The regions of northwestern Uzbekistan and southern Kazakhstan were highly dependent on the Aral Sea’s aquatic ecosystem, which shaped livelihoods, culture, and social life. After massive Soviet river diversions for cotton production, the shoreline collapsed, transforming the lake into the Aralkum Desert and leaving former fishing communities in Muynak with lost livelihoods and severe climate instability. This project documents the traces of that collapse: abandoned boats, altered landscapes, and the enduring impact on communities now facing generational poverty.