Astrakhan is famous throughout Russia for its watermelons and produce, but it could soon be known instead as a lifeless desert. That prognosis might sound alarmist, but the once-flourishing region is already being swallowed by the sand. This summer, journalists from the independent media outlet Kedr traveled to towns in the Astrakhan region that are suffering the most severe effects of desertification. They spoke with residents about what it means to survive under such conditions and asked ecologists what factors, apart from climate change, are exacerbating the situation in southern Russia, and if there are any ways to mitigate the impact of what has already begun.