Today, most seas are in a complex ecological situation, but the most catastrophic condition is found in the Aral Sea. The main problem of the Aral Sea is the rapid loss of water masses. Over the past fifty years, the area of the Aral Sea has shrunk sixfold, and biological diversity has not decreased but has practically disappeared. Let's further examine the problems in the Aral Sea and whether humans can save it from destruction.

Main problems of the Aral Sea

The demise of the Aral Sea can have unpredictable consequences not only for Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan but also for the entire Europe. The Large Aral completely dried up in 2014, and the temporary inflow of water that occurred in the spring of 2015 could not stop the irreversible process of desiccation. Today, the authorities of Kazakhstan have redirected all available resources to restore the Small (North) Aral.

The World Meteorological Organization calls the drying of the Aral Sea one of the largest anthropogenic environmental crises of the 20th century. The disappearance of the sea has had a systemic negative effect on the flora, fauna, landscape, and climate of the Aral Sea region. Within a radius of 100 kilometers, summers have become hotter and drier, while winters have become colder and longer. The amount of precipitation has decreased several times. Out of 173 animal species, only 38 have survived, and their populations are extremely vulnerable.

Colossal damage has been done to the ichthyofauna – the reduction in the sea's area and the increase in salinity led to the disappearance of almost all endemic species. The fish population in adjacent lake systems decreased by 20 times, and in the Large Aral, there are no fish left at all.

Since ancient times, the Aral Sea has attracted humans and become a central object for economic activities. The Aral was filled with waters from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, but in the past century, special irrigation canals were built, diverting the waters of these rivers for agricultural irrigation. Experts claim that the construction of these canals became the main cause of the drying of the Aral Sea. Reservoirs were also built, diverting an additional volume of river water needed by the Aral Sea basin.

Less water flowed into the Aral basin, causing its water level to rapidly decline. The area of the Aral Sea has shrunk several times, leading to the death of marine inhabitants. The loss of water is one of the problems that worsened the situation and contributed to the development of other processes. The once-unified sea space was divided into two water bodies. The salinity of the Aral Sea waters significantly increased, negatively affecting the flora and fauna, as not all marine life adapted to the more saline water.

Fish began to rapidly die out, affecting the fishing industry in the waters of the Aral Sea. Currently, the region is experiencing a severe shortage of drinking water, as wells and lakes that supplied water to the sea have dried up. A significant area of the sea bed has dried up and been covered in sand. The drying of the Aral has caused a substantial weakening of its warming effect in the winter and cooling effect in the summer on the surrounding area. As a result, aridity has increased significantly, and the climate has become sharply continental. Moreover, the population of mammals and birds near the Aral Sea has decreased by 50%.

Scientists have proven that the combination of all ecological crisis factors has led to the deterioration of the health of the residents of the Aral Sea region. Today, there is a complex of problems that have a large-scale character and pose a threat to economic activities and the health of the local population. Throughout the Aral Sea region, the quality of water and land resources has been lost, and the integrity of ecosystems has been disrupted. The Ajibay, Rybaksky, Bozkol, and Karatma bays have disappeared forever.

Solution to the problems of the Aral Sea

The Aral Sea be saved from drying up? If decisive action is taken and a comprehensive set of measures is developed, such an outcome is quite possible. A special dam was previously built, separating the Large Aral from the Small one. The Small Aral Sea is replenished with the waters of the Syr Darya, and at this stage, the water level in the sea has increased by 42 meters. This step also affected the salinity of the water – it decreased, allowing fish to be grown in the waters of the Aral Sea. There is a unique opportunity to restore the ecosystem of the Aral Sea, giving hope for a bright future for the residents of the Aral Sea region.

The revival of the Aral Sea is a complex process that requires a significant amount of finances and government control. Today, the problems of the Aral Sea are actively covered in the media and scientific circles, significantly increasing the chances of reviving the ecosystem of the Aral Sea. It is important to create a unified water strategy and monitoring system that would gradually lead to a common goal. It is also essential to increase the efficiency of water use and address issues related to the poverty of the population of the Aral Sea region, which is closely related to the existing ecological catastrophe. Undoubtedly, the fate of the Aral is in the hands of humans.