As you can see, in 1960, the town of Muynak (at bottom in center) was situated on a peninsula. It was surrounded by water on both sides, making it an excellent port. In fact it was the chief fishing town for the Aral Sea. More than 10,000 fishermen worked out of Muynak hauling in thousands of tons of pike, perch, and bream each year.

Muynak was also home to the fish canning factory that employed many people from the town. Some 60,000 people were employed by the fishing industry in the 1960's.

Muynak is now landlocked and many miles from the water. Fishing boats sit on the dry bed that was once the bottom of the Aral Sea. The Fish canning factory has long since closed, although it did stay open for several years after the fishing industry in the Aral Sea collapsed. The Soviets brought in fish caught elsewhere in an attempt to keep the factory open and the local people employed. Eventually it became too expensive, and the factory was closed.

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