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

Explanation

Malaysia is not part of the Mekong River basin. The river does not flow through Malaysia at any point. Malaysia’s major rivers include the Rajang River and Kinabatangan River. The Mekong River is one of the longest rivers in Asia (about 4,350 km long). It originates in China’s Tibetan Plateau and flows through six countries: China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam before emptying into the South China Sea.

Explanation

Option (d) is correct: Latvia is a Baltic country in Northern Europe, bordered by four countries: Estonia to the north, Russia to the east, Belarus to the southeast, and Lithuania to the south. It also has a western coastline along the Baltic Sea. Latvia does not share a border with Poland. Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

Latvia shares a border with Russia to the east, specifically in the Pskov and Leningrad regions. Latvia is directly north of Estonia, and both countries share a common border. Lithuania borders Latvia to the south, making this option incorrect.

Explanation

A is matched with 1: The Black Sea is an inland sea in south-eastern Europe. It is bordered by six countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, and Turkey. Bulgaria’s eastern coastline lies along the western edge of the Black Sea, providing it with significant maritime access. This strategic position has historically facilitated trade and cultural exchanges between Bulgaria and other Black Sea nations. B is matched with 3: The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean. It is situated between northeastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by several countries, including Egypt to the northwest, Sudan to the southwest, and Eritrea to the southeast. Djibouti and Saudi Arabia lie to the east, while Yemen is situated to the southeast. The Red Sea is also connected to the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal and to the Arabian Sea via the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. C is matched with 2: The Yellow Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It lies between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. D is matched with 4: The Caspian Sea is recognized as the world’s largest inland body of water, and is bordered by five countries, namely, Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkmenistan.

Explanation

Option (d) is correct: Venezuela is situated on the northern coast of South America, bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Colombia to the west, Brazil to the south, and Guyana to the east. Notably, Venezuela does not share a border with Panama; the two countries are separated by Colombia. Options (a), (b) and (c) are incorrect: Panama, a Central American nation, is strategically positioned on the Isthmus of Panama, connecting North and South America. It shares its western border with Costa Rica, while Colombia lies to the east. The Pacific Ocean forms its southern coastline, and the Caribbean Sea borders it to the north. This unique geography has established Panama as a critical conduit for international maritime trade, exemplified by the Panama Canal, which links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.