Places and Locations: World Geography: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Geography)

Explanation

Option (d) is correct: Victoria Falls, known locally as "Mosi-oa-Tunya" or "The Smoke That Thunders," is located on the Zambezi River. It straddles the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Zambezi River is the fourth-longest river in Africa and flows through several countries, including Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, and Mozambique. Options (a), (b) and (c) are incorrect:

The Amazon River, which is the largest river in the world by discharge, flows through South America, primarily through Brazil, but does not have Victoria Falls. The Missouri River is a major river in the United States, flowing through several states. It does not have any waterfalls as famous as Victoria Falls. The St. Lawrence River flows through Canada and the United States, connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. While it has several rapids and is an important waterway for shipping, it is not associated with Victoria Falls.

Explanation

Israel shares its borders with four neighboring countries: Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the southwest. These borders have evolved significantly since Israel’s establishment in 1948, influenced by various geopolitical events and agreements.

Explanation

Option (a) is correct: Bolivia, situated in South America, is the only landlocked nation among the listed countries. It shares borders with Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay and Argentina to the south, and Chile and Peru to the west. Options (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

Peru: Located on the western coast of South America, Peru has an extensive Pacific Ocean shoreline, facilitating significant maritime trade. Suriname: Situated on the northeastern coast of South America, Suriname borders the Atlantic Ocean, providing it with access to international shipping routes. Uruguay: Located in the southeastern part of the continent, Uruguay has coastlines along both the Atlantic Ocean and the Rio de la Plata estuary, enhancing its maritime connectivity.

Explanation

The Caspian Sea, the world’s largest enclosed inland body of water, is bordered by five countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan. Armenia, however, is not among these nations. Situated in the South Caucasus region, Armenia is a landlocked country bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, and Azerbaijan to the east and southwest.

Option (a) is correct: Armenia’s geographical location places it to the southeast of the Caspian Sea, but it does not share a coastline with it. Instead, Armenia is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, and Azerbaijan to the east and south-west.