Saturday, December 20, 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

    'Never thought I'd walk out free from Abu Dhabi jail'

    'Never thought I'd walk out free from Abu Dhabi jail'
    Shiju Thomas, who was held in a Abu Dhabi prison after drugs were found in his baggage, said he never thought he "would walk out free" after being released Thursday.

    'Never thought I'd walk out free from Abu Dhabi jail'

    Pakistan to deploy troops for Islamabad's security

    Pakistan to deploy troops for Islamabad's security
    Pakistan will deploy army troops for the security of capital Islamabad amid Taliban threats as the security forces have launched a major anti-terrorism operation in North Waziristan, the interior ministry said Friday.

    Pakistan to deploy troops for Islamabad's security

    Indian-origin doctor indicted for running illegal prescription racket

    Indian-origin doctor indicted for running illegal prescription racket
    A court in the US has indicted an Indian-origin doctor of illegally running a prescription racket that led to the death of one patient and harming the health of many others, media reported.

    Indian-origin doctor indicted for running illegal prescription racket

    Indian-origin woman admits to killing son in Scotland

    Indian-origin woman admits to killing son in Scotland
    An Indian-origin woman Friday admitted to punching her three-year-old son to death at their home in Edinburgh, Scotland, in January.

    Indian-origin woman admits to killing son in Scotland

    UN seeks Eid truce as Gaza toll hits 835

    UN seeks Eid truce as Gaza toll hits 835
    The toll in the ongoing Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip has escalated to 835, with more than 5,300 injured, officials said Friday even as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for a ceasefire during the Muslim holiday of Eid ul-Fitr.

    UN seeks Eid truce as Gaza toll hits 835

    No survivor in Algerian plane crash, probe launched

    No survivor in Algerian plane crash, probe launched
    Algeria Friday declared a three-day national morning for the victims of the Air Algerie flight AH 5017 that crashed over Mali the previous day with no survivor yet found from the plane wreckage, media reports said.

    No survivor in Algerian plane crash, probe launched