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Presentation on the topic: Ecological disaster of the Aral Sea

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TOGOU DOD "Center creative development, ecology and tourism "Project theme: Ecological disaster of the Aral Sea Authors: Kovaleva Daria, Senina Maria, students of TOGOU DOD" Center for Creative Development, Ecology and Tourism "Supervisor: Chebotareva Tatiana Mikhailovna, teacher additional education

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I came to admire the Aral, But I did not find my sea Where the sea once raged Sand quicksand nothing else Where is the Caspian twin, blue-eyed brother? Where are the schools of silver fish? Only adyraspan, but a lonely wind, Yes, moaning yellow sands. They sway to the horizon, Like the hair of a witch dancing in the darkness. Oh, my Aral, how bitter, lonely Without your waves to my land. Nurzhanov

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Relevance Excessive withdrawal of water for irrigation of agricultural land has turned the world's fourth largest lake-sea, previously rich in life, into a barren desert. The volume of the Great Aral has decreased from 708 to only 75 km3, and the salinity of water has increased from 14 to more than 100 g / l. Three large bodies of water remained from the former sea, and in two of them the water is so salty that even the fish disappeared. The once prosperous fishing fleet is gone. The former coastal cities have been hit by an economic crisis. Huge tracts of dry seabed opened up; the wind lifts salt and toxic substances into the air, carrying them to densely populated areas, causing serious health problems for people. With the collapse of the USSR in 1991, the Aral Sea was divided between the newly formed states: Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Thus, the end of the grandiose Soviet plan on the transfer of the waters of distant Siberian rivers here, and competition for the possession of melting water resources unfolded.

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Physical and geographical position According to the atlas: The Aral Sea basin is located in the center of Eurasia and covers the entire territory of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, most of Turkmenistan, three regions of the Kyrgyz Republic (Osh, Jalalabad, Naryn), the southern part of Kazakhstan (two regions: Kyzyl-Orda and South Kazakhstan) and the northern part of Afghanistan and Iran. The territory of the Aral Sea basin can be divided into two main zones: the Turan plain and the mountainous zone. The western and northwestern parts of the Aral Sea basin within the Turan plain are covered by the Kara-Kum and Kyzyl-Kum deserts. The eastern and southeastern parts belong to the high-mountainous zone of the Tien Shan and Pamir ranges. The rest of the basin includes alluvial and intermontane valleys, dry and semi-dry steppes. The various landforms in these countries have created certain conditions, which are reflected in the relationship between water, land and the populated area of ​​the region. Mountains occupy about 90% of the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan. Most of the territory of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan is covered with deserts (more than 50%) and only 10% of the territory is represented by mountains.

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Results of remote research Determination of physical geographic location Of the Aral Sea from a satellite image obtained using the software and hardware complex for receiving and processing space images of the Earth "Kosmos-M2". (Determination of the northern boundaries of the sea)

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Climatic conditions The closed location of Central Asia in the Euro-Asian continent determines a sharply continental climate with a small amount of unevenly distributed precipitation. The region is characterized by a large amplitude of daily and seasonal temperatures, with high solar radiation and relatively low humidity. Large differences in geographic location and elevation from 0 to 7,500 m above sea level explain the diversity of the microclimate. The mountains are located in the east and southeast and are the center of the formation of water resources and their flow. Although the area is often affected by humid winds, most of the moisture is taken up by the mountains, and little rainfall remains for the rest of the basin.

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Reasons for the disruption of the Aral Sea ecosystem It is believed that the main reason for the drying up of the Aral Sea was the irrational use of water resources of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers feeding it and the excessive use of water for irrigation of cotton. Many experts, however, are inclined to think that not only man is to blame for such a rapid decrease in the sea, especially since there are serious geological and archaeological indications that such retreats of the Aral have happened in the past. Most likely, there was an overlap of anthropogenic and natural causes (decrease in precipitation, increased evaporation due to warming). In addition, there are theories about the fault crust and the overflow of water from the Aral Sea to the Caspian, and both tectonic processes and secret research in the field of bacteriological weapons, which were carried out on Vozrozhdenie Island by the Soviet military since 1949. The exact reasons for the drying up of the Aral Sea are not exactly known

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Ways to improve the ecological state of the Aral Sea According to scientists, thanks to the dam built in 2005, the area of ​​the northernmost of these reservoirs began to increase rapidly, and the salinity of the water began to decrease. Fish populations and wetlands are now recovering, and signs of economic recovery are emerging. To prevent the two large reservoirs located to the south from finally turning into a dead zone, it is necessary to build a number of new hydraulic structures, including on the Amu Darya River, which previously fed them. Such a plan requires multi-billion dollar funds and difficult political agreements and decisions. The salinity of water in the Small Aral will eventually settle within the range of 3-14 g / l, depending on the location. At such rates, many other local biological species will have to recover (although the sea flounder will almost disappear almost everywhere). The general restoration of the reservoir will also continue. For example, if by improving the irrigation system the average annual flow of the Syr Darya is increased to 4.5 km to dredge and restore the old canal. On it, large fishing vessels could again go out to sea, and navigation would resume. A further decrease in water salinity should have a beneficial effect on the condition of the coastal floodplains and on the number of fish. In addition, the outflow of water into the reservoirs of the southern Big Aral could increase, contributing to their restoration. Implementation of such a plan would require the construction of a much longer and higher dam, as well as the reconstruction of the existing hydraulic seal.

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(Recovery rates for 2007 (after the completion of the dam in 2005) Rehabilitation of the entire Aral Sea is not possible. This would require four times the annual inflow of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya from the current average of 13 km3. The only possible remedy would be less irrigation of fields, which consumes 92% of water withdrawal. However, four of the five former Soviet republics in the Aral Sea basin (excluding Kazakhstan) intend to increase irrigation of agricultural land - mainly to feed the growing population. less moisture-loving crops, such as replacing cotton with winter wheat, but the two main water-consuming countries in the region - Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan - intend to continue to grow cotton for sale abroad. whose walls are seeping a huge amount of water flows and goes into the sand. Modernization of the entire irrigation system would help to save about 12 km3 of water annually, but it would cost $ 16 billion. So far, the countries of the Azov Sea basin have neither the money nor the political will for this.

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Conclusions Using space images The coordinates of the Aral Sea, its physical and geographical position and area were determined using the Kosmos-M2 software and hardware complex for receiving and processing space images of the Earth, as well as the geographical atlas. The data of the geographical atlas does not correspond to the real picture of the state of the Aral Sea. 61,250 sq. Km - the area of ​​the Aral Sea in the 70s; 15,000 sq. Km. - the area of ​​the Aral Sea in the 90s; 11580 sq. Km - the area of ​​the Aral Sea in 2011 Currently, the sea area has decreased by 49 670 sq. Km (in comparison with the research data of the 70s)

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Information sources Andreev, N.I., Zooplankton of the Butakov Bay of the Aral Sea in June 1990, Tr. ZIN. - 1991. Dobrynin E. G., Koroleva N. G. Production and microbiological processes in the Butakov Bay of the Aral Sea // Tr. ZIN. - 1991. Orlova M. I. Materials for the general assessment of production and destruction processes in coastal zone the northern part of the Aral Sea. 1. Results of field observations and experiments in 1992 // Tr. ZIN. - 1993. Orlova MI Materials for the general assessment of production and destruction processes in the coastal zone of the northern part of the Aral Sea. 2. On some features of the functioning of ecosystems in the Syrdarya delta and shallow waters of the adjacent sea bay // Tr. ZIN. - 1995. For the preparation of this work were used materials from the site elib.albertina.ru/

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The restoration of the entire Aral Sea is impossible. This would require a fourfold increase in the annual inflow of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya waters compared to the current average of 13 km3. The only possible remedy would be to reduce the irrigation of the fields, which consumes 92% of the water intake. However, four of the five former Soviet republics in the Aral Sea basin (with the exception of Kazakhstan) intend to increase irrigation of agricultural land - mainly to feed a growing population. In this situation, a transition to less moisture-loving crops, for example, replacing cotton with winter wheat, would help, but the two main water-consuming countries in the region - Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan - intend to continue to grow cotton for sale abroad. The restoration of the entire Aral Sea is impossible. This would require a fourfold increase in the annual inflow of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya waters compared to the current average of 13 km3. The only possible remedy would be to reduce the irrigation of the fields, which consumes 92% of the water intake. However, four of the five former Soviet republics in the Aral Sea basin (with the exception of Kazakhstan) intend to increase irrigation of agricultural land - mainly to feed a growing population. In this situation, a transition to less moisture-loving crops, for example, replacing cotton with winter wheat, would help, but the two main water-consuming countries in the region - Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan - intend to continue to grow cotton for sale abroad.

The sad fate of the Aral Sea is beginning to be repeated by other large bodies of water in the world - first of all, Lake Chad in Central Africa and Lake Salton Sea in the southern US state of California. Dead fish, tilapia, line the shores of Lake Salton Sea in the US state of California (above) - because of the excessive withdrawal of water to irrigate fields, the water in it is becoming saltier. Various plans for desalination of this lake are under consideration. As a result of the rapid development of irrigation since the 1960s. Lake Chad in Africa has shrunk to 1/10 of its former size. Farmers, shepherds and local residents from the four countries adjacent to the lake often fiercely fight among themselves for the rest of the water (bottom right, blue), and the depth of the lake is only 1.5 m today.Other large water bodies of the world are beginning to repeat the sad fate of the Aral Sea - primarily Lake Chad in Central Africa and Lake Salton Sea in the southern US state of California. Dead fish, tilapia, line the shores of Lake Salton Sea in the US state of California (above) - because of the excessive withdrawal of water to irrigate fields, the water in it is becoming saltier. Various plans for desalination of this lake are under consideration. As a result of the rapid development of irrigation since the 1960s. Lake Chad in Africa has shrunk to 1/10 of its former size. Farmers, shepherds and locals from the four countries adjacent to the lake often fight fiercely among themselves for the remains of the water (bottom right, blue), and the depth of the lake is now only 1.5 m.

Once upon a time, more recently, the Aral Sea was one of the largest lakes in the world, since in terms of its area it was the fourth largest in the world among the largest lakes on the land surface. Of course, we understand that such bodies of water are often called seas, not only for their size, but also for other factors. So, like the Caspian Sea, the Aral Sea was of great importance for the countries located on its shores. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are deprived of the only sea that is located within the territory of these countries. And you can glean information about the death of the Aral Sea from this presentation on geography of the 10th grade


You can, of course, consider this material in the lessons of the 7th grade of geography, but nevertheless, it will probably be easier with the students of the 10th grade to make out the reasons for the death of such a beautiful sea in Central Asia... I would like everything on Earth to be just fine, because a person always wants only the best. If the sea is clean, if the presentation on geography is the most colorful. But no matter how much we think, it is worth doing something, since we understand that during this time nothing good has happened to the Aral Sea. There is no miracle - the Aral Sea dies, and the man himself is to blame for this again. In arid steppes and semi-deserts, only the water of the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers fed this sea. But today it takes the waters of these rivers Agriculture and industry of Central Asian countries. Is that how people will watch how the Aral Sea dies? Will they really not be able to moderate their appetites in the pursuit of temporary gain? The question remains open. It is enough to look at these photographs, and the whole scale of the tragedy becomes obvious.




We understand that a person has entered our World of Geography only because he has a desire to download a presentation on geography for free in order to conduct his lesson at school. However, the school not only teaches, but also tries to engage in education. But how to educate young people, if not just adults, but big people who are at the head of large countries, do nothing so that their peoples are not left without the sea that fed them.

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Presentation on social studies on the topic: "The trouble of the Aral Sea."

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Aral Sea August 2010 Aral Sea August 2010
Coordinates: 44.813056, 59.61527844 ° 48'47 ″ s. sh. 59 ° 36'55 "in. d. / 44.813056 ° N sh. 59.615278 ° E (G) (O) Coordinates: 44.813056, 59.61527844 ° 48′47 ″ s. sh. 59 ° 36'55 "in. d. / 44.813056 ° N sh. 59.615278 ° E d. (G) (O)
Location Central Asia
Area 13.9 thousand (November 25, 2010). 68.90 thousand (1960) km²
The flowing rivers Syr Darya, Amu Darya (until the 1990s)

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Half a century ago, the Aral Sea, or as it was respectfully called, the Aral Sea, was the fourth largest inland body of water - a salt lake, with a wealth of flora and fauna, which made it possible to build fish processing plants, ports, workers' settlements here, providing local residents with work. Today they are all empty as unnecessary: ​​the sea has left, abandoning its ships.

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Will the Aral Sea return to its shores?
The shallowing of the lake caused an increase in the salt content - many species of commercial fish simply died. The Aral Sea can still be saved. And it doesn't matter at all how this can be done. There was a project to change the direction of the Siberian rivers: it was assumed that the Ob 'waters would be able to restore the volume of water in the dry sea. However, this project, which has not been implemented since Soviet times and is now perceived as a fantasy, is hardly feasible. However, the third attempt to erect the Kokaral dam (the first two were destroyed) is gradually returning hope to the people living here: the water level of the Small Aral is slowly rising, and the number of fish living here is also increasing. But will the Aral Sea return to its shores? Maybe.

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Look what the difference has happened in 19 years.

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What caused the shallowing of the Aral Sea?
In the 1930s, large-scale construction of irrigation canals began in Central Asia, which intensified especially in the early 1960s. Since the 1960s, the sea began to shallow due to the fact that the water of the rivers flowing into it was diverted in increasing volumes for irrigation. From 1960 to 1990, the area of ​​irrigated land in Central Asia increased from 4.5 million to 7 million hectares. Needs National economy region in water increased from 60 to 120 km³ per year, of which 90% falls on irrigation, while water diverted for irrigation was often used ineffectively. Since 1961, the sea level has been decreasing at an increasing rate from 20 to 80-90 cm / year.

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The Aral Sea crisis is the most striking example of an environmental problem with serious socio - economic consequences, with which all the states of Central Asia are directly or indirectly connected. The crisis situation caused by the drying up of the Aral Sea has developed as a result of improper economic policy and misuse natural resources agricultural focus on the basis of the development of irrigated agriculture and the growth of the volume of irrevocable water consumption for irrigation. The territory of the Aral Sea basin includes: Kyzyl-Orda and the south of the Aktobe regions of Kazakhstan; Karakalpakstan; territory along the middle course of the Amu Darya and Syrdarya rivers; territory along the Karakum canal and some others. In the zone of ecological disaster, a catastrophe zone is distinguished, where irreversible qualitative changes in the natural environment have occurred (the dried bottom and water area of ​​the Aral Sea, the deltas of the Syr Darya and Amu Darya, some areas of intensive irrigation along the Syr Darya and Amu Darya).

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In Karakalpakstan, academician Charzhou Abdirov was involved in improving the ecological situation for the population of the coastal regions of the Aral Sea in 1994-1997. Nevertheless, from the Uzbek side, the process of drying up of the sea is the most active (the waters of the Amu Darya do not reach the sea).

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Environmental impact
The drying up of the sea somewhat influenced the climate of the region, which became more continental: summers became drier and hotter, winters colder and longer. Large quantities of dust containing sea salts, pesticides and other chemicals are carried from the drained part of the former seabed to nearby regions by winds. As a result of shallowing, the salinity of the Big Aral increased sharply (almost 10 times), which caused the extinction of many species of flora and fauna, adapted to lower salinity. The Big Aral has lost its fishery importance, ports are closed. There are a number negative consequences for residents of the Aral Sea region: high level unemployment, high child and maternal mortality due to unfavorable environmental conditions.

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Until the 1970s, 34 species of fish lived in the Aral, of which more than 20 were of commercial importance. In 1946, 23 thousand tons of fish were caught in the Aral Sea, in the 1980s this figure reached 60 thousand tons. In the Kazakh part of the Aral there were 5 fish factories, 1 fish cannery, 45 fish receiving points, in the Uzbek part of the Aral Sea (Republic of Karakalpakstan) - 5 fish factories, 1 fish cannery, more than 20 fish receiving points.

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The fall in the level of the Aral Sea from 1960 to 2010

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Interesting Facts
The Soviet resort town of Aralabad in the computer game Syberia, judging by the name and landscapes, is located on the Aral Sea. In the film "Needle" by Rashid Nugmanov, the main characters (Tsoi, Smirnova) traveled to the Aral Sea. Remains of two settlements and mausoleums (one of them Kerderi) were found on the shallow bottom of the Aral Sea.

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Schooners of the Aral expedition - drawing by T.G. Shevchenko

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It should be noted that the problem under the general name "Aral problem" is multifaceted and very deep. As you know, environmental problems are divided into fleeting environmental problems and accumulating environmental problems. This problem, related to the second type, goes back to the 50s, when large-scale development of new lands began and the regulation of water bodies was replaced by artificial management. Such trends occurred in different countries where the irrigation industry played an important role in the economy of the state - China, USA, Latin American countries. But unlike these countries, irreversible processes have taken place in Central Asia and on a very large scale. Solving these problems requires certain time, and most importantly a balanced approach, the development of a scientifically based concept. The various projects and plans for solving the "Aral problem" existing at the moment are too fragmented and require coordination.

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The Aral Sea is a closed salt lake in Central Asia, on the border of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Since the 1960s of the XX century, the sea level (and the volume of water in it) has been rapidly decreasing due to the withdrawal of water from the main feeding rivers of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya. Before the shallowing began, the Aral Sea was the fourth largest lake in the world. Excessive withdrawal of water for irrigation of agricultural land has turned the world's fourth largest sea lake, formerly rich in life, into a barren desert. What is happening with the Aral Sea is a real ecological disaster, the blame for which lies with Soviet power... Currently, the drying up Aral Sea has moved 100 km from its former coastline near the city of Muynak in Uzbekistan.

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In the Soviet Union, the deteriorating state of the Aral Sea was hidden for decades, until 1985, when M.S. Gorbachev made this ecological disaster public. In the late 1980s. the water level dropped so much that the whole sea was divided into two parts: the northern Small Aral and the southern Big Aral. By 2007, deep western and shallow eastern water bodies, as well as the remains of a small separate bay, were clearly visible in the southern part. The volume of the Big Aral has decreased from 708 to only 75 km3, and the salinity of the water has increased from 14 to more than 100 g / l.

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Collector-drainage water flowing from the fields into the bed of the Syr Darya and Amu Darya caused deposits from pesticides and various other agricultural pesticides, appearing in places on 54 thousand km of the former seabed, covered with salt. Dust storms carry salt, dust and pesticides to a distance of 500 km. Sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and sodium sulfate are airborne and destroy or inhibit the development of natural vegetation and crops. The local population suffers from a high prevalence of respiratory diseases, anemia, cancer of the larynx and esophagus, and digestive disorders. Liver and kidney diseases and eye diseases have become more frequent.

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The drying up of the Aral Sea had dire consequences. Due to a sharp decrease in river runoff, spring floods stopped, supplying the floodplains of the lower reaches of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya with fresh water and fertile sediments. The number of fish species inhabited here has decreased from 32 to 6 - as a result of an increase in water salinity, loss of spawning grounds and foraging areas (which have survived mainly only in river deltas). If in 1960 the fish catch reached 40 thousand tons, then by the mid-1980s. local commercial fishing simply ceased to exist and more than 60,000 associated jobs were lost. The most common inhabitant was the Black Sea flounder, adapted to life in salt sea ​​water and brought here back in the 1970s. However, by 2003, it also disappeared in the Big Aral, unable to withstand water salinity of more than 70 g / l - 2–4 times more than in its usual marine environment.

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Navigation in the Aral Sea has ceased because the water receded for many kilometers from the main local ports: the city of Aralsk in the north and the city of Muynak in the south. And keeping the ever-longer canals to the ports navigable turned out to be too costly. With a decrease in the water level in both parts of the Aral Sea, the level of groundwater also dropped, which accelerated the process of desertification of the area. By the mid-1990s. instead of lush green trees, shrubs and grasses, on the former seashores, there were only rare bunches of halophytes and xerophytes - plants adapted to saline soils and dry habitats. At the same time, only half of the local species of mammals and birds have survived.

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Despite the vast drainage basin, the Aral Sea receives almost no water due to irrigation canals, which, as the photo below shows, take water from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya over hundreds of kilometers of their flow across the territory of several states. Among other consequences - the disappearance of many species of animals and plants.

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In 1946, 23 thousand tons of fish were caught in the Aral Sea, in the 1980s this figure reached 60 thousand tons. In the Kazakh part of the Aral there were 5 fish factories, 1 fish cannery, 45 fish receiving points, in the Uzbek part (Republic of Karakalpakstan) - 5 fish factories, 1 fish cannery, more than 20 fish receiving points. In the 1930s, large-scale construction of irrigation canals began in Central Asia, which intensified especially in the early 1960s. Since the 1960s, the sea began to shallow due to the fact that the water of the rivers flowing into it was diverted in increasing volumes for irrigation. From 1960 to 1990, the area of ​​irrigated land in Central Asia increased from 4.5 million to 7 million hectares. The needs of the regional economy in water increased from 60 to 120 km per year, of which 90% is irrigation. Since 1961, the sea level has been decreasing at an increasing rate from 20 to 80-90 cm / year. Until the 1970s, 34 species of fish lived in the Aral, of which more than 20 were of commercial importance.

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In 1989, the sea split into two isolated bodies of water - the North (Small) and South (Big) Aral Sea. In 2003, the surface area of ​​the Aral Sea is about a quarter of the original, and the volume of water is about 10%. By the early 2000s, the absolute sea level had dropped to 31 m, which is 22 m below the initial level observed in the late 1950s. Fishing has survived only in the Small Aral, and in the Big Aral, due to its high salinity, all fish died. In 2001, the South Aral Sea split into western and eastern parts. In 2008, geological exploration (search for oil and gas fields) was carried out in the Uzbek part of the sea. The contractor is the PetroAlliance company, the customer is the government of Uzbekistan. In the summer of 2009, the eastern part of the South (Big) Aral Sea dried up.

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The retreating sea left behind 54 thousand km2 of dry seabed, covered with salt, and in some places also deposits of pesticides and various other agricultural pesticides, once washed away by runoff from local fields. Currently, strong storms carry salt, dust and pesticides to a distance of 500 km. Northern and northeasterly winds have an adverse impact on the Amu Darya delta located to the south - the most densely populated, most economically and ecologically important part of the entire region. Airborne sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and sodium sulfate destroy or slow down the development of natural vegetation and crops - ironically, it was the irrigation of these crops that brought the Aral Sea to its current deplorable state.

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According to medical experts, the local population suffers from a high prevalence of respiratory diseases, anemia, throat and esophageal cancer, and digestive disorders. Liver and kidney diseases have become more frequent, not to mention eye diseases.

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Another, very unusual problem is associated with the island of Vozrozhdenie. When he was far out to sea Soviet Union used it as a testing ground for bacteriological weapons. Causative agents anthrax, tularemia, brucellosis, plague, typhoid, smallpox, and botulinum toxin were tested here on horses, monkeys, sheep, donkeys and other laboratory animals.

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In 2001, as a result of water withdrawal, Vozrozhdenie Island joined the mainland on the southern side. Doctors fear that dangerous microorganisms have retained their viability, and that infected rodents can spread them to other regions. In addition, dangerous substances can fall into the hands of terrorists. Waste and pesticides, once thrown into the water of the Aralsk harbor, are now in full view. Severe storms carry toxic substances, as well as huge amounts of sand and salt throughout the region, destroying crops and damaging human health

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The restoration of the entire Aral Sea is impossible. This would require a fourfold increase in the annual inflow of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya waters compared to the current average of 13 km3. The only possible remedy would be to reduce the irrigation of the fields, which consumes 92% of the water intake. However, four of the five former Soviet republics in the Aral Sea basin (with the exception of Kazakhstan) intend to increase irrigation of agricultural land - mainly to feed a growing population. In this situation, a transition to less moisture-loving crops, for example, replacing cotton with winter wheat, would help, but the two main water-consuming countries in the region - Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan - intend to continue to grow cotton for sale abroad. It would also be possible to significantly improve the existing irrigation canals: many of them are ordinary trenches, through the walls of which a huge amount of water seeps and goes into the sand. Modernization of the entire irrigation system would help save about 12 km3 of water annually, but it would cost $ 16 billion.

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The sad fate of the Aral Sea is beginning to be repeated by other large bodies of water in the world - first of all, Lake Chad in Central Africa and Lake Salton Sea in the south of the American state of California. Dead fish, tilapia, line the shores of Lake Salton Sea in the US state of California (above) - because of the excessive withdrawal of water to irrigate fields, the water in it is becoming saltier. Various plans for desalination of this lake are under consideration. As a result of the rapid development of irrigation since the 1960s. Lake Chad in Africa has shrunk to 1/10 of its former size. Farmers, herders and locals from the four countries adjacent to the lake often fight fiercely among themselves for the remains of the water (bottom right, blue), and the depth of the lake is today only 1.5 m. Experience associated with loss, and then partial restoration of the Aral Sea can benefit everyone. The picture shows Lake Chad in 1972 and 2008

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