418:
434:
450:
394:
88:
478:
406:
58:
466:
41:
745:
95:
65:
384:(between the Northern and Western seas), but it received some water from snow melt in the spring of 2010. It is expected to alternate between complete desiccation in the summers and the occasional flood from the Amu Darya or spillover from the dam holding back the North Aral Sea, though a second dike, begun in 2010, may reduce the incidence of the latter.
417:
379:
The West Aral Sea is expected to stabilize at 2,700–3,500 km (1,040–1,350 sq mi), a mean depth of 14–15 m (46–49 ft), and a maximum depth of 37–40 m (121–131 ft), assuming groundwater discharge at the rate of 2 km (0.5 cu mi) per year. The
Eastern Sea
370:
in wet years, fluctuating in salinity and flooding an area of up to 4500 km in salt water to a depth of about one meter, which would preclude any economic activity in the area, while the western basin becomes increasingly saline. Water diversion from the Amu Darya directly to the deeper western
433:
491:
In 2015, the
Western Sea was starting to split into two, as the channel that connects the central part of the sea and the small North-Eastern part was growing skinnier. (This can be seen on the 2014 picture.) Since 2018, the split has been complete.
365:
of 70 g/L and the eastern basin 100 g/L. Once the water level falls below the connecting channel (elevation 29 m), the salinities can be expected to diverge further. Under current conditions, the eastern basin may receive water from the
393:
301:
was dammed to prevent the collapse of its fisheries, cutting off the only remaining inflow to the southern lakes. In 2008, the
Eastern Sea split again, and in May 2009 had almost completely dried out, leaving only the small permanent
532:"scinexx | Aralsee: Ostbecken ist jetzt Wüste: Satellitenaufnahmen dokumentieren dramatische Austrocknung der letzen Jahre – Wüsten, Aralsee, Desertifikation, Wasser, Bewässerung, Landschaft, Landwirtschaft, Flüsse"
405:
449:
465:
371:
basin could lower its salinity enough to allow resumption of local fisheries, while allowing the eastern basin to desiccate almost entirely and avoiding the problems of flooding.
310:
desert. In 2010, it was partially filled again by meltwater, and by 2014 was once again dry. The West Aral Sea has some replenishment from groundwater in the northwest.
733:
297:, connected by a narrow channel (channel bed at an elevation of 29 m (95 ft)) that balanced surface levels but did not allow mixing, and in 2005 the
477:
439:
July 2010 – A closeup of the channel leading from the re-flooded
Eastern Sea to the Western Sea. The white areas are the exposed salt flats of the new
143:
87:
711:
423:
August 2009 – The
Eastern Sea's mud flats have dried further, with only the faintest glimmer of water where it drains into the Western Sea.
679:
57:
349:. In 1987, due to an accelerated loss of water, the Aral Sea was split into northern and southern parts; the northern part is the current
1662:
1242:
1322:
726:
411:
November 2003 – Much of the
Eastern Sea's water has evaporated, the jade green swirls representing sediment in the shallow water.
399:
July 2002 – The sea's former bed is visible as lighter-colored areas, the lightest regions representing the most recent retreat.
1657:
1327:
892:
553:
1687:
703:
1692:
1352:
1748:
1743:
1682:
1317:
1237:
719:
1677:
1667:
1517:
1312:
749:
45:
The Aral Sea in mid-August 2014. The two remaining lakes to the south and west are the remains of the South Aral Sea.
1547:
1362:
1232:
897:
691:
1552:
1542:
1512:
1417:
1332:
1087:
1072:
1627:
887:
1672:
1412:
680:"The rehabilitation of the ecosystem and bioproductivity of the Aral Sea under conditions of water scarcity"
1077:
1527:
1272:
1092:
602:
471:
September 2011 – The
Northern Sea and Eastern Sea lost water, while the Western Sea gained more water.
638:
1357:
1067:
1462:
1182:
191:
629:
Jarsjö, Jerker; Destouni, Georgia (2004). "Groundwater discharge into the Aral Sea after 1960".
1738:
1647:
1177:
1172:
1042:
531:
1717:
1642:
1387:
1382:
962:
902:
825:
646:
583:
424:
381:
303:
1587:
1152:
1127:
1027:
1012:
1007:
957:
937:
922:
862:
704:
https://eurasianet.org/northern-arals-promise-stunted-by-dam-height-international-disputes
615:
579:
508:
285:
which formed in 1987 when that body divided in two, due to diversion of river inflow for
642:
40:
1707:
1592:
1582:
1562:
1257:
1247:
1132:
1122:
1052:
967:
882:
830:
350:
298:
212:
24:
1732:
1567:
1397:
1342:
1307:
1262:
917:
877:
857:
815:
775:
587:
175:
557:
1632:
1622:
1577:
1427:
1372:
1252:
1147:
1112:
1097:
992:
972:
952:
765:
323:
129:
650:
1617:
1612:
1572:
1502:
1492:
1447:
1422:
1347:
1287:
1162:
1117:
1002:
997:
947:
847:
810:
795:
760:
289:. In 2003, the South Aral Sea itself split into eastern and western basins, the
286:
198:
692:
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/02/aral-sea-lake-water-nature-human-impact/
1557:
1407:
1377:
1367:
1292:
1282:
1157:
1047:
1037:
977:
805:
800:
770:
744:
346:
342:
335:
124:
120:
158:
145:
1712:
1697:
1637:
1482:
1472:
1467:
1432:
1402:
1392:
1297:
1212:
1167:
1057:
1032:
872:
852:
790:
456:
367:
331:
327:
204:
180:
380:
dried up completely in the summer of 2009, apart from the small permanent
1652:
1537:
1522:
1477:
1457:
1442:
1437:
1302:
1277:
1227:
1222:
1197:
1192:
1187:
1142:
1107:
1062:
987:
820:
509:"Seen from Space – South Aral Sea shrinking but North Aral Sea expanding"
362:
319:
282:
20:
306:
between the
Northern and Western Seas and increasing the expanse of the
1702:
1497:
1452:
1217:
1202:
1137:
1082:
1022:
1017:
982:
927:
912:
907:
842:
440:
307:
192:
1602:
1597:
1337:
1267:
1207:
942:
785:
338:
1607:
1532:
1507:
1487:
932:
780:
455:
August 2010 – Part of the
Eastern Sea has been re-flooded by the
1102:
867:
184:
715:
483:
August 2014 – The Aral Sea completely loses its
Eastern Lobe.
580:"The Shrinking Aral Sea Recovers : Image of the Day"
268:
264:
256:
248:
240:
226:
222:
211:
190:
174:
135:
116:
33:
136:
582:. Earthobservatory.nasa.gov. 30 October 2010.
427:appears between the Northern and Western seas.
236:42,100 km (16,250 sq mi) (1989)
727:
8:
668:Physical oceanography of the dying Aral Sea,
556:. Feow.org. 26 February 2013. Archived from
326:decided that the two rivers feeding it, the
232:3,500 km (1,350 sq mi) (2005)
734:
720:
712:
30:
500:
389:
322:began shrinking in the 1960s, when the
611:
600:
281:was a lake in the basin of the former
94:
64:
662:
660:
252:37–40 m (121–131 ft) (2005)
7:
554:"Freshwater Ecoregions of the World"
244:14–15 m (46–49 ft) (2005)
14:
361:In 2007, the western basin had a
234:(fluctuating area of Eastern Sea)
743:
588:10.1111/j.1440-1770.2010.00437.x
530:Harald Frater (10 August 2009).
476:
464:
448:
432:
416:
404:
392:
334:, would be diverted in order to
93:
86:
63:
56:
39:
255:
247:
239:
225:
1:
651:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2003.12.013
260:29 m (95 ft) (2007)
115:
1765:
898:Balyktykol (Karasor Basin)
18:
1333:Saumalkol (Karasor Basin)
1323:Saumalkol (Bukhar-Zhyrau)
756:
666:Peter O. Zavialov, 2005,
631:Journal of Marine Systems
50:
38:
1328:Saumalkol (N Karkaraly)
706:Satellite image of 2020
694:Satellite image of 2018
1688:Zhamantuz (Ualikhanov)
1243:Lower Turgay and Irgiz
1078:Karakol (Shalkarteniz)
610:Cite journal requires
218:Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan
77:Show map of Kazakhstan
1693:Zhamantuz (Zhangeldi)
19:Further information:
1683:Zhamantuz (Taiynsha)
1318:Saumalkol (Bayanaul)
459:from heavy snowmelt.
1749:Lakes of Uzbekistan
1744:Lakes of Kazakhstan
1678:Zhamantuz (Shalkar)
1668:Zhamantuz (Aktogay)
1663:Zhamantuz (Aksu CA)
1358:Shalkar (Kokshetau)
1313:Saumalkol (Aiyrtau)
1238:Kyzyltuz (Zhelezin)
1088:Karasor (Ekibastuz)
1068:Karakol (Chu basin)
893:Balyktykol (Akmola)
750:Lakes of Kazakhstan
643:2004JMS....47..109J
560:on 19 February 2012
155: /
1658:Zhamantuz (Akmola)
1518:Teniz, Yereymentau
1418:Shoshkaly (Akmola)
1093:Karasor (Pavlodar)
682:(rev. August 2007)
341:and food crops in
1726:
1725:
1628:Zhaksy-Zhalgyztau
1553:Tuzkol (Pavlodar)
1548:Tuzkol (Kostanay)
1363:Shalkar (Terekti)
1233:Kyzyltuz (Akkuly)
1073:Karakol (Shalkar)
888:Balyktykol (Abai)
375:Current situation
275:
274:
257:Surface elevation
1756:
1513:Teniz, Mendykara
1413:Shoshkaly (Abai)
826:Barsakelmes Lake
748:
747:
736:
729:
722:
713:
707:
701:
695:
689:
683:
677:
671:
664:
655:
654:
637:(1–4): 109–120.
626:
620:
619:
613:
608:
606:
598:
596:
594:
576:
570:
569:
567:
565:
550:
544:
543:
541:
539:
527:
521:
520:
518:
516:
505:
480:
468:
452:
436:
425:Barsakelmes Lake
420:
408:
396:
382:Barsakelmes Lake
304:Barsakelmes Lake
203:(previously the
194:
170:
169:
167:
166:
165:
160:
156:
153:
152:
151:
148:
138:
108:
107:Show map of Asia
97:
96:
90:
78:
67:
66:
60:
43:
31:
1764:
1763:
1759:
1758:
1757:
1755:
1754:
1753:
1729:
1728:
1727:
1722:
1673:Zhamantuz (May)
1588:Ulken Tobylzhan
1543:Tuzkol (Almaty)
1273:Maysor (Irtysh)
1153:Kokshetau Lakes
1128:Kishi Tobylzhan
1013:Kak (Ulken Kak)
1008:Kak (Kishi Kak)
958:Buralkynyn Tuzy
752:
742:
740:
710:
702:
698:
690:
686:
678:
674:
665:
658:
628:
627:
623:
609:
599:
592:
590:
578:
577:
573:
563:
561:
552:
551:
547:
537:
535:
529:
528:
524:
514:
512:
507:
506:
502:
498:
489:
488:
487:
484:
481:
472:
469:
460:
453:
444:
437:
428:
421:
412:
409:
400:
397:
377:
359:
316:
235:
233:
231:
215: countries
202:
193:Primary inflows
163:
161:
157:
154:
149:
146:
144:
142:
141:
128:
112:
111:
110:
109:
106:
105:
104:
103:
102:
98:
81:
80:
79:
76:
75:
74:
73:
72:
68:
46:
27:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1762:
1760:
1752:
1751:
1746:
1741:
1731:
1730:
1724:
1723:
1721:
1720:
1715:
1710:
1705:
1700:
1695:
1690:
1685:
1680:
1675:
1670:
1665:
1660:
1655:
1650:
1645:
1640:
1635:
1630:
1625:
1620:
1615:
1610:
1605:
1600:
1595:
1593:Ulken Torangyl
1590:
1585:
1583:Ulken Shabakty
1580:
1575:
1570:
1565:
1563:Ulken Azhbolat
1560:
1555:
1550:
1545:
1540:
1535:
1530:
1525:
1520:
1515:
1510:
1505:
1500:
1495:
1490:
1485:
1480:
1475:
1470:
1465:
1460:
1455:
1450:
1445:
1440:
1435:
1430:
1425:
1420:
1415:
1410:
1405:
1400:
1395:
1390:
1385:
1380:
1375:
1370:
1365:
1360:
1355:
1350:
1345:
1340:
1335:
1330:
1325:
1320:
1315:
1310:
1305:
1300:
1295:
1290:
1285:
1280:
1275:
1270:
1265:
1260:
1255:
1250:
1245:
1240:
1235:
1230:
1225:
1220:
1215:
1210:
1205:
1200:
1195:
1190:
1185:
1180:
1175:
1170:
1165:
1160:
1155:
1150:
1145:
1140:
1135:
1133:Kishi Torangyl
1130:
1125:
1123:Kishi Shabakty
1120:
1115:
1110:
1105:
1100:
1095:
1090:
1085:
1080:
1075:
1070:
1065:
1060:
1055:
1050:
1045:
1040:
1035:
1030:
1025:
1020:
1015:
1010:
1005:
1000:
995:
990:
985:
980:
975:
970:
965:
960:
955:
950:
945:
940:
935:
930:
925:
920:
915:
910:
905:
900:
895:
890:
885:
883:Balykty Sarkyl
880:
875:
870:
865:
860:
855:
850:
845:
840:
839:
838:
833:
828:
818:
813:
808:
803:
798:
793:
788:
783:
778:
773:
768:
763:
757:
754:
753:
741:
739:
738:
731:
724:
716:
709:
708:
696:
684:
672:
656:
621:
612:|journal=
571:
545:
522:
499:
497:
494:
486:
485:
482:
475:
473:
470:
463:
461:
454:
447:
445:
438:
431:
429:
422:
415:
413:
410:
403:
401:
398:
391:
388:
387:
386:
376:
373:
358:
355:
351:North Aral Sea
315:
312:
299:North Aral Sea
279:South Aral Sea
273:
272:
270:
266:
265:
262:
261:
258:
254:
253:
250:
246:
245:
242:
238:
237:
230:West Aral Sea:
228:
224:
223:
220:
219:
216:
209:
208:
196:
188:
187:
178:
172:
171:
139:
133:
132:
118:
114:
113:
101:South Aral Sea
100:
99:
92:
91:
85:
84:
83:
82:
71:South Aral Sea
70:
69:
62:
61:
55:
54:
53:
52:
51:
48:
47:
44:
36:
35:
34:South Aral Sea
25:North Aral Sea
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1761:
1750:
1747:
1745:
1742:
1740:
1737:
1736:
1734:
1719:
1716:
1714:
1711:
1709:
1706:
1704:
1701:
1699:
1696:
1694:
1691:
1689:
1686:
1684:
1681:
1679:
1676:
1674:
1671:
1669:
1666:
1664:
1661:
1659:
1656:
1654:
1651:
1649:
1646:
1644:
1641:
1639:
1636:
1634:
1631:
1629:
1626:
1624:
1621:
1619:
1616:
1614:
1611:
1609:
1606:
1604:
1601:
1599:
1596:
1594:
1591:
1589:
1586:
1584:
1581:
1579:
1576:
1574:
1571:
1569:
1568:Ulken Kamkaly
1566:
1564:
1561:
1559:
1556:
1554:
1551:
1549:
1546:
1544:
1541:
1539:
1536:
1534:
1531:
1529:
1526:
1524:
1521:
1519:
1516:
1514:
1511:
1509:
1506:
1504:
1501:
1499:
1496:
1494:
1491:
1489:
1486:
1484:
1481:
1479:
1476:
1474:
1471:
1469:
1466:
1464:
1461:
1459:
1456:
1454:
1451:
1449:
1446:
1444:
1441:
1439:
1436:
1434:
1431:
1429:
1426:
1424:
1421:
1419:
1416:
1414:
1411:
1409:
1406:
1404:
1401:
1399:
1398:Sholakshalkar
1396:
1394:
1391:
1389:
1386:
1384:
1381:
1379:
1376:
1374:
1371:
1369:
1366:
1364:
1361:
1359:
1356:
1354:
1351:
1349:
1346:
1344:
1341:
1339:
1336:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1326:
1324:
1321:
1319:
1316:
1314:
1311:
1309:
1306:
1304:
1301:
1299:
1296:
1294:
1291:
1289:
1286:
1284:
1281:
1279:
1276:
1274:
1271:
1269:
1266:
1264:
1261:
1259:
1256:
1254:
1251:
1249:
1246:
1244:
1241:
1239:
1236:
1234:
1231:
1229:
1226:
1224:
1221:
1219:
1216:
1214:
1211:
1209:
1206:
1204:
1201:
1199:
1196:
1194:
1191:
1189:
1186:
1184:
1181:
1179:
1176:
1174:
1171:
1169:
1166:
1164:
1161:
1159:
1156:
1154:
1151:
1149:
1146:
1144:
1141:
1139:
1136:
1134:
1131:
1129:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1119:
1116:
1114:
1111:
1109:
1106:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1096:
1094:
1091:
1089:
1086:
1084:
1081:
1079:
1076:
1074:
1071:
1069:
1066:
1064:
1061:
1059:
1056:
1054:
1051:
1049:
1046:
1044:
1041:
1039:
1036:
1034:
1031:
1029:
1026:
1024:
1021:
1019:
1016:
1014:
1011:
1009:
1006:
1004:
1001:
999:
996:
994:
991:
989:
986:
984:
981:
979:
976:
974:
971:
969:
966:
964:
961:
959:
956:
954:
951:
949:
946:
944:
941:
939:
936:
934:
931:
929:
926:
924:
921:
919:
916:
914:
911:
909:
906:
904:
901:
899:
896:
894:
891:
889:
886:
884:
881:
879:
876:
874:
871:
869:
866:
864:
861:
859:
856:
854:
851:
849:
846:
844:
841:
837:
834:
832:
829:
827:
824:
823:
822:
819:
817:
814:
812:
809:
807:
804:
802:
799:
797:
794:
792:
789:
787:
784:
782:
779:
777:
774:
772:
771:Akkol (Talas)
769:
767:
764:
762:
759:
758:
755:
751:
746:
737:
732:
730:
725:
723:
718:
717:
714:
705:
700:
697:
693:
688:
685:
681:
676:
673:
669:
663:
661:
657:
652:
648:
644:
640:
636:
632:
625:
622:
617:
604:
589:
585:
581:
575:
572:
559:
555:
549:
546:
533:
526:
523:
510:
504:
501:
495:
493:
479:
474:
467:
462:
458:
451:
446:
442:
435:
430:
426:
419:
414:
407:
402:
395:
390:
385:
383:
374:
372:
369:
364:
356:
354:
352:
348:
344:
340:
337:
333:
329:
325:
321:
313:
311:
309:
305:
300:
296:
295:West Aral Sea
292:
288:
284:
280:
271:
267:
263:
259:
251:
243:
241:Average depth
229:
221:
217:
214:
210:
206:
200:
197:
195:
189:
186:
182:
179:
177:
173:
168:
140:
134:
131:
126:
122:
119:
89:
59:
49:
42:
37:
32:
29:
26:
22:
1648:Zhalanashkol
1633:Zhaksykylysh
1578:Ulken Koskol
1373:Shalkarteniz
1148:Koksengirsor
1098:Kashkanteniz
835:
699:
687:
675:
667:
634:
630:
624:
603:cite journal
591:. Retrieved
574:
562:. Retrieved
558:the original
548:
536:. Retrieved
534:. Scinexx.de
525:
513:. Retrieved
503:
490:
378:
360:
324:Soviet Union
317:
294:
290:
278:
276:
227:Surface area
185:natural lake
130:Central Asia
28:
1573:Ulken-Karoy
1448:Siletiteniz
1423:Shubarteniz
1348:Shaglyteniz
1288:Rudnichnoye
1183:Koshkar-Ata
1163:Kokuydynkol
1118:Kishi-Karoy
1043:Kamys-Samar
998:Kabyrshakty
761:Caspian Sea
593:1 September
564:1 September
538:1 September
291:Eastern Sea
287:agriculture
199:groundwater
162: /
159:45°N 58.5°E
137:Coordinates
1733:Categories
1558:Tyuntyugur
1408:Shoshkakol
1378:Shandaksor
1368:Shalkarkol
1293:Sabyndykol
1283:Meshkeysor
1178:Koryakovka
1173:Korgalzhyn
1158:Koktinkoli
1048:Kamyslybas
1038:Kamkalykol
923:Big Almaty
806:Altybaysor
801:Alkamergen
496:References
347:Uzbekistan
343:Kazakhstan
314:Background
269:References
249:Max. depth
125:Uzbekistan
121:Kazakhstan
16:Dried lake
1718:Zhyngyldy
1713:Zholdybay
1708:Zhasylkol
1698:Zharagash
1643:Zhalanash
1638:Zhaksytuz
1483:Taldyaral
1473:Stanovoye
1468:Sormoildy
1433:Shureksor
1403:Sholaksor
1393:Shelegino
1388:Shchuchye
1383:Sharbakty
1298:Saryaydyn
1213:Kushmurun
1058:Karakaska
1033:Kalmakkol
963:Bylkyldak
873:Baitakkol
853:Ashchykol
791:Akzhaykyn
457:Amu Darya
368:Amu Darya
332:Syr Darya
328:Amu Darya
205:Amu Darya
181:endorheic
1739:Aral Sea
1653:Zhalauly
1538:Tuzdysor
1523:Toraigyr
1478:Taikonyr
1458:Sorbulak
1443:Shyganak
1438:Shybyndy
1308:Sasykkol
1303:Sarykopa
1278:Menkeser
1263:Markakol
1228:Kyzylkol
1223:Kyzylkak
1198:Kudaikol
1193:Kozhakol
1188:Koybagar
1143:Kobeituz
1108:Katynkol
1063:Karakoin
1028:Kalkaman
988:Itishpes
938:Botakara
918:Bartogay
903:Barakkol
878:Balkhash
863:Auliekol
363:salinity
357:Salinity
336:irrigate
330:and the
320:Aral Sea
293:and the
283:Aral Sea
164:45; 58.5
117:Location
21:Aral Sea
1703:Zharman
1623:Zerendi
1498:Telikol
1453:Sorasha
1353:Shalkar
1258:Maraldy
1248:Malybay
1218:Kypshak
1203:Kulykol
1138:Kiyakty
1083:Karasor
1053:Kamysty
1023:Kalibek
1018:Kalatuz
1003:Kayindi
993:Jasybay
983:Itemgen
968:Imantau
953:Burabay
928:Bilikol
913:Barshyn
908:Bargana
843:Aralsor
639:Bibcode
443:desert.
441:Aralkum
308:Aralkum
150:58°30′E
147:45°00′N
1618:Zaysan
1613:Wooden
1603:Urkash
1598:Ulykol
1503:Tengiz
1463:Sorkol
1343:Shagan
1338:Seiten
1268:Maysor
1208:Kurdym
943:Botkul
858:Atygay
816:Angren
796:Alakol
786:Akzhar
776:Aksuat
515:31 May
511:. EORC
339:cotton
1608:Uyaly
1533:Tuzdy
1508:Teniz
1488:Tebez
1428:Shuga
1253:Mamay
1113:Kerey
978:Issyk
973:Inder
933:Borli
836:South
831:North
781:Akysh
766:Akkol
670:p 112
213:Basin
1493:Teke
1168:Kopa
1103:Kazy
948:Bura
868:Ayke
848:Arys
821:Aral
811:Alua
616:help
595:2013
566:2013
540:2013
517:2017
345:and
318:The
277:The
201:only
176:Type
23:and
1528:Tuz
647:doi
584:doi
1735::
659:^
645:.
635:47
633:.
607::
605:}}
601:{{
353:.
183:,
735:e
728:t
721:v
653:.
649::
641::
618:)
614:(
597:.
586::
568:.
542:.
519:.
207:)
127:,
123:–
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.