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Why did the Aral Sea lose much of its water during the second half of the 20th century?

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lake Lake Ann in North Cascades National Park, Washington, U.S., viewed from the park's Maple Loop Trail. The North Cascades National Park is a large wilderness area that preserves majestic mountain scenery, snowfields, glaciers, and other unique natural features.

The Aral Sea lost the vast majority of its water during the second half of the 20th century primarily due to the systematic diversion of its two main water sources, the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya rivers.12

Beginning in the 1960s, the Soviet government diverted these rivers to provide irrigation for large-scale agricultural projects in Central Asia, such as converting arid lands into farmlands. As these rivers were redirected, the volume of water reaching the Aral Sea dropped drastically, causing the lake to shrink rapidly due to evaporation.231

This ecological disaster resulted in severe consequences, including:
* Increased Salinity: The concentration of salt and minerals rose significantly, destroying the local fishing industry and killing off native fish populations.12
* Toxic Pollution: The exposed seabed became a source of wind-blown dust contaminated with pesticides and fertilizers, which caused widespread health issues for the local population.123
* Climatic Changes: The loss of such a large body of water led to more extreme seasonal temperature variations in the region.23