River Basins

Amu Darya

The Amu Darya is a major river in Central Asia, historically known as the Oxus. It is a transboundary river shared by Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The river travels 2,540 km from its source in the Pamir mountains, but due to the large-scale diversion of water it no longer reaches its historic terminus in the Aral Sea.

The Central Asian drought has led to the deaths of thousands of domesticated animals (image: Alamy file picture)

Central Asian drought highlights water vulnerability

As parts of the region experience the worst drought in 13 years, experts say Central Asian governments must urgently look at options to mitigate extreme weather events

Picture of Dr Arbor Gafurov

What hydrology can tell us about climate change in Central Asia

Abror Gafurov, a hydrologist at GFZ-Potsdam, the national research centre for earth sciences in Germany, tells The Third Pole what the latest research shows about the water cycle in Central Asia

Mailuu-Suu riverbank

Mailuu-Suu: Cleaning up Central Asia’s toxic uranium legacy

Countries must set aside territorial disputes and work together to clean up radioactive waste seeping into rivers and farmland in the Ferghana Valley – causing an environmental and health catastrophe for people living in the region

Sardoba dam, Uzbekistan, after the disaster

Uzbekistan dam collapse was a disaster waiting to happen

The tragic failure of the Sardoba dam has sparked fresh debate around water conflicts and the need for cooperation between countries in Central Asia

Electricity shortages endanger crops in Tajikistan

Climate change is wreaking havoc on Tajikistan’s hydropower-dependent energy system, leading to major shortages, but the country is pressing on with plans for new hydro projects

plastic pollution in Asia's transboundary rivers

Water pollution

Webinar: Rivers of Plastic

theme for world water day 2021 is 'valuing water'

What is the value of water in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region?

cotton Uzbekistan, MARKA / Alamy

EBRD cotton investment in Uzbekistan under scrutiny

Freezing temperatures combine with coal burning and traffic fumes to create hazardous air pollution in the Central Asian cities

Record-breaking air pollution chokes Bishkek and Almaty

Saiga antelope central asia saiga

Best of 2020: Saving Central Asia’s Ice Age antelope

Ashgabat fountain Turkmenistan, Thiago Trevisan / Alamy

Turkmenistan fails to create vast lake in Karakum desert

World's largest stockpiles of toxic pesticides buried in Central Asia

Saving Central Asia’s Ice Age antelope

melting Dagu glacier

Beware the China model: Asia doesn’t have enough water

Himalayan glaciers, springs and groundwater: connecting the dots

water cooperation

Afghanistan’s Water-Sharing Puzzle

China shifts polluting cement to Tajikistan

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