UPSC Prelims 2007 Q67: Geography – World Physical Geography
Where is Copacabana Beach located?
- (a) Buenos Aires
- (b) Hawaiian Islands
- (c) Rio de Janeiro
- (d) Valletta
Answer: (c) Rio de Janeiro
Explanation
Copacabana Beach — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| Beach | City / Country |
|---|---|
| Copacabana, Ipanema | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Waikiki | Honolulu, Hawaii (USA) |
| Bondi | Sydney, Australia |
| Juhu, Marine Drive | Mumbai, India |
Copacabana is a 4 km curved beach on the Atlantic.
It hosts Rio's famous New Year's Eve celebration and hosted beach volleyball at the 2016 Olympics.
Other options: Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina (on the Río de la Plata); Valletta is the capital of Malta.
Answer: (c) Rio de Janeiro.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Buenos Aires (Argentina) lies on the Río de la Plata estuary, not on Copacabana.
- (b) Incorrect. Hawaii's best-known beach is Waikiki.
- (c) CORRECT. Copacabana is in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- (d) Incorrect. Valletta is the capital of Malta.
Key point
Copacabana = Rio de Janeiro (Brazil); Waikiki = Hawaii; Bondi = Sydney.
Remember
Copacabana Beach is in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Common mistakes
- Choosing Buenos Aires because both are South American cities.
- Not knowing Valletta is the capital of Malta.
- Confusing Copacabana Beach with Lake Titicaca's Copacabana town in Bolivia.
Exam tip
Famous beach → city pairs are easy marks: Copacabana-Rio, Waikiki-Honolulu, Bondi-Sydney.
Sources
- Oxford School Atlas — South America
- NCERT Class XI — Fundamentals of Physical Geography (map work)