The Decline and Death of the Aral Lake

Once the fourth largest lake in the world, the Aral Sea straddles the border with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. It has shrunk to a fraction of its size due to mismanagement of water resources, resulting in serious ecological, economic and health problems.

Tuberculosis affects one in two people living on its shores. Lung, kidney, and dental problems are reported to have increased due to the salty, sandy winds. Almost all native fish species have been wiped out, resulting in serious consequences for an economy once dependent on the fisheries industry. It is one of the worst environmental disasters of our time.