Final answer:
The water provided by the Aral Sea in the nearby towns was used for fishing, irrigation, and domestic purposes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The water provided by the Aral Sea was used for a variety of purposes in the nearby towns. One major use was for the fishing industry. The Aral Sea was home to numerous species of fish, which were a valuable resource for commercial fishing. However, as the sea began to shrink and the water became more saline, the fishing industry suffered.
In addition to fishing, the water from the Aral Sea was also used for irrigation. The Soviet Union diverted water from the Aral Sea to supply irrigation canals, which allowed for the growth of crops such as grains and cotton in the nearby desert lands. This agricultural irrigation was a major factor in the shrinking of the Aral Sea.
The water from the Aral Sea also had other domestic uses, such as drinking water and water for daily household operations in the nearby towns.