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UPSC Prelims 2017 · Indian Geography · India’s Land and Borders
Which of the following is geographically closest to Great Nicobar?
- (a) Sumatra
- (b) Borneo
- (c) Java
- (d) Sri Lanka
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (a) Sumatra
Sumatra (Indonesia) is about 150 km south of Great Nicobar, across the Great Channel.
The idea
Nearest-place questions are solved from the facing coasts, not from national capitals or island size. Great Nicobar is at the southern end of India’s Bay of Bengal island chain. Look immediately across the water gap south of it before considering larger islands farther east.
Why the others are wrong
(b) Borneo is farther east.
(c) Java is farther south-east.
(d) Sri Lanka is about 1,000 km to the west.
Also know
Indira Point is on Great Nicobar; the Great or Six Degree Channel lies towards Sumatra. Sunda Strait separates Sumatra from Java. Malacca Strait lies between Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula, while the Andaman Sea lies east of the Andaman–Nicobar chain.
🔒 Great Channel (Six Degree Channel) separates Great Nicobar from Sumatra.
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