What is the lesson from the Aral Sea disaster?

By studying the changes in the Aral Sea, they will understand that: (1) lakes are affected by both the quantity and the quality of water that flows into them from rivers; (2) damming or diverting rivers, for irrigation and other purposes, can have a significant impact on the size and water quality of lakes; (3) the …

What is the main cause of water loss in the Aral Sea?

Pollution. No rivers flow out of the Aral Sea; water disappears through evaporation. Before construction of the excessive irrigation systems, water level was kept stable by inflow from Amu Darya and Syr Darya. As human use of river water has increased, the composition of lake water has changed.

What are the effects of the Aral Sea shrinking?

The shrinking Aral Sea has also had a noticeable affect on the region’s climate. The growing season there is now shorter, causing many farmers to switch from cotton to rice, which demands even more diverted water. A secondary effect of the reduction in the Aral Sea’s overall size is the rapid exposure of the lake bed.

How did the Aral Sea affect the environment?

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 problems were caused by the use of water from the Aral Sea for irrigation?

The diversion of water from the Amu Darya for irrigation decreased the amount of water entering the Aral Sea, which consequently began shrinking. Increased irrigation on the hot, dry floodplains of the Amu Darya and in adjacent regions resulted in evaporation that left salt deposits that make the soil infertile.

How does the Aral Sea affect humans?

The consequences include the loss of a fishing industry, salt-laden dust affecting crops and human health, and an altered climate. A dam has increased water levels in a small part of the lake called the North Aral.

Who cut the Aral Sea?

Formerly the fourth largest lake in the world with an area of 68,000 km2 (26,300 sq mi), the Aral Sea began shrinking in the 1960s after the rivers that fed it were diverted by Soviet irrigation projects….

How has human activity affected the Aral Sea?

The impact of human activities on the Aral Sea is more significant than that of climate change. Overall, the increased upstream runoff, reduced water withdrawal, and rise in water delivery to the Aral Sea has led to a slowing down of the sea’s notorious shrinkage.