Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Niger and Zambezi Rivers:
1.The Niger River originates in the Guinea Highlands, flows in a distinctive crescent path, and was historically dubbed the “Oil River” due to the colonial palm oil trade.
2.The Zambezi River is the longest east-flowing river in Africa and discharges its waters directly into the Atlantic Ocean.
3.The iconic Victoria Falls and the major Kariba and Cahora Bassa dams are all built across the course of the Zambezi River system.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: C
Notes:
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: The Niger River takes an unusual crescent route, looping inland toward the Sahara Desert before turning south toward Nigeria. Its delta area was historically called the Oil Rivers because it served as a major export hub for palm oil during British colonial rule.
- Statement 2 is incorrect: Since the Zambezi is an east-flowing river, it empties into the Indian Ocean (along the coast of Mozambique), not the Atlantic Ocean.
- Statement 3 is correct: The Zambezi River houses several major geographical and engineering features, including Victoria Falls (on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border), Lake Kariba (Kariba Dam), and the Cahora Bassa Dam in Mozambique.
