Geography ยท General Awareness
World Geographical Records
2,791 Questions
World geographical records encompass the extremes of physical geography, including the largest lakes, islands, oceans, and trenches. These factual questions test knowledge of global superlatives and major geographical features. This topic is a staple in general studies sections of UPSC, state PSC, and SSC exams.
Largest global islandsDeepest ocean pointsMajor world canalsGlobal polar regionsLargest rivers and reefs
World Geographical Records Questions
A
Correct answer
Explanation
The Nile River is traditionally considered the world's longest river at approximately 6,650 kilometers. The Amazon River carries more water but is shorter. Options C and D both refer to the same river (Ganga/Ganges).
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Caspian Sea
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Baltic Sea
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Superior Lake
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Arabian Sea
B
Correct answer
Explanation
The Baltic Sea has an average depth of only about 55 meters, making it one of the shallowest seas globally. The Caspian Sea reaches over 1,000 meters deep, and the Arabian Sea exceeds 4,500 meters. Lake Superior is actually a lake, not a sea, but is also deeper than the Baltic Sea.
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Srilanka
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Australia
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Greenland
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Ireland
C
Correct answer
Explanation
Greenland is the world's largest island that is not a continent. Australia is technically a continent, though sometimes colloquially called an island continent; in geography, Greenland holds the title for largest island.
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Titicaca
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Angel
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The Grand Canal of China
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Martian Canal
C
Correct answer
Explanation
The Grand Canal of China is the longest and oldest canal or artificial river in the world, starting in Beijing and ending in Hangzhou. Titicaca is a lake, and Angel refers to a waterfall.
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Atlantic Ocean
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Pacific Ocean
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none of these
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Indian Ocean
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Volga
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none of these
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Nile
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None of these
C
Correct answer
Explanation
The Nile is traditionally considered the longest river in the world, stretching approximately 6,650 kilometers (4,130 miles) through northeastern Africa. The Volga is the longest in Europe, but much shorter than the Nile.
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Taipei 101 (Taiwan)
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Willis Tower (USA)
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Petronas Tower (Malaysia)
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Burj Khalifa (Dubai)
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Burj Khalifa in Dubai stands 828 meters (2,717 feet) tall, making it the world's tallest building since 2010. Taipei 101 (508m) held the title from 2004-2010, Willis Tower (442m) was tallest from 1974-1998, and Petronas Towers (452m) held it from 1998-2004.
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Ushiku Daibutsu
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Rodina-Mat' Zovyot! (Mother Motherland Calls
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Spring Temple Buddha
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Laykyun Setkyar
C
Correct answer
Explanation
The Spring Temple Buddha in China is 153 meters tall, making it the tallest statue in the world as of 2010. It was completed in 2008 and is located in the Zhaocun township of Lushan County, Henan, China.
B
Correct answer
Explanation
Oceans cover approximately 71% of Earth's surface, though 75% is commonly used as a rounded figure in educational materials. 98% would leave almost no land, 80% is too high, and 50% would mean equal land and water coverage - none of these match the actual distribution.
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At the bottom
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At the End
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At the Start
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At the Middle
A
Correct answer
Explanation
This is a literal/riddle question. The 'deepest' part of any body of water is logically at the bottom. 'End', 'Start', and 'Middle' are relative horizontal positions, whereas depth is a vertical measurement ending at the bottom.
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North Atlantic Ocean
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South Atlantic Ocean
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North Pacific Ocean
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Peat Indian Ocean
C
Correct answer
Explanation
The Kuroshio Current (also called Kurosiwo or Black Current), Kurile Current, and Alaskan Current are all major oceanic currents in the Pacific Ocean. The Kuroshio is a warm western boundary current flowing northward along Japan's east coast, the Kurile Current flows along the Kuril Islands, and the Alaskan Current flows along the coast of Alaska - all in the North Pacific Ocean.
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Arabian
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Gobi
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Kalahari
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Sahara
D
Correct answer
Explanation
The Sahara Desert in Africa is the largest hot desert in the world, covering approximately 9.2 million square kilometers. The Arabian Desert is second largest, the Gobi Desert in Mongolia/China is third, and the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa is smaller than all three.
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territorial waters
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community resource
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open ocean
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potential resource
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stock resource
C
Correct answer
Explanation
This is correct. The oceanic resources beyond 200 nautical miles of the Exclusive Economic Zone are considered open ocean and are international resources.
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Costa Rica
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Pacific Ocean
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Colombia
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Venezuela
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Panama borders Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, and is surrounded by both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea (Atlantic). Venezuela is located in South America east of Colombia and does not share any border with Panama.
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Beas Dam
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Bhakra Dam
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Hirakud
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Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
B
Correct answer
Explanation
Bhakra Dam, at 226 meters height, was historically recognized as the highest gravity dam in the world. Gravity dams use their own weight to resist water pressure. Hirakud is the longest dam in India, while Nagarjuna Sagar is the tallest masonry dam. Beas Dam is smaller than Bhakra.