Thursday, December 18, 2025
ADVT 
International

World's fourth largest sea dried up completely: NASA

Darpan News Desk IANS, 30 Sep, 2014 10:35 AM
    Aral Sea - the giant lake between Kazakhstan in the north and Uzbekistan in the south - has dried up completely, says NASA.
     
    In the early 1900s, the Aral Sea was the fourth largest lake in the world.
     
    Today, the vast lake - formed 5.5 million years ago in Central Asia - in the middle of the Kyzylkum desert has shrunk to a level where water is no more visible to the eyes, revealed a series of images from Nasa's Terra satellite.
     
    A massive water diversion project begun by the Soviet Union in the 1960s caused it to shrink dramatically.
     
    "It is likely the first time it has completely dried in 600 years since the diversion of the region's major river Amu Darya to the Caspian Sea," Philip Micklin from the Western Michigan University was quoted as saying in media reports.
     
    According to NASA, this is happening because of low snowpack in the mountains that feed the lake.
     
    Experts predict the giant lake will disappear completely by 2020.
     
    According to the United Nations Environment Programme, more than 60 million people live in the Aral region - up fourfold since 1960.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Egypt to dig new canal alongside Suez Canal

    Egypt to dig new canal alongside Suez Canal
    The Egyptian government Tuesday launched a project to dig a new 72-km canal alongside the original Suez Canal...

    Egypt to dig new canal alongside Suez Canal

    India, Nepal to review 1950 pact, secure border

    India, Nepal to review 1950 pact, secure border
    India and Nepal Monday agreed to "review, adjust and update" a 1950 bilateral friendship pact and not to let "unscrupulous elements"...

    India, Nepal to review 1950 pact, secure border

    NASA creates space engine like none other

    NASA creates space engine like none other
    In what could be a game changer in space exploration, NASA has successfully tested a "microwave thruster system" that requires no propellant to generate thrust....

    NASA creates space engine like none other

    Israel suffered 'psychological defeat' in Gaza: Hamas leader

    Israel suffered 'psychological defeat' in Gaza: Hamas leader
    Israel has suffered "a psychological defeat" in Gaza and has failed to destroy the military infrastructure of the Islamic Palestinian movement Hamas...

    Israel suffered 'psychological defeat' in Gaza: Hamas leader

    Now, send your dead pet to space!

    Now, send your dead pet to space!
    When your pet takes a nap for the last time, you have the option to give that little dog or kitten a celestial treatment....

    Now, send your dead pet to space!

    NASA's Messenger to observe Mercury closely

    NASA's Messenger to observe Mercury closely
    NASA’s Messenger spacecraft, sent to study the Mercury 10 years back, will observe the planet at lower altitudes....

    NASA's Messenger to observe Mercury closely