Sasyk, or Kunduk (Ukrainian: Сасик, Кундук – transcribed as previous, Romanian: Limanul Sasic, Conduc, Turkish: Sasık Gölü, Kunduk Gölü), is a lagoon or liman in southern Ukraine, near the Danube Delta. It is a Ramsar listed wetland site important for migrating, breeding and moulting birds. About 25,000 pairs of wetland birds make their nests there and seasonal conglomerations of birds are up to 100,000 individuals.[2]

Sasyk Lagoon
The coast of Sasyk Lagoon near Hlyboka village
19th-century map of the lagoons of Sasyk, Shahany, Alibey, and Burnas
Sasyk Lagoon Show map of Odesa Oblast Sasyk Lagoon Show map of Ukraine
Location	Black Sea
Coordinates	45°38′37″N 29°39′27″E
River sources	Cogâlnic River, Sarata River
Ocean/sea sources	Atlantic Ocean
Basin countries	Ukraine
Surface area	215 km2 (83 sq mi)
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[1]

The area of the lagoon is 215 km², and the depth up to 3.3 m. 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 km wide sandbar.

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.[2]

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.[4][5] 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.

Notes and references

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На других языках

[de] Sassyksee (Oblast Odessa)

[ru] Сасик