Sarez Lake is called a real treasure of the highland, 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. Of extraordinary beauty, the lake landscapes cost the Tajik people dearly, as they arose due to the influence of the destructive forces of nature.
The story of the appearance of Lake Sarez
For many centuries, the bustling mountain river Murgab flowed along a steep gorge at the foot of the Muzkol Pamir ridge. But once, on a cold winter night of 1911, a powerful earthquake occurred, as a result of which a huge piece of rock broke off and with its numerous debris heaped up a small settlement below, the village of Usoi. By the power of earth tremors, this massive collapse is considered the most destructive of those that have occurred in recent centuries.
River flows were stopped by the naturally dammed dam and gradually began to fill the mountain gorge. As a result, the youngest lake on Earth was formed, located among the picturesque mountains, which quickly began to grow. And after 6 months it became the cause of the flooding of the village of Sarez, which was 20 km above the blockage itself. The settlement was forever hidden by the waters of the lake, which was named after the village. Throwing their homes, things and gardens, the remaining local residents settled in another place, and the lake has since been called Sarez. Its length is about 60 km, and its depth is more than 500 m. Lake Sarezskoye is located 3240 m above sea level.
The severe nature of the mountain lake
Natural lake landscapes are quite severe in nature and at the same time a peaceful silence. It seems unlikely that in this place powerful earth tremors shook the mountains. However, Sarez Lake is not as calm as it might seem at first glance. Sometimes small landslides occur, in which parts of the rock crumble into water, and a high water column forms. After a short time, the surface of the lake calms down and majestic silence triumphs again.
An interesting feature of the highlands is the fact that, thanks 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.
Uninhabited places
It is not for nothing that Lake Sarezskoye is called lifeless, since in its vicinity, and this is approximately 90 km 2 , it is completely deserted. The closest settlement to the lake is located 200 km eastward above the Murghab River. Along the lower reaches to the village of Bartang also need to overcome at least 150 km. Rarely even hunters and geologists-researchers get here, and even then only in the summer.
Local Tajiks rumor that in winter you can see the legendary Bigfoot. And although its existence was never recorded and confirmed, there are always quite a lot of people who are ready to believe that the shaggy miracle lives in this harsh place, so local hunters and shepherds continue to tell stories about getting to know him.
Features of mountain lake landscapes
This lake in the Pamirs 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, which rarely get sunlight. These mountain-lake landscapes are distinguished by their contrasts. Mountain vegetation in the form of bitter wormwood and small shrubs with thorns is characterized by low diversity. The natural picture is being transformed on the lower levels of the valley due to apple trees, apricots, grapes and melons growing in numerous gardens of villages.
The Pamir, which means “the roof of the world”, in the east is a flat place at an altitude of 4 km, which is surrounded by powerful 6-7-km mountain ranges. And even the clouds are located just below this place. The air here is incredibly dry, and such a rare occurrence in these parts, like rain, is not even able to get to the earth's surface: the droplets disappear, drying directly in the air.
Hydrogeologists worry about the fate of Sarez Lake
The lakes of Tajikistan are distinguished by their beauty and picturesqueness, but only one of them causes a feeling of anxiety and concern. Hydrogeologists-researchers are very worried about the fate of Lake Sarez. In the event of a breakthrough of the 700-meter dam, powerful mountain streams will sweep away everything in its path, including trees, blocks of stones, as well as bridges built by people, small settlements and entire cities. If this time-bomb hung in the mountains explodes, then it will be an unimaginable scale disaster these days.
Numerous fears are associated with the fact that lakes of this kind are classified as an overwhelming type. As you know, all such reservoirs will sooner or later break out of mountain captivity. Excited not only the local authorities of Tajikistan, but the entire international community. Even the decent valleys of the Amu Darya and Pyanj can be in a dangerous position. The population of four countries, namely Tajikistan itself, as well as Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, can seriously suffer.
Time bomb: conflicting opinions
Lake Sarez could be lowered to prevent a grand catastrophe and use its natural power for good. For example, to use water flows for agricultural purposes - for irrigation of fields and the production of electrical energy. A completely opposite point of view is shared by some scientists and researchers who are convinced that the Usoi Dam is a solid 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 that the Srez collapse could lead to, 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 has impressive dimensions compared to some other reservoirs of the state. But, despite this, thanks to modern monitoring systems using special seismological sensors, timely notification of any geological changes that could lead to cliffs has become possible. Some informational work was also carried out among the population. Local residents were told about how to behave in unforeseen situations.
How not to wake the "sleeping dragon"?
The map of lakes in Tajikistan is a fairly varied in size of objects and some other parameters of their water system of the state. One of the largest picturesque and dangerous lakes is called Sarez. It is also called the "Sleeping Dragon," or the "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 trickles seep through the dam in the form of numerous springs. But, as they say, the water and the stone wears away, and in case of destruction of the dam created by nature, after 6 hours, the water masses will reach the Aral Sea, filling it to the very edges.
Ideas for solving the problem were proposed by a variety of. Among the options mentioned was pumping water with special pumps, but this method is very costly. An expensive option is also to dig a 20-kilometer tunnel to merge water flows into a nearby valley. Very dangerous and risky methods were also proposed, for example, parsing the top of a blockage or demolishing a mountain that hangs over a lake and could collapse in case of earth tremors. There were commercial offers for the sale of water to the Iranian state and the construction of a tunnel for the income received. A real solution has not yet been found.
A unique natural attraction - Lake Sarez - is a corner of wild untouched nature surrounded by rocky reddish-brown mountain ranges. Despite the possible risks, a trip to these parts is remembered for a long time. The map of the lakes of Tajikistan is a rather colorful picture. In addition to lakes, there are also two large reservoirs - Kairakum and Nurek.