Lake Tuzkan drives tourism and fishing in Uzbekistan
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Residents of Uzbekistan’s Jizzakh region depend on Lake Tuzkan and the wider Aydar-Arnasay lake system for fishing and income from growing tourism.
The lakes sit between the Hungry Steppe and the Kyzylkum Desert, creating a unique landscape that attracts visitors seeking recreation and the perceived health benefits of the mineral-rich waters. Aydarkul resort, with 225 rooms, hosts up to 600 guests and offers amenities like a beach and water activities, drawing tourists from Uzbekistan, Russia, and Kazakhstan.
Local authorities are improving access to the lakes by building a new airport at Arnasoy and a railway line from Do‘stlik, hoping to attract more international visitors. These developments aim to integrate the lake region into Uzbekistan’s established tourism routes. To manage increasing visitor numbers, reaching 6,000 to 7,000 on weekends, officers patrol the Aydar-Arnasoy recreation area and use surveillance cameras connected to a national security system.
The area’s lakes formed partly due to 20th-century irrigation and water-management projects, changing the region’s natural hydrology and creating a landscape now valued for both its economic opportunities and natural beauty.
