AMUDARYA RIVER BASIN IN CENTRAL ASIA
Abstract
The Amudarya River, the largest in Central Asia, supports over 40 million people across multiple countries for agriculture, energy, and domestic use. This study explores the river’s geography, hydrology, climate, and water quality, emphasizing challenges such as declining precipitation, high evapotranspiration, and increasing salinity. Groundwater use and water pollution have intensified post-Soviet independence. Climate change threatens to further reduce runoff and disrupt agriculture. The paper underscores the urgency for regional cooperation and climate-adaptive water management strategies to secure the basin’s future.
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