Barsa-Kelmes
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Barsa-Kelmes (from Kazakh: "the land of no return") is the largest island in the Aral Sea which encompasses the Barsa-Kelmes Nature Reserve. However the desiccation of the sea has turned Barsa-Kelmes into a peninsula[1]. DMS coordinates: 45°38'N 59°52'E. Area was 133 km2 in the 1980s, but also diminished due to shallowing. Altitude up to 113 m. Because of the native salt deposite it is recommended to close the eyes during dust storms and a strong wind.
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[edit] History
The island was discovered in August, 1848. Geographer A. Maksheyev and topographer A. Akishev made a topographical shooting of the island and described its landscape. The first sketches of the local nature have been made by Taras Shevchenko.
A jumping spider Sitticus barsakelmes was named after the island in 1998.
[edit] Legends
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There are a few legends about the island Barsa-Kelmes, for example: the observation of prehistoric lizards, or the landings of UFO. There is a common belief that time on the island flows differently. Some people who lost their way and spent there, as they thought, just a few hours where returned in a few days. Some refuges hid themselves for a year there, when they went back home a few decades had passed. However these claims were not supported by the facts and, as thought, the result of purposeful mystifications.
One of the authors of such mystifications was the science fiction writer Sergey Lukyanenko who admitted in the “Information Summary of KLF MGU” (of the Moscow University): “The stories about flying saucers and machines of time at Barsa-Kelmes that are presented by “TM” the magazine “Tekhnika Molodyozhi” as true facts were taken completely out of thin air. Independently of each other newer and newer generations were joined this game. And if we do not stop this gossips, our grandsons will organize expeditions to the unhappy islet. So I have to repent my sins. And cheerful picture from “TM”, where pteranodon bears in the beak flying saucer, alas, it is without foundation”.
In June 2000, the 80th expedition of "Kosmopoisk" took place here.
[edit] References
- Tekhnika Molodyozhi (Техника молодежи). 1991, No. 3; 1993, No. 4.
- Encyclopaedia of the mysterious places on Earth ( Энциклопедия загадочных мест земли).
[edit] External links
