Question

The Aral Sea and Cotton

Central Asia’s Aral Sea used to be the world’s 4th largest lake,
but no more, as it’s a small fraction of what it once was. Why?
Cotton. My, how could I say such a thing?

Answer 1

The Aral Sea's drastic decrease in size is attributed to the diversion of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers for irrigation purposes, particularly for cotton cultivation, by the Soviet Union. This diversion led to ecological and economic disasters, with attempts at restoration in the northern part conducted by Kazakhstan.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Aral Sea, once the world's 4th largest lake, has diminished dramatically. The primary cause of its shrinkage is the diversion of its two main inflows, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, which were redirected in the 1960s by the Soviet Union for agricultural irrigation, particularly for cotton production.

The northern part of the Aral Sea, known as the Little Aral Sea, has seen some improvement thanks to conservation efforts by Kazakhstan, such as the construction of a dam that has helped raise water levels and reduce salinity, giving the fishing industry new life.