NASA satellites compared the Aral Sea between 2000 and 2014; river diversion left its eastern basin as exposed desert

NASA's satellite images illustrate a dramatic transformation of the Aral Sea from 2000 to 2014, driven by the diversion of rivers for agricultural purposes. The resulting shrinkage has left behind salt flats and disrupted local communities and climates. Nevertheless, the construction of dams by Kazakhstan has sparked a modest recovery in the North Aral Sea, revealing both the impacts of human intervention and the potential for environmental revival.