Geography – GK Questions

Answer: Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the highest peak in Africa at 5,895 meters. It is a dormant stratovolcano with three volcanic cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. Kibo's summit, Uhuru Peak, is the highest point. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Answer: Jindhagada

Jindhagada Peak (1,690 m) in Andhra Pradesh is the highest peak in the Eastern Ghats. The Eastern Ghats are discontinuous and lower than the Western Ghats, running parallel to India's east coast from Odisha to Tamil Nadu.

Answer: Mangalore Port

Mangalore Port (New Mangalore Port) is known as the 'Gateway of Karnataka'. It is the only major port in Karnataka and handles petroleum products, containers, and bulk cargo. It is located at Panambur, near Mangaluru.

Answer: True

The troposphere, the lowest layer of the atmosphere (up to 8-15 km), contains about 75-80% of the atmosphere's mass and almost all water vapor. All weather phenomena occur in this layer. Temperature decreases with altitude at about 6.5°C per km.

Answer: Silent Valley

Silent Valley National Park in Kerala is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is known for its tropical evergreen forests and endangered species like the Lion-tailed Macaque. The park was saved from a hydroelectric project in the 1980s.

Answer: Sahara Desert

The Sahara Desert in North Africa is the largest hot desert in the world, covering about 9.2 million sq km. It spans 11 countries including Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia, and Western Sahara.

Answer: Bhagirathi

The Tehri Dam, one of the highest dams in India (260.5 m), is built on the Bhagirathi River in Uttarakhand. It is a multipurpose rock and earth-fill embankment dam providing irrigation, municipal water supply, and 1,000 MW of hydroelectric power.

Answer: True

The Equator passes through 13 countries: Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, São Tomé & Príncipe, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Maldives, Indonesia, and Kiribati. It divides Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Answer: Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh is the largest producer of manganese in India, contributing about 30% of national production. Major deposits are in Balaghat, Chhindwara, and Jhabua districts. Manganese is essential for steel production and battery manufacturing.

Answer: Jute

Jute is known as 'Golden Fiber' due to its golden color and high economic value. India is the largest producer of jute in the world, primarily grown in West Bengal, Bihar, and Assam. It is used for making sacks, carpets, and textiles.

Answer: True

The retreating monsoon (October-November) occurs when the Southwest Monsoon withdraws from India. This season brings rainfall to Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. It is also known as the Northeast Monsoon in these regions.

Answer: Norway

Norway is known as the 'Land of Midnight Sun' because during summer months (May-July), the sun remains visible for 24 hours in regions north of the Arctic Circle. This phenomenon occurs due to Earth's axial tilt.

Answer: 30-50 km

The continental crust is approximately 30-50 km thick, while oceanic crust is thinner (5-10 km). The crust is the outermost solid shell of Earth, composed mainly of granitic rocks on continents and basaltic rocks under oceans.

Answer: Chambal

The Chambal River originates in the Vindhya Range of Madhya Pradesh and flows through Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh before joining the Yamuna. It is known for its ravines and is one of the least polluted rivers in India.

Answer: True

The Prime Meridian (0° longitude) passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. It serves as the reference line for Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and divides the Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres.

Answer: Mizoram

Mizoram has the highest forest cover by percentage (about 84.53% of its geographical area) according to the India State of Forest Report 2021. Arunachal Pradesh has the highest forest cover by absolute area among Northeast states.

Answer: Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of sugarcane in India, contributing about 40% of national production. Major sugarcane-growing districts include Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, and Saharanpur. India is the second-largest sugar producer globally after Brazil.

Answer: Goa

Goa is the smallest state in India by area (3,702 sq km). Located on the west coast, it is known for beaches, Portuguese heritage, and tourism. Panaji is its capital. Despite its size, Goa has the highest GDP per capita among Indian states.

Answer: Huang He (Yellow River)

The Huang He (Yellow River) is called 'China's Sorrow' due to its frequent and devastating floods caused by silt deposition raising the riverbed. Historically, floods have caused millions of deaths. Massive dam projects now help control flooding.

Answer: True

The Narmada River flows westward through a rift valley between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges, emptying into the Arabian Sea via the Gulf of Khambhat. It is one of the few major Indian rivers flowing west. The Tapi River also flows westward similarly.