Aral Sea Case Study Questions and Answers Complete
What is the Aral Sea a Case Study for?
Water supply problems, human interference
What was the Aral Sea once the size of?
Ireland
Why did the Aral Sea shrink to 10% of its original size?
water abstraction from its 2 main tributaries, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya River,
the diversion of water from these rivers was in turn a direct result of the development of
cotton production in the surrounding region
How did the crisis begin?
In the early decades of the 20th century, the Soviet Union government initiated a plan to
expand irrigation in the region to cultivate cotton for export and thus increase the
standard of living for its growing population. The Gov realized that this would reduce
inland water inflow to the Aral Sea but they thought the Trade Off was worth it
What happened in 1956?
The Kara Kum Canal was opened, resulting in the diversion of large amounts of water
from the Amu Darya River.
What was the result of the opening of the Kara Kum Canal?
Reduction in River Volume of the Amu Darya River resulted in the separation of the Aral
Sea ubto 2 water bodies - a small aral sea in the north and a large aral sea in tthe
south, aswell as increases in salinity
Who is the greatest consumer of fresh water in the Aral Sea basin?
Uzbekestan, they use about 54% of the region's total water resources. , by 1991 -
cotton accounted for over 65% of Uzbekestan's GDP and 70% of the total arable land in
the Republic was devoted to cotton production
What happened between 1960 - 1990?
The development of irrigation around the Aral Sea increased from 4 million hectares
(ha) to 7 million ha whilstthe surface area of the aral sea declined from 70 square
metres to 40km. Whilst some economic benefits were seen in the short term, it was
realized that at the expense of the environment and long term economic loss of the
region
What were some of the economic impacts on the eco-system and people?
Increased use and runoff pesticides and fertilizer resulted in the pollution of surface and
groundwater, whilst declining downstream water availability and increased salinity
deprived the regions lakes and wetlands of their life source. As a result, the ecosystems
of the Amu Darya delta in Uzbekistan and the Syr Darya delta in Kazakhstan have
suffered substantial damages.
What ecological impacts occured in the Amu Darya?
In the Amu Darya delta, wetlands that had covered some 550,000 ha in 1960 were
reduced by 95% or to in 1990, replaced by sandy deserts, while more
than 50 delta lakes, covering some 60,000 ha, simply dried up
What ecological impacts occured in the Syr Darya?
shrank from about 500 km2 in 1960 to 40 km2 in 19806
what happened to the forests? (What is the special type of forest called?
What is the Aral Sea a Case Study for?
Water supply problems, human interference
What was the Aral Sea once the size of?
Ireland
Why did the Aral Sea shrink to 10% of its original size?
water abstraction from its 2 main tributaries, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya River,
the diversion of water from these rivers was in turn a direct result of the development of
cotton production in the surrounding region
How did the crisis begin?
In the early decades of the 20th century, the Soviet Union government initiated a plan to
expand irrigation in the region to cultivate cotton for export and thus increase the
standard of living for its growing population. The Gov realized that this would reduce
inland water inflow to the Aral Sea but they thought the Trade Off was worth it
What happened in 1956?
The Kara Kum Canal was opened, resulting in the diversion of large amounts of water
from the Amu Darya River.
What was the result of the opening of the Kara Kum Canal?
Reduction in River Volume of the Amu Darya River resulted in the separation of the Aral
Sea ubto 2 water bodies - a small aral sea in the north and a large aral sea in tthe
south, aswell as increases in salinity
Who is the greatest consumer of fresh water in the Aral Sea basin?
Uzbekestan, they use about 54% of the region's total water resources. , by 1991 -
cotton accounted for over 65% of Uzbekestan's GDP and 70% of the total arable land in
the Republic was devoted to cotton production
What happened between 1960 - 1990?
The development of irrigation around the Aral Sea increased from 4 million hectares
(ha) to 7 million ha whilstthe surface area of the aral sea declined from 70 square
metres to 40km. Whilst some economic benefits were seen in the short term, it was
realized that at the expense of the environment and long term economic loss of the
region
What were some of the economic impacts on the eco-system and people?
Increased use and runoff pesticides and fertilizer resulted in the pollution of surface and
groundwater, whilst declining downstream water availability and increased salinity
deprived the regions lakes and wetlands of their life source. As a result, the ecosystems
of the Amu Darya delta in Uzbekistan and the Syr Darya delta in Kazakhstan have
suffered substantial damages.
What ecological impacts occured in the Amu Darya?
In the Amu Darya delta, wetlands that had covered some 550,000 ha in 1960 were
reduced by 95% or to in 1990, replaced by sandy deserts, while more
than 50 delta lakes, covering some 60,000 ha, simply dried up
What ecological impacts occured in the Syr Darya?
shrank from about 500 km2 in 1960 to 40 km2 in 19806
what happened to the forests? (What is the special type of forest called?
