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Barsa-Kelmes

Kazakhstan

Barsa-Kelmes (Kazakh, Barsakelmes meaning "the place of no return") was an island, the largest in the Aral Sea. Its area was 133 km2 in the 1980s, but as the sea became more shallow it steadily grew, until in the 1990s it ceased to be an island. Its highest altitude was 113 m. "Barsa-Kelmes" literally means 'if-go come-not'; i.e., 'if you go there you won't come back'. It was given such a name because of a number of stories of people (or groups of people) returning years or even decades after going to the island, thinking they had been gone only 2 or 3 days. It encompasses the Barsa-Kelmes Nature Reserve. Because of the native salt deposits, visitors are recommended to close their eyes during dust storms and strong winds.

Data from Wikidata (CC0). Summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).

Other peninsulas in Kazakhstan