Which of the following has/have shrunk immensely/dried up in the recent past due to human activities? [2018]

Which of the following has/have shrunk immensely/dried up in the recent past due to human activities?

Aral Sea
Black Sea
Lake Baikal

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

1 only
2 and 3
2 only
1 and 3

Explanation

Aral Sea is correct

The Aral Sea is an endorheic saltwater lake between Kazakhstan in the north and Uzbekistan in the south. It has been steadily shrinking since the 1960s, after the rivers (Amu Darya and Syr Darya) that fed the lake were diverted to feed Soviet irrigation projects..

Two side-by-side maps comparing Aral Coastline in 1960 and 2014 show significant shrinkage of water area. The 1960 map depicts a large, dark green water body, while the 2014 map shows a much smaller, fragmented water area with surrounding land expansion, highlighting environmental degradation.

It has receded into three separate lakes: the Greater Sea had divided into a long, narrow, western lake and a larger, broader, eastern lake, with the remains of the Lesser Sea to the north.

Map showing Central Asian countries including Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, highlighting key geographical features like Caspian Sea, Aral Sea, and major rivers Amu Darya and Syr Darya. Important cities Baku and Ashgabat are marked with red squares, and Baikonur in Kazakhstan is labeled as a notable location.

Black Sea is incorrect

Black Sea is a marginal Mediterranean Sea lying between Europe and Asia.
It lies:
- East of the Balkan Peninsula (Southeast Europe)
- South of the East European Plain in Eastern Europe
- West of the Caucasus
- North of Anatolia in Western Asia.

It is supplied by significant rivers, principally the Danube and Dnieper. There is a significant absence of oxygen in the Black Sea water. Mountain Ranges: Pontic Mountains (South), Caucasus Mountains (East) and Crimean Mts (North).
Countries surrounding Black Sea: Ukraine to the north, Russia to the northeast, Georgia to the east, Turkey to the south, Bulgaria to the southwest, and Romania to the west.
Frequently in news: The Russia-Ukraine war has disrupted the trade stability in the region.

Map showing Black Sea surrounded by countries including Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, and Georgia, with major rivers like Danube, Dnieper, and Don labeled. Key straits such as Bosporus, Dardanelles, and Kerch are highlighted, along with important cities like Istanbul, Odessa, and Sochi, illustrating geographic and strategic connections between Black Sea and adjacent seas.

Lake Baikal is incorrect

It is located in Siberia, Russia.

2018, PYQs