The Return of the Aral Sea

The article, From Ecological Soviet-Era Ruin, a Sea Is Reborn, the author, Peter Leonard describes the effects of the disappearance of the Aral Sea on local fishing villages and ecosystems. The Aral Sea, located in Central Asia was the world’s fourth largest body of water until the nations around it became part of the Soviet Union. With their interest only in making money, they diverted the rivers that fed the sea, causing it to shrink to 10% of its original size. The sea is now slowly reverting back to hopefully, its original state.

In the article the author says, “Now fresh water was lapping at his boots, proclaiming an environmental miracle- the return of the Aral Sea”. The use of the phrase “environmental miracle” may lead to some discrepancy depending on how it is interpreted by the reader.

First of all, the phrase “environmental miracle” insinuates that the return of the sea was a spontaneous action and that no human assistance was required. A miracle is officially defined as an event that appears inexplicable by the laws of nature and so is held to be supernatural in origin (dictionary.com). However, the slow rehabilitation of the Aral Sea is due to the environmental efforts of the Kazakhstan government. In 2001 the Kokaral dam was built to channel the water from one of the main rivers into the Kazakh section of the sea, rather than let the water flow further south were it would be wasted by other countries. The use of this phrase may mislead some readers into thinking that there was no human assistance.

Also, readers might misunderstand the use of the phrase “environmental miracle” because it leads readers to believe that the sea has reached its full potential and is the same as it was before it was drained. This is not the case at all. Even though efforts have been in place to reestablish the sea, there is still environmental degradation occurring. One section has shrunk by 80% in the last 3 years. It is a possibility that the sea will never be able to sustain an ecosystem again, and it most certainly will never be the same as it once was. Uzbekistan has decided to keep taking water from what is left of the Aral Sea for irrigation of cotton fields and will also continue to look for gas and oil under the exposed seabed, making it extremely unlikely that the sea will return to its full potential.

Therefore, it is seen that there are several ways that the reader could interpret the phrase “environmental miracle”. Perhaps the author chose this phrasing for emphasis- meaning that it is so incredible that this sea may be improved from its recent desert like state. However, if the countries that use the water don’t agree on an action plan, there will be no “environmental miracle”. If the countries implement laws about shared water usage and continue to revive the ecosystem, then there is potential for this “environmental miracle” to occur.

Leonard, P. (2009 Oct. 26). From Ecological Soviet-Era Ruin, a Sea Is Reborn. ABC News. Retrieved 2009 Oct 26 from,

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/WireStory?id=8914467&page=1