Aral
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Aralsk also known as Aral'sk and Aral (Kazakh: Арал, Russian: Аральск) is a small city in south-western Kazakhstan, located in the oblast of Qyzylorda. Population roughly 39,000. Aralsk was formerly a fishing port and harbour city on the banks of the Aral Sea, and was a major supplier of fish to the neighboring region.
Since the retreat of the Aral Sea since 1960, due to diversion of the rivers flowing into it for irrigation, mainly of cotton, during the Soviet era, Aralsk is now completely landlocked about 100 km from the sea. Aralsk has greatly diminished in population and socioeconomic significance. It has been more than 25 years since the Aral Sea could be seen from the town.
There are also serious health problems for the local population caused by airborne toxic chemicals exposed to the wind by the retreating waters and, possibly, from chemical and biological agents unsafely stored on islands in the Aral Sea. There is a high level of unemployment.
Like the town of Moynaq to the south of the Aral Sea, it now has discarded rusting fishing boats sitting on what used to be the bed of the Aral Sea.
External links
- The official website about the Aralsk region in Kazakh, Russian, English and Danish [link]
- Interactive map of the Aral Sea region showing how quickly the waters have retreated. [link]
- News story on the plight of Aralsk and the Aral Sea. [link]
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