Why is the Aral Sea shrinking?
People redirect amount of water on the two Rivers to fitness 30 minutes the Aral Sea, S.Darya and A.Darya rivers for irrigation.
The Aral Sea located in Central Asia is shrinking due to various human activities such as irrigation, dam construction, and overfishing. The rivers that flow into the Aral Sea have been diverted extensively for irrigation purposes, mainly for cotton cultivation in the region. As a result, the once mighty Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers are now only a trickle by the time they reach the Aral Sea. This reduced inflow of water combined with high evaporation rates in the region has resulted in the shrinking of the Aral Sea over the past few decades.
The construction of dams upstream of the Aral Sea has also contributed to its shrinkage as it disrupts the natural flow of water. The Kok-Aral Dam, for example, was built on the Kok-Aral River which feeds into the Aral Sea. The construction of the dam has resulted in the river being diverted leaving the Aral Sea with even less water.
Overfishing in the Aral Sea has also played a role in its shrinkage. The excessive fishing in the past has led to the depletion of fish species in the sea resulting in further ecological imbalances.
Overall, human actions such as irrigation, dam construction, and overfishing have resulted in the shrinkage of the Aral Sea, causing numerous environmental and economic consequences for the region.
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