Sasyk Lagoon

Sasyk Lagoon
The coast of Sasyk Lagoon (near Hlyboka)
Location	Black Sea
River sources	Cogâlnic River, Sarata River
Basin countries	Ukraine

Surface area	241.88 km² (93.39 sq mi)^[1]
Average depth	1.05 m (3.4 ft)
Max. depth	3.3 m (11 ft)

Settlements	Tatarbunary

Ramsar Wetland
Official name	Sasyk Lake
Designated	23 November 1995
Reference no.	762^[2]

Sasyk, or Kunduk (Ukrainian: Сасик, Кундук, Romanian: Limanul Sasic, Conduc, Turkish: Sasık Gölü, Kunduk Gölü), is a lagoon or liman in southern Ukraine, near the Danube Delta.^[1] It is a Ramsar listed wetland site important for migrating, breeding and moulting birds.^{[citation needed]} About 25,000 pairs of wetland birds make their nests there (an increase of 15,000 since 2000)^[1] and seasonal conglomerations of birds are up to 100,000 individuals.^{[citation needed]}

The area of the lagoon is 241.88 square kilometres (93.39 sq mi),^[1] and has a depth up to 3.3 metres (11 ft). Until 1978 the lagoon was separated into two parts: northern brackishwater area, including the rivers Cogâlnic and Sarata, and a southern marine area. The lagoon was separated from the sea by a 0.5 kilometres (0.31 mi) wide sandbar.^{[citation needed]}

Dam and reduced salinity

In 1978, a concrete dam was built on the sandbar and the lagoon was connected to the Danube River by a canal, through which fresh flood waters come. This has adversely changed the salinity in the lake, and this plus disturbances from recreation and commercial fishing activities have influenced the habitat for wildfowl.^{[citation needed]}

The aim of this Soviet dam project was to convert the lagoon to a fresh water lake to use for irrigation. However, this failed and the use of water from Sasyk resulted in the salinization of about 30,000 hectares (300 km²) of land, with associated detrimental impact on crops, and mineralization of ground water and wells.^[3] The project ended in ecological, social and economic disaster.^[4]

A 2007 report stated that the lagoon had become too dangerous for swimming because of pollution, including pesticides and heavy metals. The water is described as greenish with an unpleasant smell. Many now favour breaking the dam and reconnecting the lagoon with the sea.^[4]^[5]

In 2022, Ukrainian-American filmmaker Andrea Odezynska's documentary film Return Sasyk To The Sea was released, detailing the history of the region and efforts to restore the damaged wetlands.^{[citation needed]}

Biodiversity

As of 2000^[update], the total number of breeding waterbirds in the lagoon is 10,000 pairs, and an estimated 100,000 individuals visit the lagoon each year on migration.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Sasyk lake (2059)". Key Biodiversity Areas. Archived from the original on 5 May 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
^ "Sasyk Lake". Ramsar Convention Sites Information Service. Ramsar. 2022. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
^ "Women Transform the Mainstream" (PDF). Women's Environment and Development Organization. 21 January 2016. p. 38. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
^ ^a ^b van den Bossche, Chantal (14 August 2008). "Give Sasyk back to the sea!". Women in Europe for a Common Future. Archived from the original on 18 October 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
^ Samwel, Anna (22 August 2007). "Tatarbunary, Odessa Oblast, Ukraine – Partner visit to Mama-86 and Vozrozhdeniye in the frame of the Empowerment & Local Action/MFS Program" (PDF). WECF. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2017.