South Aral Sea shrinking while North Aral Sea expanding
Figures 1 and 2 depict the Aral Sea in October 2003 and in September 2006 to October 2007. The Aral Sea has continued to shrink since the 1960s. If you compare Figs. 1 and 2, you will find that the South Aral Sea shrank after dividing into east and west areas, but the North Aral Sea expanded. Aral'sk (Aralsk), formerly a port town facing the Aral Sea, is in the top right corner of the figures, and Muynoq (Muinak), also a former port town, is in the lower left. The distance from Muinak to the nearest coastline was 50km in Fig. 1 but increased to 77km in Fig. 2. In contrast, the distance from Aralsk to the nearest coastline was 35km in Fig. 1 but decreased to 25km in Fig. 2. The reduction of the South Aral Sea is remarkable, especially on the east side. In Fig. 2, the coastline retreated on a large scale, leaving a trace that can be seen as a striped pattern like tree rings. Additionally, the emerald-green sea surface suggests shallow water, so the rapid reduction is expected to continue in the future.
South Aral Sea shrinking while North Aral Sea expanding
Figures 1 and 2 depict the Aral Sea in October 2003 and in September 2006 to October 2007. The Aral Sea has continued to shrink since the 1960s. If you compare Figs. 1 and 2, you will find that the South Aral Sea shrank after dividing into east and west areas, but the North Aral Sea expanded. Aral'sk (Aralsk), formerly a port town facing the Aral Sea, is in the top right corner of the figures, and Muynoq (Muinak), also a former port town, is in the lower left. The distance from Muinak to the nearest coastline was 50km in Fig. 1 but increased to 77km in Fig. 2. In contrast, the distance from Aralsk to the nearest coastline was 35km in Fig. 1 but decreased to 25km in Fig. 2. The reduction of the South Aral Sea is remarkable, especially on the east side. In Fig. 2, the coastline retreated on a large scale, leaving a trace that can be seen as a striped pattern like tree rings. Additionally, the emerald-green sea surface suggests shallow water, so the rapid reduction is expected to continue in the future.