The prosperous port in the past, the ship cemetery today｜Uzbekistan-Muynak

🔸The Aral Sea is the fourth largest lake in the world that is about to disappear from the earth. It has existed for 5.5 million years. There used to be more than 1,500 islands in the lake, and shipping and fishing were well developed with a large amount of fish. 💔However, due to human activities in the last century - cotton irrigation in the Soviet Union, the water volume of the Aral Sea has decreased by 90% in the past 59 years and is about to dry up completely and disappear. The disappearing sea water has turned the port into a desolate sandy land, leaving behind the wreckage of once glorious fishing boats. 🚗The best way to get to the Muynak Ship Cemetery is to charter a car from Nukus, starting at 8 am and taking 8 hours. Although Khiva also has travel services to Muynak, the prices are quite high. 🔸Nukus is a city in western Uzbekistan. It was once the place where the Soviet Union manufactured chemical weapons and was highly valued by the former Soviet Union. Probably due to this influence, Nukus is very Sovietized. There are not only many Russians but also many Kazakhs, but you rarely see Uzbeks. The urban construction of Nukus is also quite good, with wide roads and smooth asphalt avenues, which is very grand. After staying in Nukus for one night, we chartered a car to our destination - [Muniak "Ship Cemetery"] early the next morning. After driving for three hours from Nukus, we finally arrived at Muynak, the once prosperous fishing port of the Aral Sea. 💡Originally, we wanted to see the Aral Sea, the only remaining place with water, but later we learned that no driver dares to go to the Aral Sea now. Because now the most popular and fastest route to the Aral Sea is to go directly north from Muynak and cross the dried-up Aral Sea lakebed. In the past, experienced drivers could find a way out on the endless dangerous salt flats, but recently it is said that the salt flat lake bed of the Aral Sea will release toxic dust, and salt dust storms will also seriously threaten human health.