A million years ago, the north-west of modern Uzbekistan and the southern part of the Republic of Kazakhstan were covered by a huge sea. When the water receded, they left a vast plain with highly saline soils. One of the remnants of the ancient sea was the Aral Sea, the fourth largest inland sea in the world.
The Aral Sea is an inland sea. It is formed by the two rivers Amu Darya and Syr Darya. The natural balance of the amount of salt in the sea was due to the flow of fresh water from these two rivers.
In the 1960s, the head of the Soviet government decided to grow more cotton and rice in Uzbekistan due to its exceptional climate and people who work hard. Government officials ordered new plants to be kept in places that were in a desert area, while so much water was taken from the two rivers that feed the Aral Sea.
New buildings were built, as well as hydroelectric dams on rivers and 850 km of large canal systems for “feeding” the land. When the irrigation system was completed, millions of hectares on both sides of the main canal were flooded.
Over the next 30 years, the water level in the Aral Sea sharply decreased, the coastline receded, and the salt level increased. The marine environment has become hostile to marine life, killing animals and plants of the region. As water grew and salt levels in the sea also increased only to affect the fishing industry.
The Soviet system was based on the construction of a series of dams on two rivers to create reservoirs, including 40,000 km of roads, and finally dug up water for diversion. Fields flourished, but with such a huge monoculture space, farmers had to use a lot of chemical pesticides. As a result of irrigation, the salt was drawn to the surface and accumulated in the air. When a dam was built on the Amu Darya River near the city of Nukus in Tahaitash, there was no water flowing into the Aral Sea in the river. To the surprise of the people of Moinak, the Aral Sea began to decline.
Firstly, they suggest that this is a temporary condition, and dredge on the back of the boat to continue sailing on the seashore. But the sewage that reached the sea penetrated a deadly mixture of salt and pesticides into cotton fields. The fish population declined significantly, and as the sea continued to leave, the boats were left lying, like a huge giant statue on the sands that were once the seabed.
The Aral Sea was a rich source of fish. About 20 species were once identified by biologists, including sturgeon and catfish. Moynak, located by the sea, was a fishing village, which also attracted tourists with its seaside attractions. In 1950, the Soviet Union decided to grow cotton on the great plains. The decisive factor for this was water.
Moynak today is a deserted city located more than a hundred kilometers from the sea. The only reminder of the once prosperous fishing boats and old fish plants lost to rust. The sea has been reduced to two-fifths of its original size and currently ranks 10th in the world. The water level fell by 16 meters, and the volume decreased by 75 percent, which is equivalent to the loss of water in both lakes Erie and Huron. The impact on the environment was disastrous, as well as on the economy, social life and health of people living in the region. All 20 known species of fish in the Aral Sea disappeared, unable to withstand the toxicity of salt mud.