Official Question UPSC 2026
Which of the following statements with reference to Lake Turkana is/are correct ? 1. It is the largest desert lake in the world. 2. The lake is situated in South Sudan along the eastern fringe of the Sahara desert. 3. The lake is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also referred to as the 'Jade Sea'. Select the answer using the code given below :
Solution & Analysis
Answer: B
Let us map the geography of the East African Rift System:
•Statement 1 is Correct: Lake Turkana is geographically unique. It holds the record as both the world's largest permanent desert lake and the world's largest alkaline lake.
•Statement 2 is Incorrect: This statement contains two geographical errors. First, the lake is situated within the Great Rift Valley primarily in northern Kenya, with its far northern tip extending into Ethiopia—it is not in South Sudan. Second, the arid region surrounding it (the Chalbi Desert) is completely separate from the Sahara Desert, which lies much further north across the continent.
•Statement 3 is Correct: Recognizing its incredible paleontological importance (hominid fossil discoveries) and ecological uniqueness, the Lake Turkana National Parks are inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Because of the thick concentration of blue-green algae in its alkaline waters, it gives off a striking, luminous color, earning it the famous moniker, the 'Jade Sea'.
Conclusion: Statements 1 and 3 are geographically and ecologically accurate.