Chronology of the Aral Sea Events from the 16th to the 21st Century Years General Events 16th century 1558 An English merchant and diplomat, Anthony Jenkinson, travels through Central Asia and observes the medieval desiccation of the Aral Sea. He writes that ‘‘the water that serveth all to country is drawn by ditches out of the river Oxus [old name for Amudarya] into the great destruction of the said river, for which it falleth not into the Caspian Sea as it gath done in times past, and in short time all land is like to be destroyed, and to become a wilderness foe want of water when the river Oxus shall fail.’’ A. Jenkinson crosses the Ustyurt and visits Khiva and Bukhara, preparing a map of Central Asia. 1573 ‘‘Turn’’ of the Amudarya from the Sarykamysh to the Aral; in other words, the rather regular flow of part of its waters into the Sarykamysh ceases, the waters from this time running only to the Aral. 17th century 1627 In the book, ‘‘Knigi, glagolemoy Bolshoy Chertezh’’ (‘‘the big sketch’’), the Aral Sea is named ‘‘The dark blue sea.’’ 1670 German geographer Johann Goman publishes the map ‘‘Imperium pereicum,’’ on which the Aral is represented as a small lake located 10 German miles from the northeastern margin of the Caspian Sea. 1697 On Remezov’s map of the Aral Sea (more Aral’sko), it is for the first time represented as an internal lake completely separated from the Caspian Sea and into which the Amundarya (Amu Darya, Oxus), the Syrt (Syr Darya, Yaksart), and many small rivers flow. 18th century 1714 A unit commanded by Colonel I.D. Bukhgolts tries to enter into the Aral Sea from the Irtysh River. 1715 The first expedition by A. Bekovich-Cherkasskiy to the Caspian Sea. The most correct map of the Caspian Sea and a description of all east coasts almost right up to Astrabad Gulf is drawn up. It is discovered that the Amudarya does not flow into the Caspian Sea. 1717 Peter the Great’s trip to France where, in particular, he met G. De L’Isle and assured him that the Oxus (Amudarya) does not flow into the Caspian Sea, but flows into the completely unknown Aral Sea. 1723 On the map of French court geographer G. De L’Isle, the Sea for the first time is named ‘‘Aral.’’ 247 248 Chronology of the Aral Sea Events from the 16th to the 21st Century Years General Events 1729 Marine officer Mark Dubrovin, commanded to Central Asia, visits the Aral Sea, Uzboi, and the Khiva Khanate and prepared a map. Ivan Kirillov publishes a map of the Aral Sea prepared by M. Dubrovin. 1730 On the request of Khan Abushair the Kirghiz (Kazakh), the people between the Yaik (Ural) and Syrdarya Rivers are given Russian citizenship. 1731 Interpreter of the Russian Foreign Affairs Board Megmet Tevkvel and two officer-geodesists make the first topographical survey of the Aral Sea coast. 1732 Greek Vasilyi Vatatsi brings the first data on the Aral Sea to Europe. 1740 Russian Lieutenant Dmitry Gladyshev and geodesist Ivan Muravin perform a topographical survey from Kuvan Darya (the left tributary of Syrdarya) up to Khiva. 1741 Ivan Muravin creates a map, ‘‘A new map of the way from Orenburg through Kyrghyz, Karakalpak, and the Aral territories up to the city of Khiva and of the Aral Sea part and the rivers flowing into it, a part of Syrdarya, Kuvan Darya, and Ulu Darya’’ (Uludarya is a name for the Amudarya). 1753 English merchant Hanvey is the first European to map the dried channel of the Amudarya. 19th century 1819 N. Muraviev travels from the Balkhansky Bay to Khiva but does not see the Aral, thus, on the ‘‘Traveling map of Captain Muraviev from Tiflis to Khiva, 1819,’’ the Aral Sea is shown as rectangular ‘‘with quite a fantastic coastline.’’ 1820 Russian scientist Meindorf travels through areas of the Aral Sea region that at the end of 18th century were flooded by sea water. 1823 Expedition of Russian Colonel Fedor Fedorovich Berg (Friedrich Wilhelm Rembert von Berg) to the western coast of Aral. For the first time, he makes a number of astronomical observations and a survey of the western coast for military-topographical descriptions. 1825 Aral-Caspian expedition of F.F. Berg. 1831 The map of the Aral Sea, drawn up on the basis of new data, is published in A. Levshin’s book, ‘‘Description of Kyrgyz-Kaisaks hordes and steppes.’’ 1839 G. von Helmersen publishes ‘‘Nachrichten u¨ ber Chiwa, Buchara, Chokand ...’’ 1839–1840 Expedition of Lieutenant-General V.A. Perovsky to Khiva. 1840 Topographical surveys and astronomical observations on the northern and northeastern coasts of the Aral Sea are carried out. Well-known zoologist and Professor of Kazan University E.A. Eversman publishes his book, ‘‘Natural History of the Orenburg Territory,’’ in which he describes the Aral Sea and the physiographical and geological characteristics of its coast, and predicts its possible future drying. 1844 A. von Humboldt publishes ‘‘Central-Asien. Untersuchungen u¨ ber die Gebirgsketten und die vergleichende Klimatologie.’’ In a report presented at the meeting of railroad engineers in Saint-Petersburg, Sveridov dwells on the fact that the Uzboi was the ancient channel of the Amudarya and proposes the possibility of returning the river to it, in this way connecting it again with the Caspian Sea. 1847 Near the mouth of Syrdarya a fortification Raim is established. Near the Syrdarya mouth (64 km), Infantry General V.A. Obruchev discovers the Raim fort (later on renamed into Aralsk) and then the Kos-Aral fort in the river delta. Chronology of the Aral Sea Events from the 16th to the 21st Century 249 Years General Events Under command of retired sea officer Mertvago, surveys of the Syrdarya mouth from Raim to its inflow into the Aral Sea are carried out. Following the order of Chief of the Orenburg Territory V.A. Obruchev, 2 ships are constructed: the military ship ‘‘Nickolay I’’ and the private ship ‘‘Michael.’’ The first one is designed for investigation and survey of the Aral Sea, while the second one is for fishery development. Both ships are dismantled in 1854. 1848 The map, ‘‘Plan of the Aral Sea and Amudarya Delta’’ (Skizze des Aral-Sees und Amu Delta), is prepared by natural scientist F. Baziner and published in German. Russian officer Aleksey Ivanovich Butakov is commissioned to carry out a topographical survey and physico-geographical description of the Aral Sea. He is recommended by well-known round-the-world seafarer admiral F.F. Bellinsgausen. In Orenburg city, under supervision of Butakov, two-gun schooners are built. The ‘‘Konstantin’’ is transported to Syrdarya to fortify the Raim, which is located 64 km from the mouth. The crew consists of 27 persons, including the exiled poet T.G. Shevchenko, who served as a sketch artist. Under A. Butakov’s leadership, during 2 months of general reconnoitring of the Aral Sea, measurements of depths and determinations of latitudes are made. The sea expedition also collects some geological and biological samples. An island named in honour of the Russian Emperor Nickolay I is discovered (in Soviet time it is renamed Vozrozhdenia Island). It was a part of the Imperial islands, together with the island ‘‘Konstantin,’’ which is named in honour of Grand Duke Konstantin Romanov, the president of Russian Geographical Society. Also discovered is the island, Successor (during the Soviet period – Komsomolsky). 1850 In ‘‘Geographical Proceedings,’’ issued by the Russian Geographical Society, Ya. Khanykov publishes for the first time, ‘‘The map of the road from fortress Orsk through Kirgiz, Karakalpak, and Aral territories up to the city of Khiva, drawn and composed by Geodesist-Ensign Muravin in 1743.’’ The Hydrographic Department of the Russian Navy Ministry prints an Aral Sea map based on the surveys of Butakov and Pospelov from 1848 to 1849. Hydrographic map of the Aral Sea is published in St.-Petersburg. A.I. Butakov is sent to Sweden to order ships for the Aral fleet. Topographer Yakovlev surveys the territory from the Aralsk fort via the Barsuki sands to Emba. 1851 Fort Raim is moved to Kazalinsk city (Fort N1). A work by A.I. Maksheev, ‘‘Description of the Aral Sea’’ is published in the ‘‘Proceedings of the Russian Geographical Society.’’ ‘‘The explanatory note for the map of the Aral Sea and Khiva Khanate with their vicinities’’ compiled by Ya.V. Khanykov is published in ‘‘Proceedings of Russian Geographical Society.’’ Proceedings of the Russian Geographical Society’’ publishes the work of A.I. Maksheev, ‘‘Aral Sea Description.’’ 1852 A.I. Butakov transports to Raim the disassembled parts of two iron steamships, the ‘‘Perovsky’’ and the ‘‘Obruchev,’’ which were built in Sweden. 1853 A.I. Butakov, commanding steamship ‘‘Perovsky,’’ excels during the seizure of the Kokand fortress Ak-Mechet (white mosque). By the nomination of A. Humboldt, A.I. Butakov, for his research of the Aral Sea, is elected as an honorary member of Berlin Geographical Society. 250 Chronology of the Aral Sea Events from the 16th to the 21st Century Years General Events A.I. Butakov makes the first voyage over the Syrdarya on the ship ‘‘Perovsky,’’ during which topographers Rybin and Yakovlev make a detailed description of the meanders of the river channel. Ak-Mechet is restored as the Perovsky Fort. The Aral military fleet is established. Captain-Lieutenant N.L. Ivashintsov makes the ‘‘Map of the Syrdarya lower reaches from Perovsky Fort to the Aral Sea prepared on the basis of recent surveys.’’ 1854 A.I. Butakov transfers the Aral shipyard to fort No. 1 (Kazalinsk city).