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The Aral Sea

Water Conflict

First, if you do not know what water conflict is please click here

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This specific water conflict is between 2  rather large countries in Asia: 

  • Uzbekistan 

  • Kazakhstan 

These other countries have very little of the Aral Sea water in their area yet are still involved: 

  • Turkmenistan

  • Kyrgyzstan 

  • Tajikistan

  • Karakalpak Republic

  • Afganistan 

  • Iran

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only 2 of these countries are really competing over the ownership of the Aral sea and those are Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. Mostly because the Aral sea itself is in both countries. The main reason is, the Aral Sea has decreased in water level immensely since the 1960s, there is not lots of water left for both countries in the Aral Sea. Each one had different reasons, for freshwater, fishing, irrigation etc. Either way, if they both use lots of water from the Aral Sea at the same time, it will continue to decrease until there is no water left at all. 

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As for the conflict itself, On December 26, in 1991, the Soviet Union fell. The countries Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan were a part of it. Ever since the Soviet Union fell, the countries of the Aral Sea water basin have been trying to secure their water resources.

In the 1960s, the Soviet Union decided to reroute the 2 rivers that brought water to the Aral Sea, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, to increase the agriculture in surrounding region of the lake, and increase irrigation. Those two rivers are connected to the Aral sea, and bring the water to it. Meaning, reroute these rivers, water does not go directly to the Aral Sea anymore. As well as, when both rivers were diverted, it caused some flooding in farms, and in some other agricultural area. So really, diverting those rivers was a loose - loose situation.The water volume has been decreasing immensely for the last 5 decades.

Perspectives

uzbekistan:

First, for Uzbekistan, people would think they have the largest population out of the two, and that would be enough for them, they get the Aral Sea. Others would argue that Uzbekistan has lots of natural resources, they could sell them, and gather them to buy a different water alternative. Some others think that since Uzbekistan has the largest population out if the two, that they need the most water, and have so little. Uzbekistan's mineral resources include petroleum, natural gas, gold, silver, uranium, molybdenum, tungsten,  coal,  copper,  zinc and lead. Uranium, copper and gold are the country's chief minerals. The country has mineral reserves amounting to more than 1800 in number, and use them for different things, yet not lots of water.

Kazakhstan: 

Now, Kazakstan has the lower population out of the two, yet has an actual water paradise. With  approximately  8,500 small and large rivers, and 48,000 lakes, it is truly a water paradise. having so many water sources, Kazakhstan obviously relies less on the Aral sea compared to Uzbekistan, as it is only one lake out of 47,999 others. So really, some people would think that not having the Aral Sea as theirs, would not be such a drastic change. Yet, Kazakhstan has many resources, meaning they want to be the ones known for saving the Aral Sea, because as much as people think reputation is not involved, it is actually a big part of why countries sometimes do or do not do things. 

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