Caspian Sea water recession reveals new islands

The receding waters of the Caspian Sea have led to the emergence of new islands along the northern and northeastern coasts of Kazakhstan. Aerial surveys near Kulaly Island have identified several new landmasses, some measuring up to 1 kilometer in length and 200 to 300 meters in width. Wildlife, including wild boars and wolves, has already begun to reach these newly exposed areas.

Data from the Caspian Sea Kazakh Research Institute indicates that approximately 16,384 square kilometers of water area vanished in the northeastern Caspian between 2000 and 2025. In the Kazakhstan section of the sea, water levels dropped from -26.82 meters in 1996 to -29.27 meters in 2025, representing a 2.45-meter decline over three decades. Recent measurements at the Kulaly Island observation station reached a historic low of -29.42 meters.

Scientists attribute this rapid shrinkage to increased evaporation caused by rising temperatures, combined with human activities. Specifically, dams on the Volga River—which provides over 80 percent of the sea's water—and intensive agricultural irrigation have significantly reduced the inflow of water. Experts note that while new landmasses are appearing, their permanence depends on seabed topography, wind, and wave dynamics.