Aral Sea Becomes Aralkum Desert as Soviet Water Diversion Drains Central Asian Sea
Once spanning 26,300 square miles (68,000 square km) along the border of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the Aral Sea has nearly disappeared, transforming into the Aralkum Desert. The diversion of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers for agricultural purposes began in the 1940s, resulting in substantial reduction by the 1960s. By 1989, the sea had divided into two parts with increased salinity, leading to fish extinctions and the decline of the fishing sector. Local communities have faced detrimental effects from toxic dust storms originating from the exposed seabed, while agriculture is impacted by severe weather and salt accumulation. Kazakhstan has made strides in partially reviving the North Aral Sea, whereas Uzbekistan concentrates on cotton and oil exploration in the southern region.
Key facts
- The Aral Sea straddled the border between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the former Soviet Union.
- In 1960 the sea covered about 26,300 square miles (68,000 square km), slightly larger than West Virginia.
- The Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers were diverted for alfalfa, cotton, and rice crops beginning in the 1940s.
- By the 1980s water reaching the Aral Sea had dried up, and by 1989 it had split into two parts with greatly increased salinity.
- The port of Aral now lies nine miles from the water's edge.
- The exposed seabed forms the Aralkum Desert, the youngest desert in the world, source of toxic dust storms.
- Kazakhstan has restored part of the North Aral Sea with irrigation works and a dam, reducing salinity and reviving fish species.
- Uzbekistan focuses on cotton production in the south and has been prospecting the dry seabed for oil.
Entities
Institutions
- SAS Scandinavian Airlines
- Wikimedia Commons
- iStock
- TheCollector
Locations
- Aral Sea
- Kazakhstan
- Uzbekistan
- Central Asia
- Soviet Union
- Amu Darya
- Syr Darya
- Aral
- Aralkum Desert
- North Aral Sea
- South Aral Sea
- West Virginia