Home › PYQs › World Geography › All questions › 1988 · Freshwater share
UPSC Prelims 1988 · World Geography · Air, Winds and Climates
Of the total water on the earth, freshwater reserves constitute approximately
- (a) 1.2 %
- (b) 2.7 %
- (c) 4.5 %
- (d) 5.8 %
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (b) 2.7 %
Freshwater is about 2.5–2.7% of all water on Earth.
The idea
Freshwater is water with low dissolved-salt content. It is a small part of Earth’s total water because the oceans dominate the global reservoir. Most freshwater is stored in ice or underground rather than in rivers. “Fresh” describes salinity; it does not mean easily accessible or safe to drink.
Also know
A glacier is frozen freshwater storage, while an aquifer stores and transmits groundwater. A freshwater lake need not be potable if it is polluted. Some groundwater is saline, and some inland lakes are salt lakes. Renewable supply depends on recharge and the water cycle, not just the size of a stored reserve.
🔒 Water: 97.5% saline; of freshwater ~69% ice, ~30% groundwater, ~1% surface.
Solve this chapter interactively →All World Geography questions