Satellites Capture Aral Sea Transformation

High resolution visible satellite imagery is now being used to track changes in the water levels of the Aral Sea. This body of water is located in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan and recent irrigation projects combined with dry conditions has led to an astounding loss of water. Check out the difference from 2000 to now:

To see the gradual change in water levels, NASA has created an animation of the yearly decline in water levels. Unfortunately, as the world becomes more populous, irrigation projects will continue across the world. Hopefully engineers have learned their lesson from the Aral Sea and we can retain important bodies of water worldwide.