Dike Kokaral is a planned dyke to be built across a narrow stretch of the Aral Sea, splitting off the North Aral Sea (also called "The Small Sea") from the much larger South Aral Sea ("The Large Sea").
The dike would conserve the dwindling waters of the Syr Darya river and maintain (and attempt to revive) the damaged ecology of the North Aral Sea, at the expense of sealing the fate of the larger South Aral. As the waters of the contributory rivers to the Aral have been progressively redirected for irrigation, the water levels in the Aral have fallen, the shore receeded, and the water quality has dropped precipitously. The dike's proponents believe that it will allow the quality and level of the North Aral's waters to be restored, and the climate and ecology of the surrounding populated area (including the large port town of Aralsk ) to be returned to their former condition.
Dike Kokaral is called after the Kokaral Peninsula , which it would connect to other side of Aral Sea and this way separate it. The dike was actually built, but due to lack of funding it to strenghten it after level of water in North Aral Sea (and therefore pressure to the dike) began to raise, and therefore the dike was washed away. However, for the short time the dike stood, positive changes were already noticed - climate began to get milder, fauna was partly restored, level of the sea raised. When the dike was washed away, level of water fallen again, as much of it poured into larger and already hopeless South Aral Sea. In some places the coastline of North Aral retreated by as much as a few hundred meters. The day destroyed hopes of local people to be able to live the traditional life again.
However it was proved that the idea of dike could work, and the currently it is searched for funding to reconstruct Dike Kokaral.
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Last updated: 08-22-2005 21:42:51
