Kara-Kum Canal

Kara-Kum Canal

The Kara-Kum Canal is an irrigation and water supply project that diverts water from the Amu Darya River in Central Asia to the Karakum Desert. Spanning across southern Turkmenistan, it stretches 1,375 kilometers in length and has an annual water discharge capacity of 13 cubic kilometers. Construction began in 1954 and was completed in 1988. Once operational, it provided water for cotton farming and for the capital city of Ashgabat, but also resulted in a 50% loss of water along its course, leading to the formation of a series of lakes and raising the groundwater table.

The primary function of the Kara-Kum Canal is agricultural irrigation. It benefits 15 million acres of cultivated land, has reclaimed 7.5 million acres of new farmland, and improved 225 million acres of pastureland. It has enabled millions of nomadic herders to settle down and elevate animal husbandry to new levels. The canal supplies drinking and industrial water to the residents of Turkmenistan, facilitated large-scale development of oil and gas fields such as the Kara-Bogaz and Nebit-Dag fields, and led to the rise of industrial cities in the desert. Its benefits for shipping are equally significant—it created a shortcut for navigation between eastern and western Turkmenistan, and even connected the Caspian Sea and the Aral Sea via the canal.

Cruising along the Kara-Kum Canal on a speedboat, you’ll see lush greenery lining both banks—what were once sandy plains have been transformed into cotton fields and melon orchards, with vast herds of cattle and sheep grazing on the grasslands. The capital city of Ashgabat, which previously struggled with water shortages due to reliance on wells, saw its streets and squares lined with shady trees after the canal water arrived in 1962. Numerous gardens, lawns, and fountains emerged, and even the suburbs gained reservoirs and swimming pools. Similar transformations occurred in cities along the canal such as Kerki, Baýramaly, and Daşoguz, creating a favorable microclimate for living and turning the vision of “garden cities” into reality.

Qaraqum Canal

Must-visit reason: Currently the longest canal in the world

Continent where the attraction is located: Asia【Asia】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Turkmenistan[Turkmenistan]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Ahal Province [Ahal Province]