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The Aral Sea

The Aral Sea. By Kenia and Esmeralda . Where is the Aral Sea. Former Soviet Union regions (1922-1991) Lowland of Turan Lands of southern Kazakhstan and northern Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. How was the Aral Sea used by man?.

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The Aral Sea

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  1. The Aral Sea By Kenia and Esmeralda

  2. Where is the Aral Sea • Former Soviet Union regions (1922-1991) • Lowland of Turan • Lands of southern Kazakhstan and northern Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan

  3. How was the Aral Sea used by man? • In the 1950s, cotton was massively produced around the area of the Aral Sea. • The sea depended on the Amu Darya and Syr Darya but by the 1960s they were interrupted by man-made canals to water the cotton . • The Aral Sea soon began to lack a supply of water.

  4. How did humans damage the Sea? • The Soviet government diverted the flow of the river with the canals. • Water stopped coming into the sea. • Due to this, water level has decreased by over 60%. • It also became really salty.

  5. How did humans damage the Sea? Continued. • Temperatures have changed dramatically. • Winter has become colder and the summer hotter. • Water is now contaminated with pesticides, chemicals, bacteria, and viruses. • Farms use pesticides that go into the sea. • Chemicals from crops get blown by the wind.

  6. ComparisonBefore and After (pictures) • Water volume has decreased by 60% “in over 30 years” (National Geo.) • It was once the fourth largest body of water surrounded by land

  7. How is it being protected? • World Bank and the United Nations are trying to stabilize the Aral Sea • They will “rehabilitate the region and improve its water management” (Water Page) • “In 1994, Kazakstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikstan, Turkmenistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan gathered to establish the International Aral Sea Rehabilitation Fund (IFAS).” (Water Page)

  8. How is it being protected? (Continued) • In 2005, World Bank built a dam that is 8 miles long in order to raise the North part of the Aral Sea by 13 feet. • “The IFAS Executive Board is located in the city of Almaty. They plan to continue until 2015 and accomplish the following goals: -stabilizing and improving the environment of the Aral Sea Basin -rehabilitating the disaster zones -improving water resource management -increasing the capacity of local and state institutions for -planning and implementing programs ” (Water page)

  9. How are people being affected? • People breathe the salt, sand, and chemicals that are blown by the wind • This creates throat cancer and respiratory diseases • No fish=no protein source • People are becoming anemic • More children are dying • During the Soviet Union death rates went from 60 to 1,000

  10. How are animals affected? • by 1980s most fishery had disappeared • salt levels were as high as the ocean • the salinity increased from 10g to 30g per liter • Many different species of fish died while the Aral sea was drying up.

  11. Can the Aral Sea be saved? Or is it lost • With tens of millions of dollars in over 10 years spent on the Aral sea, there seems to be little progress. • With hopes to save it, their second and third plans are now currently underway • Scientists fear the southeast part of the sea will completely dry up by the end summer. • According to scientists only some parts of the sea will be able to be saved due to the tremendous disaster in the previous decades.

  12. Moreover, in some parts of the sea... • Sightings of new fishes are reported • Fishermen have caught tons of fish • Enough to export to Russia and Georgia • People are returning to inhabit the Aral’s surroundings

  13. What can be learned from recent history? • From recent history it can be learned that various countries do things that may seem efficient and helpful but do not think about the consequences. • it can also be learned that if multiple organizations and governments cooperate in an environmental disaster then a change can happen.

  14. Will humans learn? • We have come to the conclusion that humans will learn because this is not the only environmental disaster that is causing problems to humanity. • Global warming is a great example. • Countries are now aware of the type of problems that humans can create when messing with the environment. • It is safe to say that many countries will now be cautious.

  15. Lessons applied to other bodies of water • “Since 2006, we have been urging Congress to protect the Great Lakes by simply declaring that the Clean Water Act applies to all of Michigan's—and America’s—waters” (Environment Michigan) • Our lakes need to be protected and many people realize that these bodies of water need to b protected.

  16. Works cited Page • http://education.nationalgeographic.com/archive/xpeditions/activities/14/aral.html?ar_a=1 • http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WorldOfChange/aral_sea.php • http://www.thewaterpage.com/aral.htm • http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/aug/01/endangeredhabitats.conservation • http://www.epa.gov/oaqps001/gr8water/xbrochure/lakes.html • http://www.environmentmichigan.org/programs/mie/protect-great-lakes

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