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

    Indian restaurant owner arrested in US

    Indian restaurant owner arrested in US
    An Indian national has been arrested in the US for threatening to kill his employee’s infant daughter, a media report said Saturday.

    Indian restaurant owner arrested in US

    Obama downplays threat by Islamic militants in Iraq

    Obama downplays threat by Islamic militants in Iraq
    President Barack Obama Friday downplayed the threat posed by Islamic militants making advances in Iraq, saying the US has been under "serious threat" during his entire presidency

    Obama downplays threat by Islamic militants in Iraq

    Nigerian president visits blast scene, condemns attack

    Nigerian president visits blast scene, condemns attack
    Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan Friday visited scene of the June 25 shopping mall explosion that claimed at least 21 lives here and condemned the attack.

    Nigerian president visits blast scene, condemns attack

    Rebekah Brooks found not guilty in hacking scandal

    Rebekah Brooks found not guilty in hacking scandal
    Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks was cleared of all charges in the phone-hacking trial Tuesday, though ex-News of the World editor Andy Coulson was found guilty of conspiring to hack phones.

    Rebekah Brooks found not guilty in hacking scandal

    800 homeless families demand shelter in Sao Paulo

    800 homeless families demand shelter in Sao Paulo
    At least 800 homeless Brazilian families have occupied a tract in the luxurious district of Morumbi, demanding shelter here.

    800 homeless families demand shelter in Sao Paulo

    Pakistan's apex court maintains foreign travel ban on Musharraf

    Pakistan's apex court maintains foreign travel ban on Musharraf
    Pakistan's Supreme Court Monday suspended a lower court's order allowing former president Pervez Musharraf to go abroad, lawyers said.

    Pakistan's apex court maintains foreign travel ban on Musharraf