Lost for good

By The Newsroom
Published 8th Jul 2010, 18:53 BST
Updated 8th Jul 2010, 20:24 BST
I was intrigued by your photographs of the Aral Sea (6 July), and I thought it was such a pity that we did not have satellite photography in the 19th century.

The sea has expanded and contracted frequently in historical times.

About the middle of the 19th century, it had contracted so much that it was thought it would disappear altogether.

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However, in 1880 it started expanding once again, and this went on into the 20th century.

As its catchment rivers are being used for massive irrigation purposes, I do not see it ever expanding again.

ROBERT PATE

Old Edinburgh Road

Newton Stewart

Wigtownshire