Consider the following pairs: Sea-Bordering Country 1.Adriatic Sea-Albania 2. Black Sea-Croatia [2019]

Consider the following pairs:

*Sea*	*Bordering Country*
1.Adriatic Sea	Albania
2. Black Sea	Croatia
3. Caspian Sea	Kazakhstan
4. Mediterranean Sea	Morocco
5. Red Sea	Syria

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

1, 2 and 4 only
1, 3 and 4 only
2 and 5 only
1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Explanation

Pair 1 is correct

The Adriatic Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea that is situated between the Italian and Balkan peninsulas. The Po, Adige, Soca, Krka, Drin, and Vjosa are some of the major rivers that empty into the Adriatic. It is surrounded by the Apennines, Alps, Dinarids, and Helenids mountain ranges.
The countries with coasts on the Adriatic are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro, and Slovenia.

Map showing Mediterranean Sea region including parts of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East with labeled seas, straits, and canals such as Strait of Gibraltar, Suez Canal, Bosporus Strait, and Dardanelles Strait. Key bodies of water are highlighted in blue with landmasses in beige, and an inset map details connections between Black Sea, Marmara Sea, and Aegean Sea.

Pair 2 is incorrect

Black Sea is a marginal Mediterranean Sea lying between Europe and Asia.
It lies:
- East of the Balkan Peninsula (Southeast Europe)
- South of the East European Plain in Eastern Europe
- West of the Caucasus
- North of Anatolia in Western Asia.
It is supplied by significant rivers, principally the Danube and Dnieper.
There is a significant absence of oxygen in the Black Sea water.
Mountain Ranges: Pontic Mountains (South), Caucasus Mountains (East) and Crimean Mts (North).
Countries surrounding Black Sea are Ukraine to the north, Russia to the northeast, Georgia to the east, Turkey to the south, Bulgaria to the southwest, and Romania to the west.
It ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea via the Turkish Straits and the Aegean Sea.
To the north, the Black Sea is connected to the Sea of Azov by the Kerch Strait.

Map showing Black Sea region with surrounding countries including Ukraine, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, and Türkiye. Key water bodies labeled in blue and purple text include Black Sea, Sea of Azov, Caspian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Aegean Sea, Marmara Sea, and straits Dardanelles and Bosporus highlighted in teal.

Pair 3 is correct

The Caspian Sea is the world’s largest inland body of water.
The Caspian Sea, like the Black Sea, is a remnant of the ancient Paratethys Sea.
It is bounded by Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan.
Its main freshwater inflow comes from Europe’s longest river, the Volga and the Ural River.

Map showing Caspian Sea and surrounding countries including Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan. Key water bodies like Caspian Sea, Black Sea, Persian Gulf, and Gulf of Oman are highlighted in blue with country names labeled in beige background.

Pair 4 is correct

The Mediterranean Sea is bordered by 21 countries. They are Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey.

Pair 5 is incorrect

Surrounding Countries of Red Sea are Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan, Eritrea and Djibouti.
Israel has access to the Red Sea via its port in Eilat and Jordan via Aqaba on the Gulf of Aqaba.

Map showing countries surrounding Red Sea, including Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Somalia, with key water bodies labeled such as Gulf of Suez, Gulf of Aqaba, Bab al-Mandab Strait, Gulf of Aden, and nearby seas like Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Sea. Inset highlights northern Red Sea area, emphasizing strategic maritime locations and regional geography.

Answer: (b) 1, 3 and 4; Difficulty Level: Hard

2019, PYQs