Karakalpakstan

Karakalpakstan: a country that has experienced one of the world’s greatest environmental disasters. Sixty years ago, the Soviet leadership decided to rapidly expand the irrigated areas along the two rivers that fed the Aral Sea. As a result, this sea had lost 90% of its size by 2004. Its drying up has made Central Asia particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

Without the regulating effect of the water mass, the surrounding areas experience extreme temperatures in summer and winter. Strong winds carry salt and other chemicals from the sea floor over great distances. In addition, there is heavy contamination of groundwater due to the cash crop of cotton in the area. Its monoculture required huge amounts of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers to achieve good production.