Ust Yurt Lakes

Across the Ustyurt plateau shallow hollows interrupt the otherwise broad, dry surface. Some hold seasonal water; others are salt marshes or bare beds left by vanished lakes. With little drainage beyond the plateau, water collects in enclosed basins and may evaporate during the heat of summer, leaving salts behind. Sand and clay surround these depressions, which form scattered landmarks in the desert between the Caspian and Aral regions.