Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan both share the Aral Sea, a body of water that is steadily disappearing. The Aral Sea provides a picture of effects of Soviet eco-engineering. In the 1940’s, the Soviet government took the equivalent of payday loans. The water level of the Aral Sea has been dropping since then.
History of Aral Sea changes
The Soviet government started building canals to divert up to 60 cubic km per year as part of the “Great Prepare for the Transformation of Nature”. The Aral Sea covered 68,000 sq km of land. The goal of this plan was to irrigate desert cropland to grow crops like cereal, melons, cotton, and rice. The preparation was partially successful, as Uzbekistan is now one of the world’s largest cotton exporters.
Shrinkage of the Aral Sea
The Aral Sea was diverted as part of the Soviet Government’s loans for people with bad credit. The Aral Sea started shrinking after twenty years of diversion. . Water diverted for agriculture at increasing rates was a major cause. The Aral Sea also dropped because of evaporation. In 1986, a Russian attempt to refill the Aral Sea was abandoned. By 2004, the Aral Sea had split into three separate lakes that are less than 25% of the original size of the Aral Sea.
How the Aral Sea dropping has changed ecology and economy
. The fishing economy has practically disappeared since the Aral Sea started dropping. The salt level of the Aral Sea has risen to the point of toxicity. Toxic dust storms also blow up off the Aral Sea plain, with runoff from chemical testing, fertilizers, weapons testing, and industrial projects all becoming airborne. The Aral Sea shrinking has also been blamed within the extreme temperature changes within the area.
Restoring the Aral Sea
Some groups have been working to restore the Aral Sea. Some countries within the area have promised money to help the World Bank and UNESCO restore the Aral Sea. Major projects have increased the sea depth by about 98 feet, though the likelihood the Aral Sea will return to its former glory are minimal.
Resources:
AP News
Aral Sea Foundation
