Iristu close to Baykonur (Tuesday August 19, 2003)

This morning, I was opening the latest batch of satellite data with a great curiosity. Where can Iristu be? It was clear at first sight though that he has not travelled very far over the past three days. He is still at river Syrdarya in Southern Kazakhstan, having proceeded some 140 kilometres downstream. It is interesting to note that he is within a few dozen kilometres away from the famous Baykonur Cosmodrome... He has apparently found Syrdarya to be a convenient place to take break on his journey to the wintering grounds - there is enough water there (both in Syrdarya itself and in irrigation canals), which means enough food.