The Shrinking Aral Sea

The Aral Sea, located in Uzbekistan and Kazakstan (both countries were part of the former Soviet Union), is historically a saline lake. It is in the center of a large, flat desert basin. The Aral Sea is a prime example of an dynamic environment.Since 1960, when the Aral Sea was the world's fourth largest lake, the Aral Sea has lost 75% of its water volume. This loss is due to the agricultural