[5] Throughout its history, the lake has disappeared several times and re-emerged, depending on the arrival of the Amu Darya waters.

The drying out periods of the Sarygamysh lake were associated with the confluence of the river into the Aral Sea.

[10][11] In the past several years, from 2018 to 2024, satellite imagery suggests that the lake is shrinking again, possibly due to the prolonged droughts and lower inflow of water from the Amu Darya.

In total, during the existence of the lake, 36 species of various representatives of ichthyofauna were recorded in it,[13] including carp, catfish and snakehead.

[15] Sarygamysh lake is also inhabited by such bird species as white swans, pink and curly pelicans, and cormorants.