Lake Dengizkul

Lake Dengizkul. 08/10/01; Bukhara; 31,300ha; 39°07'N 064°10'E. The largest saline wastewater closed water body in the SW part of the Kysylkum desert, with typical ecological conditions of natural lakes situated in the deserts of Central Asia. The lake, dried up by the mid-1950s because of overuse for irrigation, has been refilled since 1966 and is very important for maintaining a biodiversity of wetland-dependent species in a largely arid region. It is of crucial importance for migrating and wintering waterfowl, as it is situated on the route of bird migrations from Western Siberia and Kazakhstan to Indo-Pakistani wintering grounds. Lake Dengizkul is also the habitat of many vulnerable and endangered species, especially as it supports more than 1% population of the endangered White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala Scop.). Commercial mining of gas in the vicinity of and on Lake Dengizkul is the main human activity, and this enabled the provision of the population with fuel and thus preserved trees and shrubs, which are important components of the desert ecosystem. However, excessive inflow of drainage water significantly influenced the water level in the lake and the floods have destroyed some habitats recently. Ramsar Site No. 1108. Most recent RIS information: 2003.

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