Karakum Canal, Water supply canal in central Turkmenistan
The Karakum Canal is a water conveyance system stretching about 1,400 kilometers from the Amu Darya River through Turkmenistan's desert terrain. The waterway supplies communities and farmland while crossing vast open landscape dotted with settlement and cultivation.
The project began in 1954 under Soviet direction, with the main section completed by 1967. This large-scale construction aimed to develop the region and make the desert land productive.
The waterway sustains farming communities across a region where water is scarce, shaping daily life for people who depend on its flow. Agricultural practices along the route reflect how locals have adapted to living in the desert.
The canal is navigable for about 450 kilometers, supporting boat traffic and water distribution. Visitors should expect an open waterway crossing flat terrain and plan according to local conditions and seasons.
The system moves about 13 cubic kilometers of water yearly across the country, ranking among the world's largest irrigation canals. This massive water transfer made desert farming possible while fundamentally altering the region's natural balance.
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