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How did the Kok-Aral Dam help preserve the North Aral Sea?
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Aral Sea
Shrinkage of the Aral Sea, 1960–2014.
The Kok-Aral Dam, completed in 2005 with funding from the World Bank, was constructed to stabilize the North Aral Sea, which lies entirely within Kazakhstan.12
By physically separating the northern portion of the sea from the rapidly shrinking southern basins, the dam allows the waters of the Syr Darya to be retained in the north rather than flowing into the larger, receding southern areas. This containment has successfully stabilized water levels in the North Aral Sea, facilitating a recovery of the local environment and regional industries.12