CAPF AC 2023 Q40: Geography – Transport & Infrastructure Geography
Which one of the following is the busiest sea route and links two industrially developed regions of the world ?
- (a) Mediterranean - Indian Ocean sea route
- (b) The Northern Atlantic sea route
- (c) Cape of Good Hope sea route
- (d) The North Pacific sea route
Answer: (b) The Northern Atlantic sea route
Explanation
World's busiest sea route
How to think: busy sea routes join regions that make and buy the most goods.
The two richest industrial regions are north-eastern USA and Canada and north-western Europe.
The water between them is the North Atlantic.
| Sea route | Joins | Traffic |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Atlantic route | Eastern North America and north-western Europe | Busiest in the world, about one-fourth of world foreign trade |
| Mediterranean - Indian Ocean (Suez) route | Europe with Asia, Africa and Australia | Very busy, saves the long way round Africa |
| Cape of Good Hope route | Europe and the Americas with Africa, Asia | Used mainly by ships too large for Suez |
| North Pacific route | North America with East Asia | Large and growing, but second to the Atlantic |
Answer: (b) The Northern Atlantic sea route.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. The Suez route is very busy but carries less than the North Atlantic.
- (b) CORRECT. The Northern Atlantic route joins two highly industrialised regions.
- (c) Incorrect. The Cape route is mainly an alternative to Suez.
- (d) Incorrect. The North Pacific route is the second-busiest, not the busiest.
Key point
North Atlantic route (Big Pond): busiest; joins USA/Canada east coast with north-west Europe; about 25% of world trade. Suez Canal (1869) links Mediterranean and Red Sea. Panama Canal (1914) links Atlantic and Pacific.
Remember
Busiest route: North Atlantic, between the two big industrial regions.
Common mistakes
- Picking the Suez route because it is the best-known canal.
- Choosing the Pacific because it is the biggest ocean.
- Forgetting that the question says 'two industrially developed regions'.
Exam tip
Educated guess: 'two industrially developed regions' means North America and Europe, and the ocean between them is the Atlantic.
Sources
- NCERT Class XII Geography — Fundamentals of Human Geography, Chapter 8 (Transport and Communication: Sea routes, North Atlantic Sea Route)
- NCERT Class XII Geography — Fundamentals of Human Geography, Chapter 9 (International Trade)