Aral, for one is a reference to the Aral SEA, which was once one of the four largest lakes in the world. Located between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the Aral SEA has been shrinking since the 1960s due to the diversion of water from its two main tributaries for irrigation purposes. The lake has now been reduced to less than 10% of its original size, leading to environmental and economic devastation in the region.