Which of the following has/have shrunk immensely/dried up in the recent past due to human activities? 1. Aral Sea 2. Black Sea 3. Lake Baikal Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A1 onlyCorrect
- B2 and 3
- C2 only
- D1 and 3
Explanation
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Aral Sea: This is a classic and widely known example of a large inland sea that has shrunk immensely and largely dried up due to human activities. The diversion of its feeder rivers (Amu Darya and Syr Darya) for irrigation projects (primarily cotton cultivation) in the Soviet era led to its catastrophic decline. So, statement 1 is correct.
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Black Sea: The Black Sea has not shrunk or dried up. It is an active sea connected to the Mediterranean via the Turkish Straits. While it faces significant environmental challenges like pollution and eutrophication, it has not experienced immense shrinkage or drying up.
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Lake Baikal: Located in Siberia, Russia, Lake Baikal is the world's largest freshwater lake by volume and the deepest lake. While it faces environmental threats from industrial pollution and climate change, it has not shrunk immensely or dried up in the recent past. Its immense size and depth make such a rapid shrinkage unlikely.
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