Multiple Choice QuestionIn the 1950s, the Soviet Union began diverting water from the Aral Sea for cotton and rice fields. What were the consequences of this diversion?Multiple choice question.The sea dried up and left behind toxic chemicals that got mixed up in runoff.The cotton and rice fields flourished and the sea level went down by a few centimeters.The water from the sea was too salty for agriculture, and the project was shut down after a few years

The correct answer is: The sea dried up and left behind toxic chemicals that got mixed up in runoff.

Here's why:

1. The Soviet Union began diverting water from the Aral Sea to irrigate cotton and rice fields in the 1950s. This diversion led to a significant decrease in the water level of the sea.

2. As the water level decreased, the sea began to dry up. This process accelerated in the 1960s and 1970s, leading to the sea's current state.

3. The drying up of the sea left behind a vast amount of toxic chemicals. These chemicals were previously diluted in the water, but as the water evaporated, they became concentrated.

4. These toxic chemicals got mixed up in runoff and were carried by wind and rain to surrounding areas. This has caused serious health problems for the local population and has made the land around the Aral Sea unsuitable for farming.

5. Therefore, the consequence of the water diversion was not that the cotton and rice fields flourished. Instead, the sea dried up and left behind toxic chemicals that got mixed up in runoff.

6. The water from the sea was not too salty for agriculture. The project was not shut down after a few years due to this reason. Instead, it continued for decades, leading to the current environmental disaster.