Constructing the Karakum Canal: The Urbanization of Soviet Turkmenistan and the Aral Sea Crisis

The collapse of the Aral Sea ecosystem is regarded as one of the most devastating environmental tragedies in history. Primarily driven by Soviet-era irrigation practices aimed at expanding agriculture in Central Asia’s arid regions, the catastrophe has had lasting ecological and socioeconomic consequences. To address the repercussions of past actions, it is essential to move beyond perceiving water as a “national” resource: It cannot be fully comprehended or effectively managed within national borders. An ecosystem-based approach can help divert from a technologically and economically based mono-functional value system, promoting possibilities for sustainable development in the region.