UPSC Prelims 2000 Q48: Geography – World Political Geography & Borders
Which one of the following lakes forms an international boundary between Tanzania and
Uganda?
- (a) Chad
- (b) Malawi
- (c) Victoria
- (d) Zambezi
Answer: (c) Victoria
Explanation
The lake on the Tanzania-Uganda border
| Lake or river | Countries |
|---|---|
| Lake Victoria | Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya — Africa's largest lake |
| Lake Chad | Chad, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria |
| Lake Malawi (Nyasa) | Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania |
| Zambezi | A river, not a lake; Zambia-Zimbabwe border |
Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa and source of the White Nile, is shared by Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya; the boundary between Tanzania and Uganda runs across it.
Lake Malawi touches Tanzania but not Uganda.
Lake Chad lies in the Sahel, far to the north-west.
The Zambezi is a river, not a lake.
Answer: (c) Victoria.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Lake Chad lies between Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria.
- (b) Incorrect. Lake Malawi borders Tanzania but not Uganda.
- (c) CORRECT. Lake Victoria forms part of the Tanzania-Uganda boundary.
- (d) Incorrect. The Zambezi is a river, not a lake, and it does not reach Uganda.
Key point
Lake Victoria: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania; source of the White Nile at Jinja.
Remember
Lake Victoria: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania.
Common mistakes
- Picking Malawi because it touches Tanzania.
- Not noticing that Zambezi is a river.
- Confusing Lake Victoria with Lake Tanganyika (Tanzania, DR Congo, Burundi, Zambia).
Exam tip
Uganda + Tanzania + lake → Victoria.
Sources
- G.C. Leong — Certificate Physical and Human Geography (Oxford University Press)
- Oxford Student Atlas for India (Oxford University Press), map of Africa