Lakes, reservoirs and water resources

Lakes in Uzbekistan are unevenly spread and most are small. In the mountains there are tectonic, dammed and moraine lakes; on the plains many are relict lakes or lakes formed where drainage water collected. Important plains lakes: Arnasay, Aydar and Tuzkan in Mirzachol, Dengizkul in the Lower Zarafshan, and Sarykamysh near the Lower Amudarya. Man-made water bodies — reservoirs — were built to regulate river flow: they store extra water of spring, autumn and winter and release it to fields in summer. The most important are Tuyamuyun (on the Amudarya), Charvak (on the Chirchiq), Kattakurgan (on the Zarafshan) and Tuyabuguz; the Chardara reservoir is on the Syrdarya but lies in Kazakhstan. Groundwater is of three kinds: ground (grunt) water lies near the surface and is reached by springs or wells; artesian water lies deeper between layers under pressure and is clean and fresh; mineral waters lie at 1500–3000 m, reach +40…+70°C and more than 60 healing sources have been found.