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:

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2018 Prelims]

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 2 only

(d) 1 and 3 only

Answer: (a)        

Explanation:

• Located in Central Asia, the Aral Sea was once the world’s fourth-largest salt lake and served as the drainage basin for several countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Kazakhstan.
• However, since the 1960s, the sea has been shrinking due to the diversion of water for agricultural purposes by the Soviet Union.
• According to NASA, the Aral Sea has lost about 75% of its original size over the past 50 years.
• Additionally, the depth of the sea has dramatically reduced from 68 meters in the 1960s to less than 10 meters today.