The Aral Sea was among the largest lakes by area in Eurasia until the mid-20th century. Due to irrigation policies implemented since the 1960s, the lake has significantly shrunk, leading to various environmental, socioeconomic, and health-related consequences. The Aral Sea is a subject of multidisciplinary research in the context of water resource management and closed basin systems.
Aral Sea (Generated by Artificial Intelligence)
Geographical and Hydrological Features
The Aral Sea is located in a closed basin system between southwestern Kazakhstan and northwestern Uzbekistan, where continental climate conditions are prevalent. The Amu Darya (Oxus) and Syr Darya (Jaxartes) rivers are the main feeding sources for the lake. As of 1960, its surface area was measured at approximately 68,000 km², and its water volume was approximately 1,020 km³. The lake has no connection to the sea.
Anthropogenic Intervention and Hydrological Imbalance
Agricultural Irrigation Projects
In the late 1950s, projects aimed at diverting water from rivers to increase agricultural production were initiated by the Soviet Union. Irrigation infrastructures, particularly those established for cotton and rice production, led to the diversion of significant amounts of water from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers.
Changes in Lake Surface Area and Volume
In the post-1960 period, the lake's surface area decreased by up to 90%, and its water volume by up to 95%. In 1987, the lake was divided into two main parts: the North and South Aral. Since 2003, the South Aral has further split into Eastern and Western sub-sections. The increase in salinity has led to significant changes in the chemical properties of the lake water.
Lost Silhouettes of the East | Silent Ship | Aral Sea (TRT Documentary)
Ecological, Health, and Socioeconomic Impacts
Ecosystem Transformation
The increase in salinity and decrease in water level have led to a decline in the populations of fish species living in and around the lake. The barren areas formed in the dried-up parts of the lake have resulted in vegetation degradation and a reduction in the habitats of migratory birds.
Public Health Related Findings
Pesticide and salt particles accumulated on the dried lakebed are carried by wind, which can affect the health conditions of the surrounding population. Respiratory system diseases and contamination of drinking water sources are influencing epidemiological indicators in the region.
Socioeconomic Indicators
The cessation of fishing activities and the decline in irrigation-based agricultural production have led to a decrease in economic activities. During this process, migration movements and loss of workforce have been observed among the rural population.
Aral Sea (AA)
Intervention Strategies and Restoration Initiatives
North Aral Sea: Kokaral Dam
Built in 2005 in cooperation with the Kazakhstan government and the World Bank, the Kokaral Dam ensured the retention of water from the Syr Darya River in the North Aral Sea. After the dam's construction, an increase in the lake's water level, a decrease in salinity, and the return of some fish species to the lake were observed.
South Aral Sea: Current Situation
Similar restoration projects have not been implemented in the South Aral Sea, which remains within Uzbekistan's territory. In this region, the lakebed has largely dried up, and a new desert called 'Aralkum' has formed over a significant part of the area.
Interdisciplinary Importance
The Aral Sea example is a subject of academic studies related to the following topics:
- Water balance in closed basin systems,
- Management of transboundary water resources,
- Environmental impacts of agricultural policies,
- Health–environment interactions.
The transformation experienced by the lake is considered a case study in the fields of environmental planning, sustainable development, and natural resource management.
The Aral Sea is one of the examples of closed basins that reveal the effects of human-induced activities on hydrological systems. Developments around the lake necessitate multidisciplinary strategies for long-term water resource management, protection of lake ecosystems, and mitigation of societal impacts.
