Beginning about 1960, the Aral Sea's water level was systematically and drastically reduced, because of the diversion of water from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers for purposes of agricultural irrigation. ... The Aral Sea began to quickly shrink because of the evaporation of its now unreplenished waters.
What caused the shrinking of the Aral Sea?
Once the fourth largest lake in the world, Central Asia's shrinking Aral Sea has reached a new low, thanks to decades-old water diversions for irrigation and a more recent drought . ... The Aral Sea was fed by two of Central Asia's mightiest rivers, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya.
What happened to the Aral Sea and what caused it?
Desiccation of the Aral Sea: A Water Management Disaster in the Soviet Union. The Aral Sea in the Soviet Union, formerly the world's fourth largest lake in area, is disappearing. ... Recession has resulted from reduced inflow caused primarily by withdrawals of water for irrigation .
What human activities caused Aral Sea to shrink?
Intensive irrigation of cotton plantations in the deserts of the western Soviet Union prevented water reaching the Aral Sea, leading to the drastically low levels we see today. This in turn meant the highly-salty waters killed off many plants and animals.
What destroyed the Aral Sea?
In October 1990 Western scientists confirmed the virtual disappearance of the Aral Sea in Soviet Central Asia, formerly the fourth largest inland sea in the world. The loss of sea water was the result of 60 years of intensive agriculture and pollution by the Soviet authorities .
Can Aral Sea be restored?
During the past three decades, restoration of the Aral Sea ecosystem has focused mainly on afforestation of the drained seabed to mitigate the sandstorms that cause erosion and further degrade the fragile soils. ... The Aral Sea assessment and action plan will be completed by late July 2021 .
What did Russia do to the Aral Sea?
By establishing a program to promote agriculture and especially that of cotton , Soviet government led by Khrouchtchev in the 1950s deliberately deprived the Aral Sea of its two main sources of water income, which almost immediately led to less water arriving to the sea.
Is the Aral Sea getting bigger?
Another 13 km long dam was built in 2004, as well as several hydraulic installations on the river bed that were financed by the World Bank. The North Aral Sea increased its level by four meters in only six months, increasing its size in one third in one year and recovering part of its aquatic fauna.
Which sea is dried up?
In 2014, the eastern lobe of the South Aral Sea completely disappeared. Water levels in summer 2018 were not as low as they might have been, following a round of seasonal snowmelt in the spring. As the Aral Sea has dried up, fisheries and the communities that depended on them collapsed.
How can we stop the Aral Sea from shrinking?
There is no work under way to restore the southern region. It has always looked like a lost cause. So Aladin says it will keep shrinking and getting saltier until only brine shrimp are left. Using less water to irrigate crops could restore the entire Aral Sea, says Micklin.
What were the impacts of the Aral Sea drying up?
The shrinking Aral Sea has also had a noticeable affect on the region's climate. The growing season there is now shorter, causing many farmers to switch from cotton to rice, which demands even more diverted water. A secondary effect of the reduction in the Aral Sea's overall size is the rapid exposure of the lake bed .
What are the issues with the Aral Sea?
The change in water quality in the Aral Sea basin reduced the number of fish in the river and in the sea , and destroyed most of fauna (2,3). International experts confirm that most water sources in Karakalpakstan are polluted, and that the pollution is mainly caused by the agro-industry and mining industries.
How did humans change Aral Sea?
The Aral Sea was once the world's fourth-largest lake, but an irrigation project drained nearly all the water. The consequences include the loss of a fishing industry, salt-laden dust affecting crops and human health, and an altered climate .
Is the Aral Sea polluted?
The water from the diverted Syr Darya river is used to irrigate about two million hectares (5,000,000 acres) of farmland in the Ferghana Valley. The Aral Sea region is heavily polluted , with consequent serious public health problems.
How much water did the Aral Sea lost?
Once the fourth largest inland sea in the world, the Aral Sea has lost 90 percent of its water volume over the last 50 years. Its watershed — the enormous closed basin around the sea — encompasses Uzbekistan and parts of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
