Moynaq, town in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan

Moynaq is a town in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, once a busy port on the edge of the Aral Sea. Today it sits roughly 150 kilometers from water, surrounded by abandoned fishing boats stranded in the desert and expanses of salty, barren land with little vegetation.

Moynaq was a thriving fishing port until the Soviet Union diverted the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers in the 1960s to irrigate cotton fields. This diversion drained the Aral Sea, causing the port to become landlocked and the fishing industry to collapse.

Moynaq is shaped by Karakalpak culture and heritage, which remains part of daily life for residents. The people here speak Karakalpak, Uzbek, and Russian, and their identity is rooted in fishing traditions that once defined the town, now reflected in how locals relate to the transformed landscape.

Moynaq is best explored by vehicle, as the distance to the shipwrecks and water is too far to walk, and guided tours with four-wheel-drive vehicles are available. Visitors should prepare for dry, dusty conditions and bring warm clothing and sun protection, as the barren landscape offers little shelter from the elements.

Since 2018, Moynaq hosts the Stihia music festival where artists and musicians from various countries perform and dance among abandoned ships. The festival draws thousands of visitors despite dusty conditions and merges artistic culture with the history of the dried-up sea.

• Location: Moynaq District
• Elevation above the sea: 50 m
• GPS coordinates: 43.76667,59.03333
• Latest update: February 16, 2026 23:41