the new york times has an interesting article about the aral sea. i visited what used to be the southern coast of the sea in 2003 and wandered among the rusting fishing vessels lying in the desert, miles from any water. the aral sea is regularly cited as one of the worst environmental disaster on the planet. and everywhere in moynaq, uzbekistan, the now-waterless port that i visited, people talked about "the tragedy of the aral sea."
the times article is probably the most optimistic story i've ever read about the future of the aral sea. and despite what they told me when i visited moynaq's aral sea museum, it sounds like the kazakh government is the one that's serious about bringing it back.
