Lakes and a number of artificially created water bodies are among the true gems of Uzbekistan's nature, with more than 500 in total. The distribution of these water resources across the territory is uneven. Over 40% of the lakes are located in the western part of the country, while 35% can be found in the northern regions. Many bodies of water are situated along the banks of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, particularly in the Khorezm oasis. Plain lakes are commonly found in riverbeds and near irrigated areas. Among the well-known plain lakes are Arnasay, the system of lakes Sudoche, Dengizkul, Ryabachiy, and Zhyltirbas. All of these water bodies play a significant role in fisheries.
Zhyltirbase is an artificially regulated water body located in the Muynak District of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, covering an area of 150 square kilometers. The average depth of the reservoir ranges from 1 to 3 meters. Historically, it was a bay of the Aral Sea, but after a sharp decline in sea levels, it became separated from the sea and began to feed on the water of the Amu Darya River. In recent years, additional irrigation canals have been excavated to help maintain the water level in the reservoir.
The water in Zhyltirbas comes from drainage collectors of the Kazakhdarya River and has a slight salinity, rendering it unsuitable for drinking. Almost the entire water body is covered with reed thickets, creating a picturesque landscape. In the driest years, Zhyltirbas may dry up almost completely, and for much of the year, it consists of numerous separate water spaces. It is relatively inaccessible; the nearest settlement, Kazakhdarya, is located 30 kilometers away, but during high water periods, detours can extend the journey to 80–90 kilometers.
The name of the water body consists of two parts: "zhyltir," which means shiny and "bas" means water. In 2024, at the 14th Bonn Convention held in Samarkand, Zhyltirbas was included in the list of wetlands of international significance. This event holds immense importance for both the ecosystem of our region and the sustainable management of natural resources. This natural site, which has been studied for 15 years, became the fifth in Uzbekistan to be included in the Ramsar Convention.
Ramsar wetlands are globally significant wetland areas defined under the Ramsar Convention, which was signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, under the auspices of UNESCO. The Ramsar Convention, which came into force in 1975, provides for regional and international partnerships for the conservation of wetlands and the sustainable use of their resources.
Currently, Uzbekistan has five registered wetlands of international significance, with a total area of 674,400 hectares. These unique ecosystems include Lake Dengizkul (designated in 2001), the Arnasay Lake System (2008), the Tudakul and Kuymazar Reservoirs (2020), the remarkable Sudoche Lake System (2023), and Zhyltirbas (2024).
Zhyltirbas is a natural site that boasts a rich diversity of flora and fauna. The territory of the Zhyltirbase wetlands plays a crucial role in bird migration, serving as a stopover for migratory birds during their seasonal flights and as a nesting site for more than 50 species of birds, including the little cormorant, mute swan, marsh harrier, and golden eagle.
The lake is a habitat for rare endemic fish species characteristic of the Aral Sea region. In its waters, one can find such species such as carp, sabrefish, and snakehead.
In addition to its significance for biodiversity conservation, the water body also serves as a natural barrier, helping to mitigate the spread of salt dust from the dried-up bed of the Aral Sea.
The inclusion of Lake Zhyltirbas in the list of wetlands of international significance opens up new opportunities for attracting funding and support for ecological programs aimed at protecting and restoring the ecosystem, as well as promoting ecotourism. To support the sustainable use of natural resources and implement sustainable tourism practices, government programs.
The international significance status will greatly enhance measures to protect the wetland from the negative impacts of human activities and climate change. The preservation of this unique ecological resource will serve as a guarantee for ecological sustainability and the conservation of biodiversity in the region. By joining our efforts, we can protect this natural heritage for future generations.
