the Large Aral Sea. At the horizon the famous Vozrozhdenie (Renaissance) island.