Current Situation
The Western Sea is expected to stabilize at 2,700–3,500 km2 (1,040–1,350 sq mi), a mean depth of 14–15 m (46–49 ft), and a maximum depth of 37–40 m (121–131 ft), assuming groundwater discharge at the rate of 2 km3 (0.5 cu mi) per year. The Eastern Sea dried up completely in the summer of 2009, but it received some water from snow melt in the spring of 2010. It is expected to alternate between complete desiccation in the summers and the occasional flood from the Amu Darya or spillover from the dam holding back the North Aral Sea.
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July 2002 – The Sea's former bed is visible as lighter-colored areas, the lightest regions representing the most recent retreat.
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November 2003 – Much of the Eastern Sea's water has evaporated, the jade green swirls representing sediment in the shallow water.
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August 2009 – The Eastern Sea's mud flats have dried further, with only the faintest glimmer of water where it drains into the Western Sea.
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July 2010 – A closeup of the channel leading from the re-flooded Eastern Sea to the Western Sea. The white areas are the exposed salt flats of the new Aralkum desert.
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August 2010 – Part of the Eastern Sea has been re-flooded by the Amu Darya from heavy snowmelt.
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September 2011 - The Northern Sea and Eastern Sea lost water, while the Western Sea gained more water.
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