Official UPSC Format

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 :

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'.

⚡ Quick Recall Snippet

Lake Turkana holds the title of the world's largest permanent desert lake. Located in the Great Rift Valley across Kenya and Ethiopia, it is entirely unconnected to the Sahara desert. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is famously nicknamed the 'Jade Sea' due to its striking algae-induced color.

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Detailed Solution & Authority Citations

Correct Answer is Option 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.

    🚨 The Examiner's Trap

    The examiner uses word-association traps. Because statement 1 establishes it as a 'desert' lake, candidates automatically associate the word 'desert' with the most famous one—the Sahara—leading them to falsely validate Statement 2.

    Active Recall Flashcard

    Tap to Flip

    Which African lake, holding the title of the world's largest desert lake, is famously nicknamed the 'Jade Sea'?

    Lake Turkana (located primarily in Kenya).

    Concept Flow Mapping

    Lake Turkana
    Is The
    Largest Desert Lake
    Lake Turkana
    Located In
    Kenya and Ethiopia
    Lake Turkana
    Nicknamed
    The Jade Sea

    Logic Quest

    "Why is Lake Turkana called the 'Jade Sea'?"

    Not analyzing core concepts like Rift Valley Hydrology through the lens of Previous Year Questions is a serious miss-out. This PYQ engine is specifically designed to help you decode the examiner's mindset and master highly probable World Geography questions for your upcoming Prelims.