Final answer:
The Aral Sea is a large body of water that has been drastically affected due to improper irrigation, leading to its shrinkage to about ten percent of its original size, increased salinity, and the collapse of its ecosystem and local fishing economy. Hence the correct option is D.
Step-by-step explanation:
The large body of water that is suffering due to years of improper irrigation practices is the Aral Sea. Hence the correct option is D.
In the 1960s, the Aral Sea was the fourth largest inland water body, surpassed only by the Caspian Sea, Lake Superior, and Lake Victoria. However, it has since diminished significantly due to the diversion of its two main tributaries - the Amu Darya and Syr Darya - for agriculture, predominantly for the cultivation of cotton. The resulting drop in water level led to increased salinity, devastating the local ecosystem and the economy. It is one of the most severe examples of human-induced environmental disasters. As of 2007, the Aral Sea shrank to about ten percent of its original size, its salinity has increased dramatically, and the local fishing industry has collapsed, impacting over 60,000 people.