The Wider Image: Aral Sea: big fish is back in small pond
The Aral Sea, once the world's fourth biggest lake, is most likely gone forever, its death having brought about decades of environmental disaster. However, a project to salvage its northern part appears to have succeeded as commercial fishing is once again viable in the adjacent Kazakh towns and villages. The Aral was nearly destroyed as a result of the Soviet Union's plan to boost cotton production by diverting Syr Darya and Amu Darya, the two rivers feeding it, to irrigate the desert. World Environment day is marked on June 5 2017. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov SEARCH "ENVIRONMENT ARAL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. For matching text search KAZAKHSTAN-ARAL/?