Threat of dam breach around the Sorbulak reservoir near Almaty
A lake could wash away several downstream settlements. Over 50,000 people are in the potential flood zone.
Rivers & Reservoirs
HOW DRINKING WATER IS POLLUTED IN ASTANA
Astana's tap water no longer meets required standards. We analyze what’s wrong with the capital’s water supply.
The true scale of fires on Balkhash
According to one official version, about 3,000 hectares of shoreline burned; another says 30 hectares of reeds smoldered. So what really happened?
Fires in the Ili Delta threaten the ecology of the Balkhash region.
NASA systems detect abnormal thermal hotspots at key points of the Ili River delta. The fire sources are concentrated near populated areas, ruling out natural causes. Professor Vladimir Starodubtsev confirms the critical situation based on remote monitoring.
An alarming start to 2026: water reserves in the Shardara Reservoir are significantly lower than last year's levels.
As of January 2026, the Shardara Reservoir is only 79% full, compared to 98.6% in January 2025. The drop is due to reduced autumn-winter inflow. Without increased spring runoff, water shortages are expected.
"Negative growth" of runoff: The South of Kazakhstan risks being left without water in the 2026 season
While officials seek softer wording in reports, satellite data reveals a troubling trend: the 2025–2026 winter shows critically low moisture levels, threatening food security in southern regions.
HOW THE ISHIM (ESIL) RIVER IS BEING DESTROYED
We recently covered the state of Astana’s main drinking water source, the Astana (Vyacheslav) reservoir. Now let's continue downstream along the Ishim River to the capital. Before we start, let's review water protection laws.