Sofía Cortes, Juan Sebastián Giraldo, Mariana Guevara, Juanita Rivera, María Alejandra Santana, Santiago Torres, Nicolás Vásquez
Science department
Saint George’s School
PEERING AT OUR MISTAKES
The Aral Sea is located in Central Asia, between Kazakhstan
and Uzbekistan, nourished by the Amu Darya and Syr Darya
Rivers. In the year 1960, The Aral Sea was the fourth largest
salt lake in the world. However, in the following years it
underwent a major desiccation, bereft of its 75% and 90% area
and volume respectively, embodying one of the most shocking
human-provoked ecological tragedies of contemporary history.
In the 1960s, the Soviet government resolved to change the
course of the referenced rivers in order to improve agriculture
in the area near the river. This decision resulted in the gradual
desertification of the lake, as the great reservoir was divested
from its main water sources and was accompanied by a
bourgeoning demand for water, which affected not only its
area and volume but aggrieved the surrounding population.
Amongst the broad range of consequences of this
phenomenon, unrelenting weather changes, impaired
socioeconomic dynamics and unparalleled burdensome health
conditions are clearly thrown into relief.
FIGURE 1: ANTECEDENTS AND PROSPECTS OF THE SITUATION
IS THE FUTURE FURNISHING US HOPE?
CHOICES MADE, CHALLENGES AHEAD
FIGURE 2: DESICCATION PROGRESS YEARS 1973-2000
ENVIRONMENTAL
Different solutions have been proposed for resolving the
situation of the Aral Sea. For instance, Uzbekistan’s
governmental project intends to fill the lakes back in to reestablish progressively the fauna and the flora lost by the
collapse of the ecosystem. Nevertheless , for the
aforementioned purpose, 73km3 of
water would be required to be pumped
back into the reservoirs annually for
approximately 20 years, whereby it has
been
completely
discarded.
Consequently, governments of riverside
countries not willing to relinquish their
endeavor of saving The Aral Sea, have
suggested decreasing the amount of
water to re-establish annually; proposing
35km3 which might not restore the lake to
its former glory, but could settle an
appropriate threshold for life to flourish
again. Conjointly, Uzbekistan, in
cooperation with the World Bank, has been developing a project
through which a drainage collection system has been
implemented for pumping water back to the delta, attaining a
partial ceasing in soil erosion and stabilizing the water debris.
Nevertheless, it renders indispensable as a result to reduce
even more the hydraulic loss in rivers and channels and return
excess water that flows into the systems of irrigation.
FIGURE 3: THE ARAL LAKE
YEAR 2003
FIGURE 4: THE ARAL LAKE
YEAR 2015
HUMAN





Area and volume were reduced by 75% and 90% respectively.
The sea level has dropped 23m since 1964.
Surface temperature and evaporation rate have both increased.
Salinity went from 10g/l to 100g/l
Erosion of the land around the sea caused people to use fertilizers
which polluted the water.
 From the 30 different species that lived in the sea, only two survived
approximately.
 Due to the death of 40% of the vegetation, the strength of the winds
has augmented.
 Less humidity in the air caused nearby glaciers to melt.
 Sandstorms, which reached a distance of 500km, caused destructions
of crops.
 Climate of the region was totally affected since it was the sea who
regulated it.
 Over 60 thousand people lost their fishing jobs.
 Only one fishing company remains in the area.
 Loss of valuable assets such as fishing vessels.
SOCIO Over the last 10 years the area of cultivated land per
ECONOMIC
capita has reduced by 30%.
 In the fishing industry, Kazakhstan went from fishing
exporter to importer.
 Major exodus due to lack of work.
 Drinking water is dangerous due to high salinity, various
metals, and wastes.
 The area presents the highest infant rate mortality of the
HEALTH
former USSR.
 Cases of bronchitis and arthritis have increased 30 and
60 thousand percent, respectively.
 Population has suffered a terrible pandemic of anemia,
hepatitis and respiratory diseases.
 Liver and throat cancer had incremented to astonishing
levels of 200% and 25%.
 Multiple cases of eye diseases and intestinal infections
emerged.
FIGURE have
5: TABLE
EXPLORING CONSPICUOUS CONSEQUIENCES
LESSONS FOR A BRIGHTER TOMORROW
Perhaps it is not possible to restore the whole Aral Sea to its
former state, however there are ways to help preserve its
remnants and render it sustainable by its own means. Current
approaches have bolstered that, above all, communication
among bordering countries is imperative for preventing further
decay of the ecosystem. Not only a multilateral effort has to be
embraced but also the endeavors to assuage this ordeal must
be embedded within countries' development planning. In
pursuance of effective policies, authors have agreed on the
crucial role education on sustainable resource employment
plays on preventing similar environmental disasters and
fostering earnest water conservation programs. Finally,
governments should strive for encouraging the implementation
of sustainable agriculture in the lake's neighboring populations
in order to provide ways for people to improve their life
standards and prompt a regional development.
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