The Aral Sea, situated in Karakalpakstan, an autonomous republic of Uzbekistan, was once the world's fourth largest lake. In 1958, the Soviet Union, who at the time ruled over the region, diverted the Amudarya and the Syrdariya rivers that fed the Aral sea so that cotton and rice could be grown for export in the neighbouring desert plains. Consequently, less water from the rivers flowed into the Sea and, surrounded by a vast desert, the Aral Sea began to disappear.
The shrinking of the lake over the past 40 years has had a devastating effect on life in this region. Winters are now dryer and colder than they were before, and summer temperatures regularly rise to 50°C making it impossible to farm on all but the smallest scale.
As the waters of the Aral Sea recede, salts and chemical deposits amass on the dried out lake bed, these are then whipped up by the winds and blown in the direction of local towns. This, coupled with the consumption of contaminated food and water, has spelt disaster for the health of the people in the region. Anemia, lung disease, high blood pressure, Cancer and Tuberculosis are rife.
The former fish basket of Central Asia is adjusting to its colossal loss of wealth. Economic problems are now so severe that even the local doctors, unpaid for many months, are resorting to driving taxis to make a living.
The decision of the Soviet authorities, back in the 1950's, to divert the course of rivers in order to irrigate new agricultural lands has today been seen to have had devastating consequences. Without the Aral Sea the ecosystem has collapsed leading to widespread pollution and poverty. The damage it seems is irreversible.
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