UPSC Prelims 2024 Q8: Geography – World Geography
Consider the following countries :
1. Finland
2. Germany
3. Norway
4. Russia
How many of the above countries have a border with the North Sea ?
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) Only three
- (d) All the four
Answer: (b) Only two
Explanation
Countries bordering the North Sea
The North Sea is bordered by Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom.
| Country | Borders the North Sea? | Coast it actually faces |
|---|---|---|
| Finland | No | Baltic Sea (Gulf of Bothnia, Gulf of Finland) |
| Germany | Yes | North Sea (Hamburg, Bremerhaven) and the Baltic |
| Norway | Yes | North Sea in the south-west; Norwegian Sea in the north |
| Russia | No | Baltic, Arctic, Black Sea and Pacific — not the North Sea |
Two of the four: Germany and Norway.
Answer: (b) Only two.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Both Germany and Norway have North Sea coasts.
- (b) CORRECT. Germany and Norway border the North Sea; Finland and Russia only reach the Baltic and other seas.
- (c) Incorrect. Neither Finland nor Russia has a North Sea coast, so three is too many.
- (d) Incorrect. Finland faces only the Baltic, and Russia has no North Sea coast.
Key point
North Sea countries: UK, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France. Finland and Russia are Baltic.
Remember
Of Finland, Germany, Norway and Russia, only Germany and Norway touch the North Sea.
Common mistakes
- Treating the Baltic Sea as part of the North Sea; they are linked by the Danish straits but are separate seas.
- Forgetting that Germany has two coasts — North Sea and Baltic.
- Adding Russia because it has a long northern coast; that coast is the Arctic Ocean.
Exam tip
Picture the North Sea between Britain and Scandinavia. Anything east of Denmark is the Baltic.
Sources
- Oxford School Atlas — Europe
- NCERT Class XI — Fundamentals of Physical Geography (Oceans)