Question 99 from UPSC CSE 2020 - GEOGRAPHY

Question

Consider the following pairs:
1. Mekong - Andaman Sea
2. Thames - Irish Sea
3. Volga - Caspian Sea
4. Zambezi - Indian Ocean
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. 3 and 4 only

Strategy: The primary approach is to correctly identify the outlet sea or ocean for each river. Specifically:

- Confirm the Mekong empties into the South China Sea, not the Andaman Sea.
- Verify the Thames discharges into the North Sea, not the Irish Sea.
- Note that the Volga distinctively terminates in the Caspian Sea.
- Recognize the Zambezi flows into the Indian Ocean.

After associating each river with its correct basin, eliminate any pairs that show obvious mismatches to identify the correct options.

Key Info: **Mekong River**
- Originates in the Tibetan Plateau.
- Flows southeast through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
- Empties into the South China Sea.
- Plays a vital role in the ecology and economy of Southeast Asia, particularly its extensive delta in Vietnam.

**Thames River**
- The longest river entirely in England, approximately 346 km (215 miles).
- Flows from the Cotswolds and discharges into the Thames Estuary and then into the North Sea near London.
- Does not connect to the Irish Sea.

**Volga River**
- The longest river in Europe, approximately 3,530 km.
- Flows entirely within Russia, from the Valdai Hills to the Caspian Sea.
- The Caspian Sea is the world's largest enclosed inland body of water (a closed basin).
- Supports multiple major Russian cities, including Volgograd and Kazan.

**Zambezi River**
- The fourth-longest river in Africa, approximately 2,574 km.
- Rises in northwestern Zambia and passes through Angola, along the borders of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.
- Empties into the Indian Ocean.
- Renowned for Victoria Falls and supports significant hydroelectric projects (e.g., Kariba and Cahora Bassa dams).

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: 1 and 2 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: 3 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: 1, 2, and 4 only

Consider the following pairs: Mekong - Andaman Sea Thames - Irish Sea Volga - Caspian Sea Zambezi - Indian Ocean Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Consider the following pairs:

Mekong - Andaman Sea

Thames - Irish Sea

Volga - Caspian Sea

Zambezi - Indian Ocean
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?