The Aral Sea's stunning revival brings hope after decades of collapse

The Aral Sea, once the world’s fourth-largest lake by surface area, has seen dramatic changes over the past decades. Poor water management caused it to shrink to a fraction of its original size. Now, recovery efforts are bringing parts of the sea back to life. In its prime, the Aral Sea covered nearly 70,000 square kilometres. But by the early 2000s, it had lost three-quarters of its volume and over half its surface due to reckless water use. The crisis split the sea into two parts: the Northern and Southern Aral.

The Northern Aral, also called the Small Aral, is now refilling thanks to a major restoration project. In 2005, Kazakhstan built the Kokaral Dam, stopping water drainage and allowing the sea to recover. The 'Regulation of the Syr Darya Riverbed and Preservation of the Northern Aral Sea' project redirected water back into the basin.

Results have been striking. The distance from the port city of Aralsk to the shoreline has dropped from 70 kilometres to just 17. The Small Aral now holds over 23.5 billion cubic metres of water, with a steady inflow of 45 cubic metres per second. Officials aim to raise the sea’s level by another two metres, expanding its surface to 3,900 square kilometres and increasing its volume to 34 billion cubic metres. The annual water inflow target stands at two billion cubic metres.

The revival is also boosting local industries. Fisheries are expected to produce between 15,000 and 16,000 tons of fish each year, providing economic opportunities for nearby communities. The Northern Aral Sea’s recovery marks a rare success in environmental restoration. With continued water management, the region could see further growth in both ecological health and economic activity. The project serves as a model for reversing decades of environmental damage.