Aral 2006689 223859001 2008-07-06T05:06:00Z 99.234.28.230 [[sr:Аралск]] {{about|the city in [[Kazakhstan]]|other uses|Aral (disambiguation)}} {{translation|[[:ru:Аральск]]}} {{Expand|date=May 2007}} {{Infobox City | official_name = Aral | native_name = Арал | image_skyline = AralskHarbor.jpg | image_flag = | image_seal = | image_map = | map_caption = |pushpin_map = Kazakhstan |pushpin_label_position =bottom |pushpin_mapsize = 280 |pushpin_map_caption =Location in Kazakhstan |subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]] |subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Kazakhstan|Province]] |subdivision_name =‎ {{flag|Kazakhstan}} |subdivision_name1 = [[Kyzylorda Province|Kyzylorda]] | established_title = | established_date = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | area_magnitude = | area_total_sq_mi = | area_total_km2 = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_land_km2 = | area_urban_sq_mi = | area_urban_km2 = | area_metro_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi = | population_as_of= | population_footnotes = | population_total = 39,000 | population_urban = | population_metro = | population_density_sq_mi = | population_density_km2 = | timezone = | utc_offset = | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | latd=46|latm=47|lats=0|latNS=N | longd=61|longm=40|longs=0|longEW=E | elevation_footnotes= | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Aral''', also known as '''Aralsk''' or '''Aral'sk''', ([[Kazakh language|Kazakh]]: '''Арал''', [[Russian language|Russian]]: '''Аральск''') {{coor dm|46|47|N|61|40|E|}} is a small city in south-western [[Kazakhstan]], located in the ''[[oblast]]'' (region) of [[Kyzylorda Province|Kyzylorda]]. It serves as the administrative center of [[Aral District]]. Population roughly 39,000. Aral was formerly a fishing port and harbour city on the banks of the [[Aral Sea]], and was a major supplier of fish to the neighboring region. Since the retreat of the Aral Sea since 1960, due to diversion of the rivers flowing into it for [[irrigation]], mainly of [[cotton]], during the [[Soviet era]], Aral is now completely [[landlocked]] about 12 km from the sea, though this is less than the 100km distance observed before the completion of a dam in 2005. With the dam in place and the water level in the sea again rising, it is hoped that by 2009 the sea will have come within 6km of Aral and a canal could be built to the sea. Aral has greatly diminished in population and [[Socioeconomics|socioeconomic]] significance. It has been more than 25 years since the Aral Sea could be seen from the town. There are also serious health problems for the local population caused by airborne toxic chemicals{{Fact|date=February 2008}} exposed to the wind by the retreating waters and, possibly, from [[chemical agents|chemical]] and [[biological agents]] unsafely stored on islands in the Aral Sea. There is a high level of [[unemployment]]. Like the town of [[Moynaq]] to the south of the Aral Sea, it now has discarded rusting fishing boats sitting on what used to be the bed of the Aral Sea. ==External links== * The official website about the Aralsk region in Kazakh, Russian, English and Danish [http://www.aralsea.net/en/index.htm] * News story on the plight of Aralsk and the Aral Sea. [http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/15390/story.htm] [[Category:Cities, towns and villages in Kazakhstan]] {{Kyzylorda Province}} [[cv:Аральск]] [[de:Aral (Kasachstan)]] [[es:Aral (Kazajistán)]] [[it:Aralsk]] [[lt:Aralas]] [[hu:Aral]] [[pl:Aralsk]] [[pt:Aral]] [[ru:Аральск]] [[sr:Аралск]] [[sv:Aral, Kazakstan]] [[vi:Aral]] [[uk:Аральськ]]