Kazakhstan: Aralsk – Aral Sea Fishermen Museum
Just about a hundred years ago, the Aral Sea was the world’s fourth largest lake. Now, it’s nearly entirely gone, just a dry lakebed. Massive Soviet irrigation projects diverted the water from two main rivers feeding the Aral Sea – Amudarya and Syrdarya – to water the cotton in the Fergana Valley (which made the USSR #1 producer of cotton for a short time in the 1980s). It is known as one of the largest man-made ecological disasters in history. The brutal reality is on full display at the former Aralsk port – desert and rusting port cranes and abandoned boats… And if you want to learn about the good old days of the fishing industry on the Aral Sea – here comes an absolutely fantastic Aral Sea Fishermen Museum located at the old harbor. There are several fishing ships and boats (that you go inside and on top), detailed description of all fish species, plants, famous fishermen, and much more.
