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0395 Scientific Results of a Journey in Central Asia, 1899-1902 : vol.1
Scientific Results of a Journey in Central Asia, 1899-1902 : vol.1 / Page 395 (Grayscale High Resolution Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000216
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THE ULLUGH-KÖL AND BEGELIK-KÖL.   285

One would naturally suppose that the volumes of the two canals would bear the same proportions to one another that the cubic capacities of the two lakes do, or that 6.665,: 2.3 = 92,000,000: 32,818,500; but instead of 92 million cub. m., the Ullugh-köl contains only 69.5 million. The level in the river has not changed, consequently that cannot be the cause of the difference. On the other hand the depth of the Karaunelik-köl is 5.61 m., whereas that of the Ullugh-köl is only 4.92 m., and the shallower the lake the greater in proportion to the volume is the evaporation. Let us assume therefore, for the sake of comparison, that the Ullugh-köl also has a mean depth of 5.61 m., then its volume would be only 79.3 million cub. m. That is to say, it would lack 12.7 millions out of the 92 millions which theoretically it ought to possess. The explanation is not far to seek. The water which flows through its canal has to supply not only the Ullugh-köl, but also the Tajiri-kakmasi, the two lakes being connected by a small channel. Entering this channel from the Ullughköl, you find it runs to the north, describing several large windings, then to the north-west, and so enters the neighbouring lake. This last, as seen from the top of the dune, appears to be very small, and is separated from its two bajirs by narnow necks of sand, that is Ilias-bajiri and the other bajir described above. The canal is narrow and shallow, and the water in it was stationary, though by very close observation we were able to detect a scarce perceptible movement of the surface, now in the one direction, now in the other; this was caused by the changing gusts of wind. We may therefore consider, that the two lakes lie at virtually the same level. Anyhow they are intimately connected: in fact they are twin-lakes, fed by one and the same canal, for although the Tajiri-kakmasi does possess its own canal connecting it with the river, this has been long dry. During the season of high flood however the little lake is filled from two directions at once; and as long as the Ullugh-köl receives water from the river, and as long as the connecting canal between the two lakes allows it to do so, the water continues to enter the Tajirikakmasi. It is to this that the copious supply of water in the two bajirs is due. The 12.7 million cub. m. which the Ullugh-köl lacks, but ought to possess, must be ascribed therefore to the Tajiri-kakmasi. In point of actual fact its content is probably less than this, because a good deal of its water filters away through the sand into its two bajirs. That the lake is small is indicated by its very name, which means Tajir's Bay; that is it does not attain to the dignity of being called by the ordinary name of köl = »lake».

At noon the temperature of the surface water of the Ullugh-köl was 19°.5 to 19°.8 C.

I need hardly observe that the hydrographical data which I have quoted above are not to be taken as holding good at all times. That the Ullugh-köl was draining 6.665 cub. m. of water in the second away from the Tarim on the 21st May was a purely fortuitous circumstance; it does not imply that the contribution is the same all the year round, or even that this amount of inflow persists for any length of time. As an actual fact, it varies from day to day, and scarcely remains constant even for a single day at once. A rise in the level of the river augments the inflow into the lake; but a drop of a few cm. suffices to check it altogether, at all events for some hours, or it might be a whole 24 hours, or even causes it to