You might have heard about Aral Lake or Aral Sea . Aral sea was one of largest lakes in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan region. It was fourth largest lake in 1960s spread over 68,000 km2 (26,300 sq mi) area. The Aral Sea started steadily shrinking after 1960 when soviet union diverted rivers falling into lake to their own irrigation projects. By 1997, lake shrink to 10% of its original size.
Later on, lake split into four sub lakes called as The North Aral Sea, the eastern and western basins of the once far larger South Aral Sea, and one smaller lake between the North and South Aral Seas. The southeastern lake disappeared by 2009, and the southwestern lake had retreated to a thin strip at the western edge of the former southern sea; in subsequent years, occasional water flows have led to the southeastern lake sometimes being replenished to a small degree.
In 2014, NASA taken some pictures of eastern basin of the Aral Sea, which shows lake has completely dried up and there is no more water in it and is now called as Aralkum Desert.
Shrinking of the Aral Sea is called “one of the planet’s worst environmental disasters”. Once there was a prosperous fishing industry which provided lively hood to many families. The fishing industry has came to an end which as a result brings unemployment and economic hardship to the residents of near by area. After environmental and weather changes, due to shrinking of lake, region is heavily polluted and causes some serious public health problems.
Below you can see Aral Sea Images (to see a difference).
Aral Sea a.k.a Aralkum desert is a living lesson for all of us, that if we don’t care about our environment and surroundings, then soon our gorgeous and lovely world is going to be a desert.