World's 4th largest lake Aral Sea shrinking (6)

Photo taken on Dec. 7, 2015 shows the Aral Sea, Uzbekistan. Once the world's fourth largest lake, the Aral Sea lies between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, fed mainly by Amu Darya and Syr Darya. The sea has shrunk more than 90 percent as the rivers that feed it were largely diverted by the former Soviet Union irrigation projects to boost cotton production in the arid region. (Xinhua/Sadat)