- Where to go to sunbathe?
- Weather features of a beach holiday in Uzbekistan
- Aydarkul: mirage in the desert
- Blue Bowl of Charvak
A real treasure of Central Asia, Uzbekistan offers its guests a rich historical heritage of the Silk Road, ancient tombs and minarets, handmade silk carpets and, of course, pilaf prepared in full accordance with the classic recipes of ancestors. It would seem that a country located in the heart of the Asian Kyzyl Kum desert is not very suitable for a beach holiday, but in Uzbekistan, if desired, it can be organized.
Where to go to sunbathe?
Geographical directories kindly inform that Uzbekistan is the second country in the world besides Liechtenstein, being in which one will have to cross the territory of two neighboring countries in order to reach the World Ocean. All surrounding countries are also not washed by any seas, which are in a single water space of the planet.
Strictly speaking, the Aral Sea, where Uzbekistan has an outlet, is a closed salt lake, which grows shallower every year. A few years ago, a beach holiday in Uzbekistan was organized in the port city of Muynak, but today the water has left there too. The remaining options are:
- The shores of Lake Aydarkul. The lake, remote from large cities, appeared on the map of the country as a result of the construction of the Shardara hydroelectric power station. The dammed Syr Darya gave more than half of its runoff to the Arnasay lowland, due to which a beautiful reservoir arose.
- The Charvak reservoir 60 km from Tashkent is called the pearl of the western Tien Shan.
The Uzbeks have never been known as big fans of beach holidays, but in recent years they have begun to develop this tourist destination, especially since the reservoirs have huge potential.
Weather features of a beach holiday in Uzbekistan
The country's climate can be called not just hot, but arid. Air already in April warms up to + 30 ° С, and water in reservoirs - up to + 20 ° С. The most comfortable rest on the beaches of Uzbekistan is possible in spring and in the second half of autumn. At the height of summer, thermometers consistently show + 40 ° C and above, making exposure to the sun almost impossible.
Aydarkul: mirage in the desert
In the photo of tourists, this lake in the Kyzyl Kum desert looks like a mirage. Its miraculous appearance is associated with the construction of the Syrdarya dam at the end of the 60s of the last century, and today local residents can no longer imagine the local landscape without the blue bowl of Aydarkul.
Many bird species nest on the shores of the 250 km long lake, some of which are listed in the Red Book. In spring, you can watch pelicans and herons, ducks and geese. Black storks hatch their chicks in the mountains, and alpine meadows delight participants on foot and horse rides with blooming tulips and acacias.
There are no specially equipped places for beach recreation in Uzbekistan on Lake Aydarkul, but the sandy shores in many places are suitable for comfortable "wild" swimming and picnics. You can combine sunbathing with fishing: carp, pike perch, sabrefish, bream and asp are found in great abundance in the lake.
Fans of outdoor activities and local lore are happy to take part in ethnographic excursions to yurt camps on the banks of Aydarkul. The best season to get acquainted with the life of nomads is spring and the first half of autumn.
Blue Bowl of Charvak
Choosing where it is better to organize a beach vacation in Uzbekistan, pay attention to the Charvak reservoir. It was formed as a result of the construction of a dam and the confluence of the Chatkal and Pskem rivers. Only a few tens of kilometers separate the shores of the reservoir from the Uzbek capital, and you can get to Charvak by a rented car or an intercity bus. The nearest settlements are Brichmulla and Bogustan.
Reviews of those who have visited the shores of Charvak unanimously recommend rest in the tourist complex "Charvak Oromgohi". The sandy beach at the camp site is landscaped and equipped with sun loungers and parasols, and there is a rental of water scooters and catamarans. Thrill-seekers have a chance to paraglide and admire the surrounding landscapes and peaks of the Big and Small Chimgan.
The shoreline of the reservoir stretches for almost 100 km. You can choose a recreation area or a children's camp, a boarding house or a hotel in any place you like. Tours to the lake are organized by most agencies in Tashkent and other cities of the country.
For curious travelers, the Charvak reservoir area is an open-air museum. Near the town of Khojiket there is a tea house, near which a 600-year-old plane tree grows, and nearby there are rock paintings of ancient people.
