Barsa-Kelmes

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The Fragment of the Map of Aral Sea, 1853 (from the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, Vol. 23, 1853 to accompany "Survey of the Sea of Aral by Commander A. Butakoff, Imperial Russian Navy, 1848 & 1849".
The Fragment of the Map of Aral Sea, 1853 (from the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, Vol. 23, 1853 to accompany "Survey of the Sea of Aral by Commander A. Butakoff, Imperial Russian Navy, 1848 & 1849".
Taras Shevchenko: The tent of the expedition on the island of Barsa- Kelmes, 1848
Taras Shevchenko: The tent of the expedition on the island of Barsa- Kelmes, 1848

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. Its area was 133 km2 in the 1980s, but has diminished due to shallowing. Its altitude reaches up to 113 m. Because of the native salt deposits it is recommended that you close your eyes during dust storms and strong winds.

[edit] History

The island was discovered in August, 1848. Geographer A. Maksheyev and topographer A. Akishev made a topographical survey 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] 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

Coordinates: 45°38′″N, 59°52′″E

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