Aral Sea Activity Index

<< A wrecked boat on the Aral Sea, near Kulandy, Kazakhstan. Photograph by Yann Arthus-Bertrand/CORBIS

The Aral Sea is in trouble, as are the people who live nearby. Help figure out why people in the Aral Sea region have so many complaints.

The Aral Sea, located in the former Soviet Union (today's Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan) has shrunk by more than 60% in over 30 years! Look at these satellite images of the sea to see how much it has changed.

What happened to the Aral Sea? The Aral Sea region is big cotton farming country. The Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers flow through cotton farmland into the sea. In the 1950s, the Soviet government decided to divert some of the water from these rivers to irrigate the cotton fields. As more water was diverted for agriculture, less and less river water flowed into the sea.

Changes to one part of a region often lead to other changes. Here are some of the results of the shrinking of the Aral Sea:

• As water has been drained from the rivers for cotton farming, the sea's water has become much saltier.
• As more water has been taken from the rivers, the sea's water level has decreased by over 60%.
• Drinking water supplies have dwindled, and the water is contaminated with pesticides and other agricultural chemicals as well as bacteria and viruses.
• The farms in the area use some highly toxic pesticides and other harmful chemicals. For decades, these chemicals have been deposited into the Aral Sea. When the wind blows across the dried-up sea, it carries dust containing these toxic chemicals.
• Lakes and seas tend to have a moderating effect on the climate. In other words, the land right next to a body of water tends to be warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer than land that's not near the water. As the Aral Sea has lost water, the climate has become more extreme.

What would it be like to live near the Aral Sea? Below are some things the local people might say about their experiences since the sea began to shrink. Read the quotes, and match them up with the causes above. Each quote can be matched to more than one cause. When you're finished, you will be able to help the people of the Aral Sea region figure out why they are having so many problems.

"I live in the town of Nukus. My father and grandfather were fishermen in this town, but as you can see, the boats are now sitting in the middle of a desert."

"I am 30 years old. Last year, I started having trouble breathing, and I always have a bad cough. I live 20 miles downwind of the Aral Sea."

"I am a fisherman, but these days there's not much money in fishing. The fish who used to live in the Aral Sea don't seem to like the water conditions any more, and they're dying out quickly. Perhaps we should reintroduce some saltwater fish into the sea."

"I can't believe I have to wear so many layers of clothes these days! I guess I'll have to knit a new sweater, if I can get some wool."

"I am a doctor in the town of Muynak. In the past decade, I've treated many people with throat cancer, diseases caused by microorganisms, and other serious conditions."

Younger Xpeditioners: Think of a lake or another body of water near your home. What do you think would happen if the water level started to go down? How might it affect people, animals, and plants? In what ways might your town or region look different?

Older Xpeditioners: Imagine you have been sent to the Aral Sea as a specialist to help solve the problems there. Describe the major problems you would be tackling, and brainstorm the things you could suggest to help the situation.

Parents: Discuss with your children the problem of water scarcity. Is water plentiful in your region or are there water-related conservation issues? Explain that, since water is essential for life but is not abundant everywhere, people sometimes argue or even fight over rights to water. For example, the dry western states are currently trying to figure out how they are going to provide water for all the new people who are moving there.

Also discuss the importance of having a clean drinking water supply. Inform your children or work with them to find out where your local drinking water comes from. Then help them brainstorm ways that they and other people in the community can help keep the water supply safe and clean.