Why the Aral Sea was called a ‘Dying Saline Lake’ ?

The Aral Sea was often referred to as a “Dying Saline Lake” due to a series of environmental and ecological disasters that dramatically altered its size and composition. Here are the key reasons why it earned this unfortunate designation:

1. Diversion of Rivers: The primary cause of the Aral Sea’s decline was the diversion of its two main tributaries, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya rivers, for irrigation purposes. These rivers, which historically fed the Aral Sea, were extensively dammed and diverted in the mid-20th century to support large-scale cotton and rice agriculture in the arid regions of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.
2. Shrinking Water Levels: As a result of the river diversions, the inflow of freshwater into the Aral Sea decreased significantly. This caused the water levels in the sea to drop rapidly, leading to a reduction in the sea’s surface area.
3. Salinity Increase: With less freshwater flowing into the sea, the remaining water became increasingly saline (salty). Higher salinity levels had detrimental effects on aquatic life in the sea, as many species of fish and other organisms could not survive in the increasingly salty waters.
4. Ecosystem Collapse: As the Aral Sea shrank and salinity increased, the entire ecosystem of the region was disrupted. Native fish populations collapsed, and the commercial fishing industry that once thrived in the area collapsed with it. The decline in water levels also exposed vast stretches of former seabed, which became prone to wind erosion and the spread of salt and dust storms.
5. Health Impacts: The blowing salt and dust from the exposed seabed led to severe health problems for the local population. Respiratory illnesses and other health issues became common as a result of inhaling the fine particulate matter from the desiccated seabed.
6. Economic Consequences: The collapse of the fishing industry and the loss of a stable water supply for agriculture had devastating economic consequences for the communities around the Aral Sea. Many people in the region faced unemployment and poverty.

Efforts have been made to mitigate the environmental damage to the Aral Sea, including the construction of dams and canals to partially restore the water flow from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers. However, the Aral Sea remains significantly smaller and more saline than it was in the past, and it serves as a stark example of the environmental consequences of unsustainable water management practices.