The sad story of the Aral Sea is one of the biggest ecological disasters in human history and should be a lesson to all the people who focus exclusively on the earnings and neglect the impact their actions have on nature, as it was the case with the Soviet Union and its cotton production. The first part of this diploma thesis is focused on the history of the lake, irrigation, ecology and fisheries. The second part involves a comparison of a recent state of the Aral Sea to its state before 1960. 1960 marks the beginning of the modern dessication of the Aral Sea. As for the last important topic, the thesis presents major projects that have already been or will be implemented with the purpose of revitalizing the Aral Sea. Enhancing mutual cooperation and diminishing conflict is urgently necessary for the countries in the Aral Sea Basin since fair water distribution is of extreme importance.
|