North Aral Sea water volume hits highest level in years
The North Aral Sea continues to expand, reclaiming areas previously lost to desertification. Over the past four years, the volume of water in the sea has increased by nearly 5 billion cubic meters, reaching 23.4 billion cubic meters.
«Water diplomacy» and increased inflows from the Syr Darya River have been the main drivers of this process. Since October 2025, 1.2 billion cubic meters of water have been redirected to the sea.
How the Syr Darya River is replenishing the sea
Currently, the flow of water into the North Aral Sea stands at 14 cubic meters per second. By the end of the growing season, the figure is expected to reach 100-150 cubic meters per second.
The steady increase in water inflows is the result of both abundant precipitation and complex intergovernmental agreements. A key breakthrough was the signing of an agreement with Uzbekistan on the joint management of transboundary water resources, following more than 10 years of negotiations.
«Several projects are being implemented to preserve the North Aral Sea, including the automation of water accounting in the Syr Darya River basin and the reconstruction of hydraulic structures. Cooperation with neighboring countries is also being strengthened,» said Nurlan Aldamzharov, first vice minister of water resources and irrigation.
Recovery: From crisis to growth
The figures show a steady year-on-year increase in the volume of water in the North Aral Sea:
- 18.9 billion cubic meters in 2022;
- 20.49 billion cubic meters in 2023;
- 22.08 billion cubic meters in 2024;
- 22.85 billion cubic meters in 2025;
- 23.4 billion cubic meters in August 2026.
Next step: Large-scale reconstruction
The next phase of the large-scale project to preserve the North Aral Sea will involve reconstructing the Kokaral Dam. This is expected to raise the sea level to 44 meters according to the Baltic Normal Height System, expand its surface area to 3,913 square kilometers, and increase its total volume to 34 billion cubic meters.
