The Harbour Aralsk (Apaji)

Aralsk is in southern Kazakhstan and was once the country’s main port on the Aral Sea.

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.

The Harbour area of Aralsk still looks like a port but where the water should be is dry and farm animals graze.

On the old quays there are abandoned canneries and cranes and also 4 rusting boats which form a monument to the environmental disaster that has been wrought on the Aral Sea.

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