The Aral Sea in Central Asia
The Aral Sea in Central Asia. Today’s Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features the Aral Sea, which has been completely transformed in recent decades. Since the 1960s, the lake has shrunk and separated into three distinct basins.
Located in Central Asia, the lake is exposed to weather extremes.
The image was captured in the winter, with snow covering the ground around the North Aral Sea in Kazakhstan. This region appears to be completely frozen over.
According to NASA, fishermen in the small town of Tastubek endure winters with sub-zero temperatures, yet continue to fish on the lake through holes dug in the ice. The Aral Sea in Central Asia
The western side of the South Aral Sea remained mostly free of ice, and emerald-green water is visible. Central Asia has historically been closely tied to its nomadic peoples and the Silk Road. It has acted as a crossroads for the movement of people, goods, and ideas between Europe, West Asia, South Asia, and East Asia. The Silk Road connected Muslim lands with the people of Europe, South Asia, and East Asia. This crossroads position has intensified the conflict between tribalism and traditionalism and modernization. The age of the Timurid Renaissance began from today’s Uzbekistan.
Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory
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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer
