UPSC 2008 Geography Questions with Answers

Explanation

Pair 1 is correctly matched: The Daman Ganga Irrigation Project is located in Gujarat. This project utilizes the waters of the Damanganga River which flows through both Gujarat and Maharashtra, to provide irrigation to agricultural lands in the region. This project is crucial for irrigation, drinking water, and industrial water supply in Gujarat and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: The Girna Irrigation Project is situated in Maharashtra. This project harnesses the waters of the Girna River, a tributary of the Tapi River.The key component of the project is the Girna Dam, an earthfill dam constructed across the Girna River. The primary purpose of the Girna Irrigation Project is to provide irrigation to agricultural lands in the Nashik and Jalgaon districts of Maharashtra. The project helps to stabilize and increase agricultural production in this region.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: Pamba River originates in the Western Ghats and flows through Pathanamthitta district, Kerala before emptying into the Vembanad Lake. The Pamba Irrigation Project was built for agriculture and drinking water supply, mainly benefiting Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, and Kottayam districts. This river is also spiritually significant as it flows near the Sabarimala Temple.

Explanation

The Tapovan and Vishnugarh hydroelectric projects are located in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. These projects utilize the waters of the Dhauliganga River. The Tapovan-Vishnugarh project is a run-of-river scheme, meaning it harnesses the natural flow of the river without creating a large storage reservoir. Developed by NTPC Limited, a major power generation company in India, the Tapovan-Vishnugarh project has a planned installed capacity of 520 MW. This capacity represents a substantial contribution to the power generation capabilities of Uttarakhand and the nation. Run-of-river projects like this generally have a smaller environmental footprint compared to large dam projects with vast reservoirs.

Explanation

Malta is an island country situated in the central Mediterranean Sea. It is strategically located between Sicily (Italy) to the north and North Africa (specifically Tunisia and Libya) to the south.

Option (a), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

The Baltic Sea is located in Northern Europe bordered by countries such as Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany. It is a brackish inland sea and it plays a significant role in regional trade and ecology in Northern Europe. The Black Sea lies to the northeast of Malta, bordered by Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and Russia. It is surrounded by countries in Eastern Europe and Western Asia and is important for trade routes, especially for countries like Russia and Ukraine. The North Sea is located in Northern Europe, bordered by Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. It is a cold, productive sea that serves as a major fishing area and an important oil-producing region.

Explanation

The equator is an imaginary line that divides the Earth into two hemispheres: the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. Singapore is located just north of the equator, at 1° 17 N, making it the closest city to the equator in this list. It is a global financial hub and one of the world’s busiest ports. Its proximity to the equator means that it experiences a tropical rainforest climate characterized by high humidity, heavy rainfall, and consistent temperatures year-round.

Option (a), (b) and (c) are incorrect:

Colombo is situated to the north of the equator, about 7 degrees away. The tropical climate in Colombo means it experiences a warm, humid environment year-round. It is located on the west coast of Sri Lanka and serves as its commercial capital. Jakarta is located at approximately at 6° 9 S latitude and 106° 49 E longitude. It lies just south of the equator, about 6 degrees away. It experiences a warm tropical rainforest climate, with consistent rainfall and temperatures throughout the year. Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia and one of the largest urban centers in Southeast Asia. Manila is situated at 14 degrees north of the equator. While it is still within the tropical zone, it is farther from the equator compared to Colombo, Jakarta, and Singapore. It is the capital of the Philippines and is located on the western side of Luzon Island which is the largest island in the Philippines.

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: The Malacca Strait lies between the Malay Peninsula (in Malaysia) and the Sumatra Island (in Indonesia). It connects the Andaman Sea to the South China Sea and is a crucial shipping route. The Malacca Strait is located around 100°E longitude, which is far to the east of the International Date Line (at 180° longitude). It is relatively far from the IDL compared to the other options.

Option (b) is correct: The Bering Strait is extremely close to the International Date Line. The Bering Strait is located between the Easternmost point of Russia (Chukchi Peninsula) and the Alaskan coast of the United States. It connects the Arctic Ocean with the Bering Sea. The IDL passes through the Bering Strait, making it the closest to the IDL of all the options listed. This proximity means that the time zone on one side of the strait can be almost a full 24 hours ahead or behind the time zone on the other side, depending on the direction of travel.

Option (c) is incorrect: The Strait of Florida lies between Florida (USA) and the Bahamian Islands, connecting the Gulf of Mexico with the Atlantic Ocean. It is located at around 81°W longitude, far to the west of the International Date Line, which places it quite far from the IDL.

Option (d) is incorrect: The Strait of Gibraltar is located between the southern tip of Spain and the northern tip of Morocco, connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea. It is located at about 5°W longitude, much farther west of the Inter-national Date Line.

Explanation

Moldova is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, situated between Ukraine and Romania. It does not share a border with Belarus. Moldova shares its longest border with Ukraine (about 1,222 km), covering its northern, eastern, and southern sides. Moldova shares a westward border (681 km) with Romania, following the Prut River. Moldova does not share a border with Belarus. Ukraine lies between Moldova and Belarus, making a direct border impossible.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Ajman is one of the seven emirates and the smallest in terms of area. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven emirates, established on 2nd December 1971. Initially, six emirates--Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Shar-jah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, and Fujairah--formed the union, while Ras al-Khaimah joined later in 1972.

Statement 2 is correct: Initially, Ras al-Khaimah chose not to join the UAE in 1971, but later became part of the federation on 10th February 1972.

Explanation

Option (b) is correct: The two countries that follow China and India in decreasing order of population are USA and Indonesia. The USA is the third-most populous country, followed by Indonesia at fourth. Options (a), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

While Brazil and the USA both have large populations, Indonesia has a higher population than Brazil. Canada and Malaysia, both have relatively smaller populations compared to other countries among the given options. While Nigeria has a fast-growing population, it does not currently rank immediately after India and China. Russia has a smaller population size.

Explanation

Mahogany is a tropical hardwood tree native to the Americas. Known for its reddish-brown timber, which is durable, beautiful, and easy to work with, mahogany is highly valued in furniture making, cabinetry, and boatbuilding. However, it is not naturally found in the Himalayan region. The climatic and environmental conditions of the Himalayas are unsuitable for its growth, so any presence of mahogany there would be the result of human introduction rather than natural occurrence.

Explanation

Option (b) is correct: As of 2008, the four Indian biosphere reserves recognized under UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) were:

1. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (2000)

2. Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve (2001)

3. Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve (2001)

4. Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (2004) The Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve was not included in the WNBR by UNESCO until 2015. It was inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list only in July 2016, becoming the first "Mixed Heritage" site of India. Options (a), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, located on India’s southeastern coast, is a biodiversity hotspot with coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, and rich marine life, including fish, crustaceans, and marine mammals. It supports traditional fishing communities and promotes sustainable development while conserving its unique ecosystem. Recognized by UNESCO, it highlights the balance between conservation and livelihoods. The Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve in Uttarakhand includes the Nanda Devi National Park and India’s second-highest peak. It protects pristine alpine habitats with endangered species like the snow leopard and Himalayan musk deer. Recognized by UNESCO, it plays a vital role in conserving the fragile Himalayan ecosystem and its biodiversity. The Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve, located in the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta, is the world’s largest mangrove forest. It supports iconic species like the Bengal tiger and numerous aquatic animals. Recognized by UNESCO, it protects this critical ecosystem known for coastal protection, carbon sequestration, and supporting local livelihoods.