The Natural Environment of the Ubsunur Hollow and its Anthropogenic Conditionality

Ancient human activities in the Uvs Nuur Basin, one of Central Asia's largest arid basins, significantly altered its ecosystem dynamics and climate conditions. Research using remote sensing (Google Earth imagery) and landscape observations identified extensive traces of irrigation agriculture near the Aga-Dag ridge, suggesting past wetter climates with forested landscapes that sustained groundwater levels. Paleobotanical studies further confirmed the presence of forest-steppe environments in the recent past, particularly around Lake Shara-Nur. The study attributes the basin's current desertification primarily to deforestation, driven by human demand for fuel and construction materials, as well as historical conflicts between civilizations. This finding underscores the profound impact of anthropogenic activities on the region's environmental degradation, a pattern observed across broader Asian steppe zones.

Prudnikova, T. N., Chash, U.-M. G.,. (2017). THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE UBSUNUR HOLLOW AND ITS ANTHROPOGENIC CONDITIONALITY. Russian Journal of Ecosystem Ecology, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.21685/2500-0578-2017-2-5