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Aral Sea. The INCREDIBLE SHRINKING Aral Sea. The Aral Sea is located between Kazakhstan & Uzbekistan. Aral Sea. Since the 1960s it has been shrinking due to over irrigation. It is now 20% of its original size. The Soviets used the diverted water to irrigate cotton fields.
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The INCREDIBLE SHRINKING Aral Sea The Aral Sea is located between Kazakhstan & Uzbekistan
Aral Sea • Since the 1960s it has been shrinking due to over irrigation. • It is now 20% of its original size. • The Soviets used the diverted water to irrigate cotton fields.
Affected the Region’s Climate • Summer • Before: • Aral Sea cooled the land in the summer • After: • Hotter Summers • Winter • Before: • Aral Sea warmed the land in the winter • After: • Colder Winters
Cash Crops Cotton Long growing season (200 days) Rice Shorter growing season (170 days) Needs more water than cotton
Moynaq – Former Fishing Village • Shrinking of the Aral Sea decimated the fishing industry. • Commercial fishing stopped in 1982. • All fishing and cannery workers lost their jobs. • Highest level of joblessness in Kazakhstan is in the Aral Sea region.
Aral Sea The shrinking of the Aral Sea has caused: • A. The collapse of the local fishing industry • B. Increase in pollution due to fertilizer run off, pesticides, and industrial waste • C. Increase in respiratory illnesses in the region