干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

In this paper some issues of the formation of water resources of the Central Asian Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers and the West Siberian Ob river and their role in solving social and economic problems of these regions are discussed. The problems of population growth and reclamation of arid steppes and associated rapid shallowing of the Aral Sea and reduction of its adverse effects are considered. Also data about the severe flood in the Upper Ob basin in spring and summer 2014, its causes and consequences are given. The paper presents historical maps of the population and provides recommendations to reduce damage from floods in the basins of the Upper Ob and other Siberian rivers and also provides a solution to the problem of the effective use of groundwater in the river floodplains of Central Asia.