UPSC Prelims 2003 Q150: Geography – World Physical Geography
The waterfall ‘Victoria’ is associated with the river
- (a) Amazon
- (b) Missouri
- (c) St Lawrence
- (d) Zambezi
Answer: (d) Zambezi
Explanation
Victoria Falls
| River | Waterfall |
|---|---|
| Zambezi | Victoria Falls on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border |
| Amazon | No major falls of this kind |
| Missouri | Great Falls of the Missouri |
| St Lawrence | Niagara is on the Niagara river between the lakes |
The Victoria Falls are on the Zambezi river, on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Answer: (d) Zambezi.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. The Amazon has no Victoria Falls.
- (b) Incorrect. The Missouri has the Great Falls.
- (c) Incorrect. The St Lawrence has no Victoria Falls.
- (d) CORRECT. Victoria Falls is on the Zambezi.
Key point
Waterfalls: Victoria (Zambezi), Niagara (Niagara), Angel (Churun), Iguazu (Iguazu).
Remember
Victoria Falls lie on the Zambezi river.
Common mistakes
- Mixing Victoria Falls with Niagara on the St Lawrence system.
- Choosing the Amazon for its great size.
- Forgetting that the falls were named by Livingstone.
Exam tip
Victoria Falls: called Mosi-oa-Tunya, 'the smoke that thunders'.
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Victoria Falls
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls (World Heritage List, 1989)