Once one of the world’s four largest
lakes, the Aral Sea played a vital role in the economy and everyday life of the
region. But the large-scale diversion of water from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya
rivers for irrigation caused the sea to shrink dramatically, creating one of
the world’s most severe human-made environmental disasters.
In this episode, you will discover what
caused the Aral Sea to disappear and how the disaster transformed the
surrounding region. How did the Kok-Aral Dam help preserve the North Aral Sea?
Why is saxaul being planted across the exposed seabed, and how has the return
of water helped revive the fishing industry? We also explore efforts to restore
the North Aral, manage the Syr Darya’s limited water resources, and strengthen
water diplomacy between Central Asian countries – a crucial factor in the
sea’s future.
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