Pro

1. The Aral Sea
A2 – Water Conflicts

2. What is it
• Once the world’s 4th
largest inland sea –
68,000km2
• located in Uzbekistan
and Kazakhstan (both
countries were part of
the former Soviet
Union)
• Historically a saline
lake
• Fed by the Amu Darya
and Syr Darya rivers

3. What’s wrong with it?
• In the late 1950’s the soviet govt diverted
much of the Amu and Syr Darya rivers to
irrigate crops.
• By 2007 the sea had shrunk by 90% and
split into several lakes
• It’s level had fallen 40m
• The shoreline has receded up to 120 km
from its former shore
• Deemed an environmental catastrophe

4. However…
• In the past it has completely disappeared
and also been far bigger than it was in
1960
• The controversy about the Aral Sea
Region arises because the change is
human induced
• Possibly on purpose

5. The difference

6. So Who Are The Players?
• Former soviet
govt
• The fishing
community
• Local Residents
• Uzbekistan govt
• Scientists
• Kazakhstan
farmers
• International
Economists
• Water Engineers

7. Activity 1
• In groups draw up a matrix of the following
issues and Brainstorm how the problems
of the Aral Sea may be affected them:
• Human health
• Agriculture
• Fishing industry
• Ecosystems

8. The Video
• Watch the film and take notes on the
various perspectives depending on which
group you are in.
• Farmers
• Government
• Fishermen
• Environmentalists

10. Activity
• In your groups formulate ideas on how you
may argue your cases for what has gone
wrong or right for you.
• I will hand out cards as pointers you may
find helpful

11. Finally
• Research the issues surrounding the
Salton Sea
• Write 400 words on the following title:
• ‘The issues facing both the Aral and Salton
Seas are solely to do with anthropogenic
mismanagement’ Discuss.