In the drying Aral Sea, the ephemeral "miracle" of the artemia shrimp, a prized resource of global aquaculture

The Aral Sea is nearing a critical salinity level, threatening its existence within two to three years, according to biologist Ablatdiyn Musaev. Once the fourth largest lake globally, it now sees limited tourism as its waters recede rapidly. The lake has lost about 92% of its surface area since 1960 due to the diversion of rivers for cotton irrigation during the Soviet era. Tourists seeking an authentic experience may soon find nothing left to enjoy.