Overflying the biggest ecological disaster of the 20th century; the rapidly shrinking Aral Sea.

Once one of the biggest lakes in the world is now changing in dry desert and has enormous influence on the economy, nature and wildlife of this entire region on the border of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
In the 1960’s the Soviet Union decided to use the water from two major rivers for irrigation for cropsand cotton; resulting in horrible pollution and the drying up of the lake.

The fishing industry ceased to exists, entire communities collapsed and vanished and the influence on regions climate is noticeable; The growing season there is now shorter, causing many farmers to switch from cotton to rice, which demands even more diverted water.

A sad sight.