Kazakhstan's Caspian Sea is retreating

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🗞️ Driving the news: The Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland sea, is steadily retreating, with its shoreline visibly receding since 2006
• Kazakhstan, which shares a significant portion of the Caspian's coast, is increasingly concerned about the sea's decline, which mirrors the catastrophic drying of the Aral Sea

🔭 The context: The Caspian Sea's water level has been dropping by 25 centimeters annually, leading to a total reduction of two meters in depth since 2000
• The shrinking sea is leaving behind barren shores and affecting local ecosystems, with Kazakh authorities comparing this crisis to the Aral Sea disaster, where 90% of the sea dried up during the Soviet era

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The drying of the Caspian Sea could have severe ecological and economic consequences, impacting biodiversity and the livelihoods of communities relying on its resources
• The retreating shoreline also highlights broader regional water management and climate change challenges in Central Asia

⏭️ What's next: Kazakh authorities may need to implement urgent water management and conservation strategies to prevent further decline
• International cooperation among Caspian Sea nations could be essential in addressing this environmental crisis and mitigating its impacts

💬 One quote: “The water used to come right up to here,” said Sonia, a local resident of Aktaou, pointing to the receding shoreline

📈 One stat: The Caspian Sea has shrunk by approximately 22,000 square kilometers in the past 18 years, half of which is within Kazakhstan

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