Shardara Reservoir

Shardara Reservoir – a hydraulic structure built on the middle course of the Syr Darya for irrigation and energy purposes. It is located in the South Kazakhstan region of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Jizzakh region of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It was completed in 1965, and filled with water in 1965–68. Total capacity 5.7 billion m³, useful capacity 4.7 billion m³. Length 80 km, average width 15 km, average depth 6.3 m, maximum depth (at the dam) 22 m; water surface area 900 km². It includes 4 earth-fill dams, a water regulator (water release structure), a hydroelectric power station (capacity 1000 MW). The Shardara Reservoir. Near the town of Shardara, at the foot of the Jowsumkum ridge, the reservoir and the Arnasoy basin (see Lake Arnasoy) were created. The right bank of the Shardara Reservoir is flat, the left bank is steep. In the western part of the reservoir, above the dam, a second dam was built to divert water to the Arnasoy basin. Near the main dam, the Kyzylkum main canal begins, supplying water to Kazakhstan (lands on the left bank of the Syr Darya). It is filled from October to March, and water is drawn from April to September. Together with the Kairakum Reservoir, it serves to irrigate new lands in the Mirzachol region and to improve water supply for irrigated lands in Kazakhstan. There are fish farming enterprises.