Abstract
The paper, based on the experience of the Zhelezka Mobile School, presents the sad story of the disappearance of Aral Sea, now turned into Aral Kum, literally “Aral Sand”. The text starts with photos of the Muynak Ship Cemetery. Muynak is a former seaport in Karakalpakstan, an autonomous republic of Uzbekistan, a region deeply connected to the fate of the once-prosperous Aral Sea. In the sands of the cemetery the remains of rusted ships stranded on the seabed resembled the skeletons of giant ancient animals and serve as powerful visual metaphors for environmental devastation. The reasons for that devastation are large Soviet infrastructural projects, diverting waters from the rivers and the sea to irrigate the expanding cotton fields of Soviet Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan as a part of the Soviet government's initiative to promote cotton, known as "white gold," as a major export. As a counterpoint of these megalomanic projects are the traditional storytelling of the people of Karakalpakstan, sharing tales of the sea's abundance in the past and the need for environmental stewardship. The traditional knowledge of indigenous cultures and their connections to the surrounding environment is rooted in centuries-old practices and a profound understanding of the delicate balance between humans and nature. This knowledge encompasses a holistic view of the earth, water, people, and the natural environment, all of which are deeply intertwined with the region's ecosystems.

Key words
Ecosystem, Aral Sea, Muynak Ship Cemetery, large Soviet infrastructural projects, traditional knowledge