Fading of a Sea

Once the world’s fourth largest lake, the Aral Sea

has diminished to a fraction of its former grandeur.

By the 1960s, the Soviet practice of diverting water

from the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers to irrigate

cropland began to show an impact. For six decades,

evaporation has continued to reduce the lake year

after year. Salts are concentrated in remaining

waters and exposed lake beds, making the region

increasingly inhospitable.

Evaporating away

In the south, the coast has receded to the

far western part of the basin. In the north,

where water is collected behind a dam,

lake levels remain stable.

What remains of the Aral Sea

This colorized infrared view enhances the difference between the

waters and the former lake bed now known as the Aralqum,

a polluted desert full of salt, pesticides, and fertilizers deposited as

the water receded. Winds stir up the toxic mix, blowing it westward

into Eastern Europe.

Matthew W. Chwastyk, NGM Staff

Sources: World Meteorological Organization; UN Food and Agriculture Organization;

Openstreetmap; USGS; NASA/JPL; ESA; Merit DEM

Fading of a Sea

Once the world’s fourth largest lake,

the Aral Sea has diminished to a

fraction of its former grandeur. By the

1960s, the Soviet practice of diverting

water from the Syr Darya and Amu

Darya rivers to irrigate cropland began

to show an impact. For six decades,

evaporation has continued to reduce

the lake year after year. Salts are

concentrated in remaining waters and

exposed lake beds, making the region

increasingly inhospitable.

Evaporating away

In the south, the coast has receded to

the far western part of the basin. In

the north where water is collected

behind a dam, lake levels

remain stable.

What remains of the Aral Sea

This colorized infrared view enhances

the difference between the waters

and the former lake bed now known

as the Aralqum, a polluted desert full

of salt, pesticides, and fertilizers

deposited as the water receded.

Winds stir up the toxic mix, blowing it

westward into Eastern Europe.

Matthew W. Chwastyk, NGM Staff

Sources: World Meteorological

Organization; UN Food and Agriculture

Organization; Openstreetmap; USGS;

NASA/JPL; ESA; Merit DEM