NASA MODIS Image of the Day: October 9, 2008 – The Aral Sea
NASA MODIS Image of the Day: October 9, 2008 - The Aral Sea
The waters of the Aral Sea appear emerald green and black in this image, captured by the MODIS on the Terra satellite on October 5, 2008.
The Aral Sea islocated in Kazakhstan (north) and Uzbekistan (south).
The Aral Sea has been shrinking since the 1960s and 70s when the two main rivers that feed it – the Amudar’ya and the Syrdar’ya – were diverted to support agricultural endeavors – mainly rice and cotton. As a result of the shrinkage, the Aral sea has been split into the North and South Aral Seas. The South Aral Sea has also been split in two as well. The right side of the South Aral Sea has a great deal of dry lake bed visible, as well as sediment. The two red dots are the locations of active fires.
