The ARAL Sea is a once-large lake located between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan that has been steadily drying up since the 1960s. It was once the fourth largest lake in the world, but due to the diversion of its feeder rivers for irrigation, it has lost over 80% of its surface area and 90% of its volume. The ARAL Sea is now considered an environmental disaster, with the surrounding area becoming increasingly polluted and desertified.