How is the small Aral Sea making a comeback in Kazakhstan?

Aralsk is a port that ended up 60 miles inland. But now, a dam built by the World Bank and Kazakh government is slowly resurrecting a small part of the sea, reviving the fishing industry and bringing hope to an area that some expected would simply dry up and blow away in the fierce, salty winds.

What are three results of the Aral Sea being dried up?

Environmental Impacts

• Water Levels. The primary effect of the Aral Sea desiccation has been the significant loss of water in the sea.
• Correlation of Salinity with Water Level.
• SST Changes.
• Desertification.
• Salinization of Soil.
• Dust Storms.
• Climate Change.
• Melting Glaciers.

What are some of the effects of the disappearance of the Aral Sea?

The change in water quality in the Aral Sea basin reduced the number of fish in the river and in the sea, and destroyed most of fauna (2,3). International experts confirm that most water sources in Karakalpakstan are polluted, and that the pollution is mainly caused by the agro-industry and mining industries.

What has Kazakhstan done to restore its part of the Aral Sea?

In the early years of this century, Kazakhstan made a bold decision. They decided to split the Aral Sea and save the bit of it they could control. They built an 8 mile long dam to separate the northern pocket of the sea into an independent lake, with extensive improvements along the Syr Darya river to improve its flow.

Can we bring back the Aral Sea?

“Unfortunately, we will not be able to return the Aral Sea to its initial size, but what we can do today is begin to restore the ecosystem, to help the people living there and the environment,” he reflected.

Can we revive the Aral Sea?

The Aral Sea as a whole will never completely recover. The shoreline has radically changed, and the South Aral Sea remains almost completely desiccated. The North Aral Sea is recovering thanks to the $86 million Syr Darya Control and Northern Aral Sea project, funded by the Kazakh government and the World Bank.

Will the Caspian Sea dry up?

Increasingly, scientists agree that it will. According to a series of recent studies, the Caspian — the world’s largest inland body of water — is rapidly drying up as climate change sends temperatures in the region soaring.

What caused the shrinking of the Aral Sea?

Beginning about 1960, the Aral Sea’s water level was systematically and drastically reduced, because of the diversion of water from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers for purposes of agricultural irrigation.

How many countries are affected by the changes in the Aral Sea?

Called “the most staggering disaster of the twentieth century” by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Aral Sea basin intersects all five Central Asian republics – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – which lie in a 690,000-square-kilometer landlocked zone.

How has the shrinking of the Aral Sea affected public health in the surrounding region?

Given the increased salt and pollutant content in the air and soil, as the sea shrinks, the rate of tuberculosis, anemia, cancer and birth defects have all increased, she explained. Epidemics and respiratory diseases continue to threaten people living in the area.

Is the Caspian Sea shrinking?

According to a 2020 study, the Caspian — whose level has been falling by around seven centimeters a year since 1996 in tandem with rising temperatures in the Caspian basin — is projected to lose up to 18 meters of depth by the end of the century.

What happened to the Aral Sea?

It was no longer one body of water, but two lobes: a smaller North Aral Sea in Kazakhstan and a larger South Aral Sea in Uzbekistan. The region’s fishing industry collapsed, and many residents fled. The Aral Sea has shrunk dramatically just since 1960, but it’s showing signs of recovery, thanks to a concerted effort to restore it.

Is fishing returning to the Aral Sea in Kazakhstan?

Fishing has returned year-round to the Kazakh side of the Aral Sea, but locals still need to drive 20km to reach the water once on their doorstep (Credit: Taylor Weidman) According to Ahmad, this is a real possibility.

Will Uzbekistan’s South Aral Sea ever expand?

With Uzbekistan currently drilling for oil and gas beneath the bone-dry bottom of the former sea, and local farmers still desperate for their own water, it’s unlikely the southern sea will expand. Still, some efforts to restore wetlands around the South Aral Sea have been successful.

What is the eastern basin of the Aral Sea now called?

The eastern basin is now called the Aralkum Desert . In an ongoing effort in Kazakhstan to save and replenish the North Aral Sea, the Dike Kokaral dam was completed in 2005. By 2008, the water level had risen 12 m (39 ft) above that of 2003.