Journey to the Bolshie and Malyi Barsuki Desert -
The Bolshie and Malyi Barsuki Desert stretches from the northwestern shore of the Aral Sea to the town of Shalkar in the Aktobe Region.
These sands are located in the Shalkar District of the Aktobe Region. They are over 200 km long and 25-30 km wide (widening to 80 km along the coast). Their area is 3,300 km². The western part, adjacent to the Mugalzhar Mountains and the Shagyrai Plateau, consists of a number of small lakes and salt marshes. Winter camps (Oyik, Izhemis, Akshi, Shukyr, etc.), settlements (Kabyrgaytau, Sarybulak, etc.), and wells (Koshinyrau, Akkudyk, etc.) are often found on the sandy shores.
The sands are primarily formed by the erosion of Paleogene rocks; only the northwestern part is composed of young alluvial deposits. The terrain is hilly, a sandy plain covered with sparse vegetation. Groundwater flows from depths of 1-25 m. Winters are harsh, summers are hot; average January temperatures are -12-15 C, July temperatures are 25-26 C. Average annual precipitation is 100-150 mm. Wormwood, sagebrush, saxaul, and other plants grow on brown soil. In some places, the sands are used as pastures where sparse vegetation grows.
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