Well, in the 1950s, the Soviets decided to divert that water to irrigate the desert to grow cotton, believe it or not, in Kazakhstan, to sell cotton to the international markets to bring foreign currency into the Soviet Union.
In de jaren 50 besloten de Sovjets om dat water af te leiden om in de woestijn katoen te telen in Kazachstan, om dat te verkopen op de internationale markten voor vreemde valuta.