Prelims 2024

Q. Consider the following statements:

1. The Red Sea receives very little precipitation in any form.
2. No water enters the Red Sea from rivers.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Question from UPSC Prelims 2024 GS Paper

Explanation:

1. The Red Sea receives very little precipitation in any form.

This statement is correct. The Red Sea is located in one of the hottest and driest regions on Earth. The area surrounding the Red Sea is predominantly desert, and rainfall is extremely scarce. The average annual precipitation over the Red Sea is typically less than 100 mm (4 inches) per year, which is indeed very little.

2. No water enters the Red Sea from rivers.

This statement is also correct. The Red Sea is unique among the world’s seas in that it does not have any permanent rivers flowing into it. The surrounding landscape is mostly desert, and there are no significant river systems that drain into the Red Sea. The primary sources of water for the Red Sea are the influx from the Gulf of Aden through the Bab el-Mandeb strait and minimal precipitation.

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