Andrey Kulikov, organizer of the mass race in Uzbekistan, ran 42 km 195 m through the dried-up bottom of the Aral Sea. Aral Eco marathon was organized by the Ministry of Ecology, Environment and Climate Change in honor of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.

The main purpose of this race is to attract the attention of the world community to the environmental problems of this region and to inspire everyone to take active action to protect our planet.

"At the initiative of our Head of State Shakhkat Mirziyoyev, a wide range of measures aimed at preventing global environmental problems and improving the socio-economic lifestyle of the population are being implemented at the bottom of the dried-up Aral Sea," said Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change Aziz Abduhakimov. - In particular, in the period from 2018 to 2022, 1.6 million hectares were planted with various trees, and in 2023, 128,000 hectares of "green space" were created in the Muynak district. In addition, work is underway to plant at least 100 hectares of saxaul every year."

The nationwide project "Yashil makon» 21.8 million seedlings and cuttings of ornamental, fruit trees and shrubs suited to climatic conditions were planted in spring. On an area of 500 hectares were planted in a nursery of tree and shrubs suited to soil and climatic conditions.

In addition, this year “green belts” were created in the region, 3590 seedlings were planted at a distance of 5 km around the city of Nukus, 2500 at a distance of 5 km around the city of Urgench and the Urgench-Gurlan highway, trees suitable for soil and climatic conditions were planted, such as Catalpa, cypress, sophora japanica

Live from Marathon: https://www.youtube.com/live/4_ofd38L9T8?feature=share