It’s almost gone, but it’s coming back. This is a breakthrough after 20 years

Lakes in Poland and around the world are in different conditions. Some are polluted and almost dry, others are crowded with tourists and are a paradise for swimming. A reservoir hidden in Central Asia intrigues scientists. Even though it was supposed to disappear completely, it is now being reborn.

The huge lake is reborn

The reservoir in question is the Aral Sea. It lies on the border between Uzbekistan (in the south) and Kazakhstan (in the north) and east of the Caspian Sea. For the people of Central Asia, it was and still is a unique place. For ecological reasons, in the 1960s it began to disappear from the face of the Earth – this was most visible in the 1980s and 1990s.

The actions of the Soviet authorities led to this. It was about intense human activity related to large-scale irrigation projects. Huge cotton plantations in desert areas were irrigated with water from the lake. Although this was supposed to bring profits, it ultimately led to almost 90 percent the lakes are gone.

Yes, from a huge reservoir covering an area of ​​over 60,000 square meters. km2 and in size competing with Lake Superior, Lake Victoria or Baikal, an empty spot has been left. The breakthrough came in 2025 and there were hopes for a return.

Aral Sea. There are high hopes

Currently, scientists indicate that the lake’s water level has increased significantly. This is the result of gigantic irrigation projects that have been implemented in recent years. The key factors turned out to be, among others: construction of the kilometer-long Kokaral Dam hydrotechnical dam or separation of the northern part of the reservoir from the southern one and stopping the water flowing from the Syr Darya River.

The best situation is in the northern part of the reservoir, where not only the water level is rising, but also fish and vegetation are returning. This, in turn, has a positive impact on the region’s inhabitants, who can benefit from the natural resources. The Ministry of Water Resources in Kazakhstan recorded 40 percent. water rising and the effect reaching well beyond expectations. In the near future, the Kokaral Dam will also be raised and the water inflow from the Syr Darya River will be increased. Ultimately, the lake’s surface is expected to increase to up to 34 km3.

Can tourists see this place, you ask? Nothing stands in your way, as long as you are able to finance a trip to Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan. Muynak or Aralsk are considered to be the best points. It should be remembered that the lake is a place of ecological disaster, where, among others, ship graveyard on the sand.