Aral Sea Flashcards
What is the main issue?
Steadily shrinking since 1960s
What happened in the 1950s?
Soviet gov. diverted Amu Diya river and Syr Daya river which fed into Aral Sea fro irrigation
What happened in 2007?
Sea declined to 10% of original & split into 2 lakes fallen by 40m
Who have the Former Soviet gov. done?
Former soviet gov. 9communist leaders lead irrigation scheme to create jobs for millions of farmers)
What did the Former soviet gov. do?
communist leaders lead irrigation scheme to create jobs for millions of farmers
Where do the fishing community stand?
Fishing community (industry employed 60,000, now collapsed so unemployment and ships lie exposed on seabed)
Where do the local residents stand?
Local residents (health problems from slat and dust from seabed, heavily polluted water due to industry, pesticide runoff & weapon testing, high infant mortality die to kidney and heart failure)
Where do the Uzbekistan gov. stand?
Uzbekistan gov. (irrigation schemes means country is largest cotton exporter, want to discover oil deposits beneath seabed)
Where do the scientists stand?
Scientists (little bird, mammal & fish species remain, area more arid and prone to extreme temps)
Where do the Kazakhstan farmers stand?
Kazakhstan farmers (drinking water salty & polluted as irrigation brought water table to surface)
Where do the international economists stand?
International economists (land infertile that people may not be able to feed themselves so migrate creating environmental refugees)
Where do the water engineers stand?
Water engineers (poorly built irrigation canals so water leaking out & evaporating - Kara Kuam Canal is main one in central Asia & 30-75% going to waste)
