Draining the Caspian Sea

DID YOU KNOW THAT:
The Caspian Sea is rich in oil and gas and it has been produced here since ancient times.
Because of this, Soviet Communists planned to drain the Caspian Sea to the bottom, to get faster and easier the oil and gas. Young Soviet Russia desperately needed these natural resources in exchange for hard currency to survive:
“In 1952, Josef Stalin - the chief communist of the USSR - asked hydraulic engineer Sergei Zhuk to make a plan:
“Can you drain the Caspian Sea?” said Stalin. It was more an order than a question.
“Yes, it is possible,” replied engineer Zhuk.
In two weeks, engineer Zhuk came up with a detailed plan for how to turn away the rivers from the Caspian Sea, empty them from the water, and get to the oil.”
(Extract from the book “Russian Colonial Food”. Chapter: Azerbaijan - Oil Country)

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