2022GeographyGS Paper I
Which one of the following is a land-locked country?
Solution
A landlocked country is one that has no direct access to the open ocean. Among the given options, Nepal is the correct answer because it is entirely surrounded by land, bordered by India and China, and has no coastline.
Exam pointersView
- Landlocked Countries: There are 44 landlocked countries in the world. They often face challenges in trade and access to maritime resources.
- Examples: In Asia, besides Nepal, other landlocked countries include Bhutan, Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Laos.
- India's Neighbours: India shares borders with several countries, but only Nepal and Bhutan are landlocked among its immediate neighbours.
- Strategic Importance: Landlocked countries often rely on neighbouring countries for port access, which can be a geopolitical factor.
- Key Distinction: A country with a coastline on a closed sea (like the Caspian Sea) is not considered landlocked because it has direct access to a water body, but it still lacks ocean access. However, Nepal has no coastline at all.
Primary trap
Confusing countries with access to inland seas (like the Caspian Sea) as having ocean access.
Solving technique
Recall the map of the region: check if the country's borders touch an ocean or a sea that is directly connected to the ocean.