Aralsk (Apaji)

Aralsk is in southern Kazakhstan and was once the country’s main port on the Aral Sea. The city is sometimes known as Apaji.

The city was established in 1905 when the railway station was built on the Orenburg - Tashkent Railway and was developed as a fishing port. In 1921 in response to a call from Lenin to provide fish for the hunger of the nation it was able to provide 14 wagons of fish.

However, the city’s days as a port were ended by the desiccation of the Aral Sea following the diversion of the rivers Amu Dayra and Syr Darya to provide irrigation for cotton production. At one point the waters of the Aral Sea were around 100km away from the city’s harbour.

To add to the city’s woes the residents are exposed to air borne toxic chemicals exposed by the retreating water of the sea.

The city and its immediate surrounding area have recently been heavily reliant on various government and NGO initiatives to support the local economy where the rate of unemployment is stubbornly high.

Source: Kazakhstan (Bradt Travel Guides) Editor: Paul Brummell (ISBN: 978-1-78477-092-1)