Lake Sarez - time bomb

Lake Sarez is called a real treasure of the highlands, which hid from the whole world in the depths of Badakhshan. To this day, this place is considered deserted and lifeless, and getting to it is an incredibly difficult task. Extraordinary beauty of lake landscapes cost the Tajik people dearly, because they arose from the influence of the destructive forces of nature.

History of Lake Sarez

For many centuries, the turbulent mountain river Murgab flowed along a steep gorge at the foot of the Muzkol Pamir Range. But one cold winter night of 1911 there was a powerful earthquake, as a result of which a huge piece of rock broke off and with its numerous debris the small settlement, the village of Usoy, was lowered. Due to the strength of earthquakes, this large-scale collapse is considered the most destructive of those that occurred in the last centuries.

River streams were suspended by the natural dam, and gradually began to fill the mountain gorge. As a result, the youngest lake on the Earth was formed, located among the picturesque mountains, which quickly began to expand. And in 6 months it became the reason of flooding of the village of Sarez, which was 20 km higher than the dam itself. The settlement was forever hidden by the waters of the lake, which was named after the village. Throwing their homes, things and vegetable gardens, the surviving local residents settled in a different place, and the lake has since been called Sarez. Its length is about 60 km, and the depth is more than 500 m. Lake Sarez is located at 3,240 m above sea level.

Severe temper of a mountain lake

Natural lake landscapes are quite severe in nature and at the same time calming silence. It seems unlikely that in this place powerful earthquakes shook the mountains. However, Lake Sarez is not as calm as it might seem at first glance. Sometimes there are small landslides, in which parts of the rock crumble into the water, thus forming a high water column. After a short time, the surface of the lake calms down and once again majestic silence triumphs.

An interesting feature of the highlands is the fact that, due to the transparent and rarefied air, the landscapes look very sharp and distinct, even those that are located at a decent distance from the observer.

Deserted places

Lake Sarez is not in vain called lifeless, as in its surroundings, which is about 90 km ² , completely deserted. The closest settlement to the lake is 200 km east of the Murgab River. Along the lower course to the village of Bartang also need to overcome at least 150 km. Rarely, even hunters and geologists-researchers are taken here, and even then only in the summer season.

Local Tajiks start rumors that in winter you can see the legendary snowman here. And although its existence has never been documented and confirmed, there are always a lot of people who are ready to believe that a shaggy miracle lives exactly in this harsh place, so the stories about acquaintance with it continue to tell local hunters and shepherds until now.

Features of mountain-lake landscapes

This lake in the Pamir is located between the eastern highlands and the glacial terrain of Badakhshan with its high rocky ridges and fast rivers. Streams flow in deep gorges, where the sun's rays rarely get. These mountain-lake landscapes differ in their contrasts. Mountain vegetation in the form of bitter wormwood and small bushes with spines is characterized by a small variety. The natural picture changes on the lower levels of the valley because of apple, apricots, grapes and melons growing in numerous orchards.

Pamir, which means "roof of the world", in the east is a flat place at an altitude of 4 km, which is surrounded by powerful 6-7-kilometer mountain ranges. And even the clouds are located just below this point. The air here is incredibly dry, and such a rare phenomenon in these parts, like rain, is not even able to get to the earth's surface: droplets disappear, drying out right in the air.

The fate of the Sarez Lake is experienced by hydrogeologists

The lakes of Tajikistan differ in their beauty and picturesqueness, but only one of them causes a feeling of anxiety and anxiety. The hydrogeologists-researchers are very worried about the fate of Lake Sarez. In the case of the breakthrough of the 700-meter dam, powerful mountain streams will sweep everything in its path, including trees, blocks of stones, as well as bridges, small settlements and entire cities built by people. If this time-bomb hanging in the mountains breaks, then this will be an unimaginable scale in our times.

Numerous fears are connected with the fact that such lakes are referred to as a blockage type. As you know, all such reservoirs will sooner or later break out of the mountain captivity. Excited not only the local authorities of Tajikistan, but the entire world community. In a dangerous situation, the valleys of the Amudarya and Pyanj, located even at a decent distance, may turn out to be. The population of four countries, namely, Tajikistan itself, as well as Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, can suffer seriously.

Time bomb: conflicting opinions

Lake Sarez can be lowered to prevent a grandiose catastrophe and use its natural strength for good. For example, to apply water flows for agricultural needs - for irrigation of fields and generation of electrical energy. Quite the contrary point of view is held by some scientists and researchers who are sure that the Usoy dam is a strong natural dam that can exist for a long time.

Attempts to reduce risks

Large lakes, located at such heights, always cause some concern. Realizing the real consequences to which the collapse of the Cut could lead, the Tajik authorities turned to the international community for help. Since 2000, international projects have been launched to reduce the risks associated with the collapse.

Sarez Lake on the map is impressive in size compared to some other water bodies of the state. But, despite this, thanks to modern monitoring systems using special seismological sensors, it became possible to timely notify of any geological changes that could lead to breakages. Certain information work was also conducted among the population. Local residents were told how to behave in unforeseen situations.

How not to wake the "sleeping dragon"?

The map of the lakes of Tajikistan is a fairly diverse in terms of the size of the facilities and some of their other parameters, the water system of the state. One of the largest picturesque and dangerous lakes is called Sarez. It is also called the "Sleeping Dragon", or "time bomb". To date, the volume of the mountain reservoir contains 16 cubic kilometers of water, which are located 3 kilometers above sea level. Gradually and in small sizes, water jets seep through the dam in the form of numerous springs. But, as they say, water and a stone sharpen, and in case of destruction of the dam created by the nature, after 6 hours the water masses will reach the Aral Sea, filling it to the brim.

Ideas for solving the problem were proposed in a variety of ways. Among the options mentioned pumping water special pumps, but this method is very expensive. A cheap option is also the penetration of a 20-kilometer tunnel to merge water streams into a nearby valley. Very dangerous and risky methods were also offered, for example, analysis of the top of the blockage or the demolition of the mountain, which hangs over the lake and can collapse in the event of earthquakes. There were commercial offers for the sale of water to the Iranian state and the construction of the tunnel for the income received. The real exit has not been found so far.

A unique natural attraction - Lake Sarez - is a corner of wild untouched nature in the rocky surroundings of reddish-brown mountain ranges. Despite the possible risks, travel to these regions is memorized for a long time. The map of the lakes of Tajikistan is a rather variegated picture. In addition to the lakes there are also two large reservoirs - Kairakum and Nurek.