View source drying up of Aral Sea redirected in the 1960s by the Soviet Union Aral Sea in Central Asia National Geographic: National Geographic: Aral Sea in Central Asia redirected in the 1960s by the Soviet Union the eastern lobe had completely dried up dried completely Aral Sea in Central Asia redirected in the 1960s by the Soviet Union over-irrigated in order to grow cotton there. Aral Sea in Central Asia National Geographic: redirected in the 1960s by the Soviet Union