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:
A
1 only
B
2 and 3
C
2 only
D
1 and 3
Correct Answer: Option A
Explanation
1. Statement 1 is correct. The Aral Sea has shrunk immensely and largely dried up since the 1960s, primarily due to the diversion of its feeder rivers (Amu Darya and Syr Darya) for large-scale irrigation projects by the Soviet Union. This is one of the most cited examples of ecological disaster caused by human activities.
2. Statement 2 is incorrect. The Black Sea is a large inland sea. While it faces significant environmental challenges like pollution and eutrophication, it has not shrunk immensely or dried up in the recent past.
3. Statement 3 is incorrect. Lake Baikal is the world's largest freshwater lake by volume and the deepest lake. Although it faces environmental threats, it has not shrunk immensely or dried up due to human activities in the recent past.