Aral Sea
The Shrinkage is Real
The Aral Sea was the 3rd largest sea in the World before irrigation began in 1960
Its original sizes was 26,300 sq miles (68,000 sq km)
Irrigation in the Aral Sea Basin began in the 1960s with the Soviet Union's major water diversion projects. These projects aimed to transform the arid plains of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan into productive farmland by diverting the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers for agricultural irrigation1.
In the 1960s, the opening of irrigation canals significantly reduced the flow of two rivers into the Aral Sea, leading to its decline. By 1960, the rivers contributed 55 km³ of water annually, but by 1982, they provided none, except during wetter years. The annual river flows fluctuated due to winter snowpacks, but there was no overall decline from 1920 to 1990. The drop in water flow to the Aral Sea was due to massive abstractions for cotton irrigation.
As a result, the Aral Sea's level dropped by more than 20 meters over 40 years, with its volume shrinking to one-fifth of its original size. The area of the sea significantly shrank, and parts of the east coast receded by up to 75 kilometers. In 1987, the Aral Sea split into the Small Aral and the Large Aral. The Small Aral continued to decline at a slower rate, while the Large Aral, losing more to evaporation, continued to fall. Temporary increases in water levels occurred in 1989 and the early 1990s due to overflow and snowmelt. The Large Aral is expected to shrink further and eventually divide again.
The primary cause of the Aral Sea's shrinkage was the diversion of the rivers that fed it—namely the Amu Darya and Syr Darya—for agricultural irrigation projects. During the Soviet era, extensive irrigation canals were built to support cotton and other crop farming in the arid regions of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
As a result, the inflow of fresh water into the Aral Sea drastically decreased, leading to its significant reduction in size and volume over the decades. This human intervention caused one of the most dramatic environmental catastrophes in recent history.
From 2000 to 2018, the Aral Sea experienced drastic shrinkage, losing approximately 75% of its water volume due to Soviet-era irrigation projects. This ecological disaster left behind rusting ships on dry lakebeds, highlighting the severe impact of human activity on natural ecosystems
"In 1989, the Aral Sea separated into two isolated water bodies – the Northern (Small) and Southern (Large) Aral Sea. In 2003, the latter further broken into western and eastern parts.Currently, the hydrological link between Eastern and Western parts of the Large Aral Sea is maintained via a channel, as well as through filtration from the Eastern part to the Western part."
Trying to Save the Lake
The project involves establishing a network of hydro-meteorological and agri-climatic stations to monitor the Aral Sea depression. The aim is to improve water management in the region. As a result, the project will enable better control of the flow rates in the canals, enhancing water distribution and usage efficiency.
The North Aral Sea is seeing improvements thanks to the $86 million Syr Darya Control and Northern Aral Sea project, funded by the Kazakh government and the World Bank. The construction of the Kokaral Dam has increased the lake's volume by 18%, reviving fish stocks and lowering salinity levels. In 2006, the fishing industry harvested 1,360 tons of fish, which increased to 8,200 tons by 2018.
Despite the progress in the North Aral Sea, the South Aral Sea continues to face significant challenges. The region remains almost completely desiccated due to ongoing agricultural and industrial drainage. This stark contrast between the North and South underscores the urgent need for comprehensive environmental management and innovative solutions to address the ecological issues plaguing the entire Aral Sea region.
