Massimo on Nostr: The Aral Sea, once the world's fourth-largest lake, has dramatically shrunk over the ...
The Aral Sea, once the world's fourth-largest lake, has dramatically shrunk over the past few decades due to the diversion of its source rivers for irrigation purposes.
This environmental catastrophe has left behind a desert of ghost ships and abandoned fishing communities.
Its history dates back to the Pliocene and Pleistocene Epochs, when it was part of a larger sea. It became a distinct body of water around 10,000 years ago, fed by the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers. The sea supported a thriving fishing industry and was home to a diverse ecosystem.
However, in the 1960s, the Soviet government began diverting the Syr Darya and Amu Darya to irrigate the surrounding desert region, leading to a rapid decline in the sea's water level. By the end of the century, the Aral Sea had split into two smaller lakes, and the water volume had decreased by three-fourths. The eastern portion of the sea suffered the most drastic decline, diminishing by four-fifths between 2006 and 2009.
Recent efforts to save the Aral Sea have focused on preserving the northern portion through the construction of the Kok-Aral Dam and projects along the Syr Darya. While these efforts have shown some success, the overall health of the sea remains in peril. The once-prosperous region is now heavily polluted, with serious public health concerns.
This environmental catastrophe has left behind a desert of ghost ships and abandoned fishing communities.
Its history dates back to the Pliocene and Pleistocene Epochs, when it was part of a larger sea. It became a distinct body of water around 10,000 years ago, fed by the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers. The sea supported a thriving fishing industry and was home to a diverse ecosystem.
However, in the 1960s, the Soviet government began diverting the Syr Darya and Amu Darya to irrigate the surrounding desert region, leading to a rapid decline in the sea's water level. By the end of the century, the Aral Sea had split into two smaller lakes, and the water volume had decreased by three-fourths. The eastern portion of the sea suffered the most drastic decline, diminishing by four-fifths between 2006 and 2009.
Recent efforts to save the Aral Sea have focused on preserving the northern portion through the construction of the Kok-Aral Dam and projects along the Syr Darya. While these efforts have shown some success, the overall health of the sea remains in peril. The once-prosperous region is now heavily polluted, with serious public health concerns.