What is the primary reason for the shrinking of the Aral Sea?
◦ Climate change in Central Asia has reduced rainfall, which caused the lake to evaporate faster than it could recharge.
◦ Large-scale irrigation projects implemented by the Soviets in the 1950s diverted water from the two rivers that fed the sea.
◦ Tectonic rifting in the region caused surface water to rapidly percolate beneath the surface of the lake.
◦ Water was diverted from the lake to the numerous nuclear desalinization plants along the Aral's shore.
◦ A canal was constructed to connect to the Aral Sea to the Indian Ocean, which caused lake waters to drain out into the ocean.