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In this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, we visit Moynaq, a city in Uzbekistan that was once a port on one of the world’s largest seas. Now it’s a dusty reminder of one of the largest and most forgotten environmental disasters.

Visit the Stihia website to learn more about the music festival that happens in Moynaq, including where it may be this year. And this Eurasianet.org news article is a good primer on some of the current conflicts and issues in the region.

Our podcast is an audio guide to the world’s wondrous, awe-inspiring, strange places. In under 15 minutes, we’ll take you to an incredible site, and along the way you’ll meet some fascinating people and hear their stories. Join us daily, Monday through Thursday, to explore a new wonder with cofounder Dylan Thuras and a neighborhood of Atlas Obscura reporters.

Martijn Munneke, CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia