North Aral Sea

North Aral Sea
North Aral Sea
Солтүстік Арал теңізі (Kazakh)
	1. Shevchenko Bay, 2. Butakov Bay, 3. Bolshoy Saryshyganak Bay
	North Aral Sea North Aral Sea
Location	Kazakhstan, Central Asia
Coordinates	46°30′N 60°42′E / 46.5°N 60.7°E
Type	endorheic, natural lake, reservoir
Primary inflows	Syr Darya; (previously also the Amu Darya)
Basin countries	Kazakhstan
Surface area	3,300 km2 (1,270 sq mi) (2008); 2,550 km2 (985 sq mi) (2003)
Max. depth	30 m (98 ft) (2003); 42 m (138 ft) (2008)
Ramsar Wetland
Official name	Lesser Aral Sea and Delta of the Syrdarya River
Designated	2 February 2012
Reference no.	2083

The North Aral Sea (Kazakh: Солтүстік Арал теңізі, Russian: Северное Аральское море) is the portion of the former Aral Sea that is fed by the Syr Darya River. It split from the South Aral Sea in 1987–1988^[2] as water levels dropped due to river diversion for agriculture.

In 1925 a large site containing numerous fossils of the Oligocene was discovered near the village of Akespe by the northern shore of the Aral Sea.^[3]^[4]

Background

The Aral Sea began shrinking in the 1960s, when the Soviet Union decided that the two rivers feeding it, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, would be diverted to irrigate cotton and food crops in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. In 1987–1988,^[2] due to an accelerated loss of water, the Aral Sea split into northern and southern parts; the southern part was the former South Aral Sea.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, the government of independent Kazakhstan decided to restore the northern lake fed by Syr Darya. In 2003, the lake was 30 m (98 ft) in depth and 2,550 km² (985 sq mi) in area^[5] (JAXA source: 3,200 km² (1,240 sq mi));^[6] by 2008 it had reached 42 m (138 ft) in depth and 3,300 km² (1,270 sq mi) in area^[5]^[7] (JAXA source: 3,600 km² (1,390 sq mi)).^[6]

The poorly built Dike Kokaral intended to contain the North Aral Sea and save its fisheries failed twice, but in 2005, the government of Kazakhstan was able to fund a more robust design. Since then, water levels have risen faster than expected and fish stocks have increased. Plans to build a second dike to increase water levels further were due to begin in 2010, but have so far not materialized. There is now an ongoing effort in Kazakhstan to save and replenish the North Aral Sea. As part of this effort, a dam project was completed in 2005; in 2008, the water level in this lake had risen by 12 m (39 ft) from its level in 2003.^[5] Salinity has dropped, and fish are again found in sufficient numbers for some fishing to be viable, especially mackerel introduced at the Syr Darya river delta, though attempts to introduce tuna in 2009 failed.

Different projects

Heightening the existing dike

The Kokaral dam could be raised by several meters, which would restore this lake to its pre-1970 level.

West outflow on the Shevchenko Bay

A discharge on the Shevchenko Bay, in the former Auzykokaral Strait, west of the former Kokaral Island, would allow available water to be used towards the other remnants of the Aral Sea, Barsakelmes Lake and the western basin,^[8] preventing this water from being lost in the sandy desert that the eastern part of the ancient sea has become, as is currently the case.

Rehabilitation of the Saryshyganak Bay

Another project would be the construction of a second dam further north, halfway between Kokaral and Aralsk, this city would thus regain its maritime space. The lake would then be in two parts, only the upper level, corresponding to the Saryshyganak bay, would return to the level before 1970. A supply channel would be necessary, for this several options are possible : a canal of around sixty km long coming from the Syr Daria, a channel coming from the Kamyslybas or even a chanel coming from upper north avoiding arid regions.^[9]