Aral Sea Flashcards
Location and Borders
Central Asia. The Sea borders Uzbekistan and Kazakstan.
Problem that could lead to conflict
Climate Change
Size of the Sea now
It has shrunk to 10% of its original size.
Why has it shrunk?
Soviet Government decided that the two rivers that fed the Aral Sea would be diverted to irrigate the desert and boost cotton production and the construction of irrigation canals began on a large scale in 1940s. Many of these were poorly built allowing water to leak or evaporate.
Two rivers that feed the Sea
Amu Darya and Syr Darya.
Kara Kum Canal
About 30 to 75% of the water went to waste.
Aral Sea Average rate of fall
20cm a year.
Soviet Government focus
Want the irrigation system to remain in place because of the income they receive through cotton production.
Fishing community focus
Has a problem as he industry, which employed 60,000 people in villages around the lakeshores, has collapsed due to the dried up, smaller Aral sea.
Local Residents focus
They have problems as the salt and dust from the dried out seabed has led to health problems leading to infant mortality rates being among the highest in the world. Also, the drinking water has become heavily polluted as a result of weapons testing, industrial projects and pesticide/fertilizer runoff.
Uzbekistan government focus
In favour of the irrigation system as it allows the poor country to remain one of the world’s largest exporters of cotton.
