Why has the aral sea shrunk in size?

Answer 1

It was already subject to excess evaporation. By 1988, the 850-mile-long Karakum Canal took large amounts of water from the rivers that flow into the Aral, slowing its intake to a fraction of what it once was.

Answer 2

The sea increased in salinity so most of its natural flora and fauna died.

The Aral Sea is also heavily polluted, largely as the result of weapons testing, industrial projects, pesticides and fertilizer runoff

Its coast has become a ship graveyards because the prosperous fishing industry has been virtually destroyed.

answer 2 The principal cause of the drying of the Aral Sea is the takeoff of water from the upstream tributaries. Principally for the water-hungry cotton plantations i believe. And other irrigation in general.

Answer 3

the aral sea is drying up due to over-irrigation on the yellow river.

Answer 4

the aral sea is drying up because the rivers that flow into it are now cut off from it for errigation

Answer 5

Because farmers are diverting the rivers leading to the aral sea to their fields to grow cotton and irrigation. Plus the heat evaporates the water.