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

Explanation

The longest border between any two countries in the world is between Canada and the United States, which spans approximately 8,891 kilometers (5,525 miles). The border is divided into two: the border shared with Canada by the continental United States and the border that the state of Alaska shares with northern Canada. Eight Canadian provinces and thirteen American states run along the shared boundary.

Explanation

The Red Sea is a narrow body of water. It stretches about 1,200 miles (1,930 km) southeast from Suez, Egypt. The sea ends at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects to the Gulf of Aden. From there, it leads into the Arabian Sea.

Statement 1 is correct: The Red Sea is located in a region characterized by arid and semi-arid climates, with very little rainfall throughout the year. The surrounding regions, such as parts of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan, experience low annual precipitation. The average annual rainfall along the Red Sea coast is less than 100 mm(annually) in most areas, with some regions experiencing no rainfall at all. For example, the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on the Red Sea coast, has an annual rainfall of only about 80 mm.

Statement 2 is correct: The Red Sea is almost unique in that it does not receive significant inflows from any large rivers. While there are some small streams and wadis (seasonal rivers such as Wadi Fatimah) that flow into the Red Sea, they do not significantly contribute to the volume of water in the sea. The Red Sea’s water balance is mainly influenced by evaporation, with a very high rate due to the hot and dry climate. However, according to Britannica, no water enters the Red Sea from rivers.

Explanation

Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Ghana are the two largest cocoa producers in the world, contributing over 60% of the global cocoa supply. Cote d’Ivoire alone produces about 40%, making it the top producer, while Ghana, the second-larg-est producer, is known for its high-quality cocoa beans. Cocoa from these countries is a key ingredient in the global chocolate industry, supplying major manufacturers like Nestlé, Mars, and Hershey. Their dominance in cocoa production is due to a tropical climate with hot, humid conditions, fertile soil ideal for cocoa cultivation, and a labor-intensive farming system supported by extensive smallholder networks.

Explanation

The North Sea is a shallow, northeastern arm of the Atlantic Ocean located between the British Isles and the mainland of northwestern Europe and covering an area of 220,000 square miles (570,000 square km).

Option (b) is correct:

The sea is bordered by:

The island of Great Britain to the southwest and west, The Orkney and Shetland islands to the northwest, Norway to the northeast, Denmark to the east, Germany and the Netherlands to the southeast Belgium and France to the south.