Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Strait of Gibraltar:
1.It is the only natural waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.
2.The strait separates the continents of Europe and Africa, with its narrowest point located between Spain and Morocco.
3.The easternmost point of the strait is flanked by the Rock of Gibraltar and the Atlas Mountains of Northern Africa.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: A
Notes:
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: The Strait of Gibraltar is globally recognized as the only natural link between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Until the Suez Canal opened in 1869, it was the only means of oceanic access.
- Statement 2 is correct: It is the primary dividing boundary between the continents of Europe and Africa. At its narrowest point, it spans roughly 13 to 14.3 kilometers between Punta de Tarifa in Spain and Point Cires in Morocco.
- Statement 3 is incorrect: While the northern flank is indeed marked by the Rock of Gibraltar, the southern flank is marked by Mount Hacho (part of the Spanish autonomous city of Ceuta) and Jebel Moussa (not the Atlas Mountains). It creates a notable division between the high plateau of Spain and the Atlas Mountains, but the mountains themselves do not directly flank the eastern edge.
