15. Water Conflicts (International Transboundary Water Conflicts- Restroing The Aral Sea)

Question 1

Give 3 key years in the Aral Sea International Transboundary water conflict.

Answer 1

1. 1987 - the sea split into two separate sections (the North Aral Sea and the South Aral Sea) as the water level decreased
2. 2003 - the South Aral sea further divided into two, an eastern and western basin.
3. 2004 - the Aral sea’s surface became 1/4 of its original size

Question 2

REFER TO GEOFACTSHEETS

Question 3

Why did the Aral Sea shrink?

Answer 3

• The Amu Darya river and the Syr Darya river were diverted to irrigate thirsty crops (e.g cotton) during the 1960s by the Soviet Union. - cotton still accounts for 17% of Uzbekistan exports
• Irrigation canals are leaky and suffer from high evaporation rates (30-75% of water wasted before used for farming)

Question 4

How much water goes to irrigation instead of reaching the Aral sea?

Answer 4

20-40km cubed

Question 5

Why was a plan to divert the rivers to refill the Aral Sea, which began in the 1960s, scrapped?

Answer 5

It was abandoned due to costs by 1986.

Question 6

Outline the key events in the Aral Sea International Transboundary water conflict.

Answer 6

1. In 1997, Kyrgyzstan reduced the amount of flow leaving its Toktogul reservior and entering Uzbekistan
2. Uzbekistan cut off 70% of the water flowing in to downstream Kazahkstan
3. When the water crisis was reaching water stress, the 3 countries (Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazahkstan) started to negotiate and signed a barter agreement to share their water.
4. In 2012, the Uzbek president announced plans to build two large hydroelectric dams in Tajikstan and Kyrgyzstan - potential for further conflict.

Question 7

How is the Aral Sea being restored?

Answer 7

In 1994, the Stan (Central Asian) countries adopted the Aral Sea Basin Programme.

Question 8

Give some examples of projects in the Aral Sea Basin Programme.

Answer 8

1. The Kok-Aral Dam was built to store 29 cubic km of water but also to allow excess into the Aral Sea.
2. The Kazakh Government built a dike to separate the North and South Aral Sea in 2005 - this has allowed the North Aral water level to rise, salinity to decrease and an increase in fish stocks (24 species returned)
3. To support the dike, a second dam to support the water rise has been built with funding from the World Bank.