Why has water flow to the Aral Sea and Tarim Basin been reduced?

The reduction of water flow to the Aral Sea and the Tarim Basin is primarily the result of extensive human intervention, specifically the diversion of riverine waters for large-scale agricultural irrigation and urban use.123

The Aral Sea

The decline of the Aral Sea is largely attributed to the diversion of its two main sources, the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya. Beginning in the 1960s, the Soviet government converted vast areas of land into irrigated farmlands, which consumed the majority of the water that previously reached the sea. This depletion has led to catastrophic environmental consequences, including the destruction of the local fishing industry, intense salinization, and the spread of toxic, salt-laden dust.12

The Tarim Basin

Similarly, the Tarim River has experienced significant water loss due to reservoirs and irrigation projects constructed along its middle course in the mid-20th century. These diversions, combined with the region's naturally arid climate and high evaporation rates, caused the river's lower course to dry up, effectively cutting off water to terminal lakes like Lop Nur.45

Across the Tien Shan region, human modification of the drainage network—including the construction of hydroelectric plants and extensive foothill irrigation schemes—has severely curtailed natural water flow to these basins.3