Laboratory experiments on decaying quasi-2D turbulence are performed in a s
tratified flow inside a circular container. The observed decay scenario and
the shape of the quasi-stationary "final" state depend strongly on the amo
unt of net angular momentum in the initial flow field. Furthermore, the ang
ular momentum appears to be a better conserved quantity than the total kine
tic energy. These experimental observations agree remarkably well with rece
ntly reported results based on numerical simulations of the 2D Navier-Stoke
s equations with no-slip boundary conditions.