South Aral Sea

South Aral Sea
The Aral Sea in mid-August 2014. The two remaining lakes to the south and west are the remains of the South Aral Sea.
South Aral Sea Show map of Kazakhstan South Aral Sea Show map of Asia
Location	Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan, Central Asia
Coordinates	45°00′N 58°30′E / 45°N 58.5°E / 45; 58.5
Type	endorheic, natural lake
Primary inflows	groundwater only (previously the Amu Darya)
Basin countries	Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan
Surface area	West Aral Sea: 3,500 km2 (1,350 sq mi) (2005) (fluctuating area of Eastern Sea) 42,100 km2 (16,250 sq mi) (1989)
Average depth	14–15 m (46–49 ft) (2005)
Max. depth	37–40 m (121–131 ft) (2005)
Surface elevation	29 m (95 ft) (2007)
References	[1]

The South Aral Sea was a lake in the basin of the former Aral Sea which formed in 1987 when that body divided in two, due to diversion of river inflow for agriculture. In 2003, the South Aral Sea itself split into eastern and western basins, the Eastern Sea and the West Aral Sea, connected by a narrow channel (channel bed at an elevation of 29 m (95 ft)) that balanced surface levels but did not allow mixing, and in 2005 the North Aral Sea was dammed to prevent the collapse of its fisheries, cutting off the only remaining inflow to the southern lakes. In 2008, the Eastern Sea split again, and in May 2009 had almost completely dried out, leaving only the small permanent Barsakelmes Lake between the Northern and Western Seas and increasing the expanse of the Aralkum desert.^[2][3] In 2010, it was partially filled again by meltwater,^[4] and by 2014 was once again dry. The West Aral Sea has some replenishment from groundwater in the northwest.^[5]