Consider the following water bodies: I. Lake Tanganyika II. Lake Tonlé Sap III. Patos Lagoon Through how many of them does the equator pass?

1. A. Only one
2. B. Only two
3. C. All the three
4. D. None

Answer: D

Explanation

Let’s examine the location of each water body relative to the equator: I. Lake Tanganyika: Located in East Africa, it is one of the African Great Lakes. It lies south of the equator, forming a boundary between Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Zambia. The equator does not pass through it. II. Lake Tonlé Sap: This is a large freshwater lake in Cambodia, Southeast Asia. Cambodia is entirely north of the equator. The equator does not pass through it. III. Patos Lagoon: Located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, it is the largest lagoon in Brazil. Brazil is crossed by the equator in its northern part, but Patos Lagoon is situated in the extreme southeastern part of Brazil, far south of the equator. Therefore, the equator does not pass through any of the three mentioned water bodies. Knowledge of world geography and major physical features is essential for UPSC.