Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 18 April, as part of the Aral Tourism Week, the Aral Sea Eco Race and the “99 Dishes of the Aral” festival were held in Muynak.

The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, the Association of Chefs of Karakalpakstan, the Prorun running school, environmentalists, schoolchildren and students, environmental activists, tourists and media representatives.

Some 200 people took part in the race, including students from higher educational institutions of Karakalpakstan and Uzbekistan, schoolchildren, environmental activists and tourists interested in the history of the Aral Sea. Moreover, the age of the oldest participant was 70 years, and the youngest participant was 7 years.

The total distance of the eco-run was 2 km. According to the concept, during the race the participants, after running the distance, planted a tree seedling before the finish line. Each participant had a unique chip assigned to their personal number, which registered the fact of planting a tree.

At the finish line, each participant received a medal in the form of a symbolic tree in recognition of their participation in the nature restoration project. Based on the results of the race, the six fastest men and women received valuable prizes.

Also, as part of the Aral Tourism Week, a gastronomic festival “99 Dishes of the Aral” was held, where chefs from the city of Nukus, Turtkul, Beruniy, Ellikalinsky, Kungrad, Buzatau, Takhtakupyr, Takhiatash, Karauzyak regions of the Republic of Karakalpakstan took part in the competition to prepare the best fish dishes.

According to the results of the festival, prizes were taken by chefs from Ellikalinsky, Buzatausky and Beruniysky districts, who prepared such signature dishes as Dzhyguri gyrdyk, stuffed fish and fish on fire.