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The Soviet Union is formed.
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The Soviet Union begins to build canals, to grow grow cotton, rice and cereal. The Soviet Union wanted to be a major exporter of cotton.
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In the 60s the water of the Aral Sea is diverted, this decreases it's surface area by about 60 per cent and consequently loses 80 per cent of its water volume.
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Commercial fishing is ended as there is simply not a large enough population of fish.
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As the sea continues to decrease in size it becomes two different entities, the North Aral Sea and the South Aral Sea.
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The dam project is completed. The Southern Aral Sea is deemed to be beyond the point of being saved.
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The Aral Sea is at 10 percent of its former size. It is now four seperate bodies of water.
