Official Answer Key & Detailed Solution
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Correct Answer: Option (A) — 1 only
Concept & Option Breakdown
Standard Reference Verified- Aral Sea (1): Has shrunk dramatically (losing about 90% of its volume and ~75% of its surface area) since the 1960s after the Soviet Union diverted its feeder rivers (Amu Darya and Syr Darya) for cotton irrigation.
- Black Sea (2): An inland marginal sea connected to the Mediterranean; it has not experienced immense shrinkage.
- Lake Baikal (3): The deepest freshwater lake in the world; while facing pollution challenges, it has not dried up or shrunk immensely.
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