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First Irrigation channels are created by the Soviet Union
The Karakum and the Great Fergana canals were opened, diverting large amounts of water from the Syr and Amu Darya, fueling cotton production in the area. -
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Decline of the Aral fish population
The production of fish from the Aral Sea reached its peak in 1957, producing 43000 tonnes of fish and representing 13% of the Soviet fish stocks. By 1980, the rising salinity and pollution of the sea, caused 20 of the 24 native fish species to dissapear, and in 1989 commercial fishing stopped all together. -
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The receding shorelines of the Aral Sea
Between 1961 to 1970, the Aral Sea's water level fell an average of 20 cm per year. From the 1980s and on the rate nearly tripled to 55 cm per year and its volume has shrunk by 80%. -
Splitting of the Aral Sea
By 1987, the Aral Sea's shores had receded so much it split into two bodies. -
A treaty is signed
The participating nations (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan) signed a treaty to pledge 1% of each of the nations anual budget towards to helping the Aral Sea recover. -
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Efforts to save the sea
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has planned to put 100 million euros towards modernising and achieve greater efficiency than the current irrigation system, with targets to save between 20 and 25% water that is drawn from the Amu Darya and increase the flow of water into the Aral Sea.