The Aral Sea (/ ˈ ær əl /) [5] [a] was an endorheic lake lying between Kazakhstan to its north and Uzbekistan to its south, which began shrinking in the 1960s and had largely dried up into desert by the 2010s.

Mar 19, 2025 · Aral Sea, a once-large saltwater lake of Central Asia. It was once the world’s fourth largest body of inland water but has shrunk remarkably because of the diversion of its sources of inflowing water for irrigation beginning in the second half of the 20th century.

These images show the decline of the Southern Aral Sea in the past decade, as well as the first steps of recovery in the Northern Aral Sea. A massive irrigation project has devastated the Aral Sea over the past 50 years.

1 hour ago · New research shows the dried Aral Sea region is rising due to Earths mantle, adjusting to lose water weight. The man-made environmental disaster has also led to the creation of the toxic Aralkum Desert, increasing hazardous dust levels and altering climate patterns in Central Asia. Scientists warn of long-term consequences for regional ecosystems and global climate systems.

The Aral Sea (Kazakh: Арал теңізі (Aral tengizi), Uzbek: Orol dengizi, Russian: Аральскοе мοре) was a lake in Central Asia. It is between Kazakhstan in the north and Karakalpakstan, an autonomous region of Uzbekistan, in the south. Since the 1960s, the Aral Sea shrank. 90% of the sea has gone. [3]

May 16, 2024 · The stark reality is that the Aral Sea, formerly the fourth-largest freshwater lake in the world with an area of 68,000 square kilometres (approx. 26,300 square miles), has transformed into the expanses of the Aralkum Desert that emerged in its place.

Mar 19, 2025 · Aral Sea - Pollution, Drying, Ecosystem: The rapid shrinkage of the Aral Sea led to numerous environmental problems in the region. By the late 1980s the lake had lost more than half the volume of its pre-1960 water.

Dec 8, 2024 · The North Aral Sea is seeing improvements thanks to the $86 million Syr Darya Control and Northern Aral Sea project, funded by the Kazakh government and the World Bank. The construction of the Kokaral Dam has increased the lake's volume by 18%, reviving fish stocks and lowering salinity levels.

6 days ago · The Aral Sea’s story is a microcosm of global environmental challenges. It highlights the consequences of unsustainable practices and the urgent need for international cooperation in addressing ecological crises. The lessons from the Aral Sea are relevant to regions facing similar issues, such as the drying of lakes and rivers worldwide.

Apr 5, 2025 · Despite the destruction of most of the Aral Sea, there is some good news. The Small Aral Sea, in northern Kazakhstan, still has water. In the ESA’s image, this section is visible as a partially ice-covered body of water. This area has seen some positive changes due to restoration efforts, especially the Kok-Aral Dam built in 2005, which helps ...