The Aral SeaThe Aral Sea

Justine RobinsonJustine Robinson

Rebecca WalkerRebecca Walker

Ashley TerrillAshley Terrill

Where is it?Where is it?

The Aral Sea, located in Uzbekistan and The Aral Sea, located in Uzbekistan and Kazakstan (both countries were part of Kazakstan (both countries were part of the former Soviet Union), is historically a the former Soviet Union), is historically a saline lake. saline lake.

1989 vs. 20031989 vs. 2003

The Aral Sea…The Aral Sea…

Once the world's fourth-largest inland sea with Once the world's fourth-largest inland sea with an area of 68,000 km², the Aral Sea has been an area of 68,000 km², the Aral Sea has been steadily shrinking since the 1960s, after the steadily shrinking since the 1960s, after the rivers Amu Darya and Syr Darya that fed it rivers Amu Darya and Syr Darya that fed it were diverted by Soviet Union irrigation were diverted by Soviet Union irrigation projects. projects.

By 2004, the sea had shrunk to 25% of its By 2004, the sea had shrunk to 25% of its original surface area, and a nearly fivefold original surface area, and a nearly fivefold increase in salinity had killed most of its natural increase in salinity had killed most of its natural flora and fauna.flora and fauna.

The Aral Sea…The Aral Sea…

The Aral is an inland salt-water sea with The Aral is an inland salt-water sea with no outlet. It is fed by two rivers, the Amu no outlet. It is fed by two rivers, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya. Darya and Syr Darya.

The fresh water from these two rivers The fresh water from these two rivers held the Aral's water and salt levels in held the Aral's water and salt levels in perfect balance. perfect balance.

What happened?What happened?

In the early 1960's, the Soviet central In the early 1960's, the Soviet central government decided to make the Soviet government decided to make the Soviet Union self-sufficient in cotton and Union self-sufficient in cotton and increase rice production. increase rice production.

Government officials ordered the Government officials ordered the additional amount of needed water to be additional amount of needed water to be taken from the two rivers that feed the taken from the two rivers that feed the Aral Sea. Aral Sea.

What happened?What happened?

Large dams were built across both rivers, Large dams were built across both rivers, and an 850-mile central canal with a far-and an 850-mile central canal with a far-reaching system of "feeder" canals was reaching system of "feeder" canals was created. created.

When the irrigation system was When the irrigation system was completed, millions of acres along both completed, millions of acres along both sides of the main canal were flooded. sides of the main canal were flooded.

What happened?What happened?

Over the next 30 years, the Aral Sea Over the next 30 years, the Aral Sea experienced a severe drop in water level, experienced a severe drop in water level, its shoreline receded, and its salt content its shoreline receded, and its salt content increased. increased.

1960 to 2008 Visual1960 to 2008 Visual

http://www.orexca.com/aral_sea.shtmlhttp://www.orexca.com/aral_sea.shtml

Works CitedWorks Cited

Aral SeaAral Sea. 4 Nov. 2008 . 4 Nov. 2008 <http://enrin.grida.no/aral/aralsea/english/<http://enrin.grida.no/aral/aralsea/english/arsea/arsea.htm>.arsea/arsea.htm>.

The Aral SeaThe Aral Sea. 4 Nov. 2008 . 4 Nov. 2008 <http://visearth.ucsd.edu/VisE_Int/aralse<http://visearth.ucsd.edu/VisE_Int/aralsea/>.a/>.