The diversion of water for irrigation purposes has been the main cause of the shrinking of the Aral Sea. True False

The Aral Sea, once the fourth-largest lake in the world, has been shrinking since the 1960s due to the diversion of its source rivers, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, for irrigation purposes. This diversion was part of a Soviet-era project aimed at increasing agricultural production in the region. As a result, the sea has lost about 90% of its water and has become a symbol of environmental disaster. The shrinking of the Aral Sea has had severe ecological, economic, and health consequences for the region, including the destruction of local ecosystems, the collapse of the fishing industry, and increased health problems for local populations due to the release of toxic chemicals from the shrinking sea. Therefore, the statement that the diversion of water for irrigation purposes has been the main cause of the shrinking of the Aral Sea is true.