1. Transport and Communication

 

NCERT questions:

 

  1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below:

 

(i) The transcontinental Stuart Highway runs between:

a) Darwin and Melbourne

b) Edmonton and Anchorage

c) Vancouver and St. John’s City

d) Chengdu and Lhasa

Ans. a) Darwin and Melbourne

 

(ii) Which country has the highest density of railway network?

a) Brazil

b) USA

c) Canada

d) Russia

Ans. b) USA

 

(iii) The Big Trunk Route runs through:

a) Mediterranean – Indian Ocean

b) The North Atlantic Ocean

c) The South Atlantic Ocean

d) The North Pacific Ocean

Ans. b) The North Atlantic Ocean

 

(iv) The Big Inch pipeline transports:

a) Milk

b) Liquid petroleum gas

c) Water

d) Petroleum

Ans. d) Petroleum

 

(v) Which one pair of the following places is linked by Channel Tunnel?

a) London – Berlin

b) Paris – London

c) Berlin – Paris

d) Barcelona – Berlin

Ans. b) Paris – London

 

  1. Answer the following questions in about 30 words:

 

(i) What are the problems of road transport in mountainous, desert and flood prone regions?

Ans. Road transportation depends heavily on the physiography of nature:

Mountainous Regions: In mountainous regions, irregular terrain makes road construction difficult as cutting through the mountains while construction is not only costly but also dangerous. Also, frequent landslides make the roads unfit for use.

 

Desert Regions: In desert regions, lying down of roads is not easy as sand does not provide with a strong base for construction of roads.

 

Flood prone regions: In flood prone regions, roads are frequently flooded, hence they cannot be used and remain unfit for use.

 

(ii) What is a transcontinental railway?

Ans. Transcontinental railway connects two ends of a continent. They are instrumental in economic life of a country. They are constructed for economic and political reasons to facilitate long runs in different directions. They are essential for transportation of not only passengers, but mainly of freight. Eg -Transcontinental Siberian Railways

 

(iii) What are the advantages of water transport?

Ans. Water transport is still the main means of transportation for bulky goods over long distances due to its efficiency. One of the great advantages of water transportation is that it does not require road construction. The oceans are linked with each other and are negotiable with ships of various sizes. All that is needed is to provide port facilities at the two ends. It is much cheaper because the friction of water is far less than that of land.

 

  1. Answer the following questions in not more than 150 words:

 

(i) Elucidate the statement. ‘In a well-managed transport system, various modes complement each other’.

Ans. Transport is a service or facility for the carriage of goods and persons from one place to the other using humans, animals and different kinds of vehicles. Such movements take place over land, water and air. The significance of a mode depends on the type of goods and services to be transported cost of transport and the mode available. International movement of goods is handled by ocean freighters. Road transport is cheaper and faster over short distances and for door to door services. Railways are most suited for large volumes of bulk materials over long distances within a country. High value, light and perishable goods are best moved by airways.

 

None of the transport system is self-sufficient for having a well-managed transportation system. A proper link between all the modes is essential. Ports are a point of collection of goods carried by waterways. They must have efficient linkage with railways and roadways so that the goods can be taken to interiors. Railways are efficient in connecting far of places but they can’t penetrate deep into interiors or provide door to door services. For that an efficient rode system along with transportation facilities like buses etc. should be available.

 

(ii) Which are the major regions of the world having a dense network of airways?

Ans. Frequent air services are available to many parts of the world. Although UK pioneered the use of commercial jet transport, USA developed largely post war international civil aviation. Today, more than 250 commercial airlines offer regular services to different parts of the world. Recent developments can change the future course of air transport. Supersonic aircraft cover the distance between London and New York within 3 ½ hours. In the northern hemisphere there is a distinct East West belt of intercontinental air routes. Dense network exists in eastern USA, Western Europe and Southeast Asia. USA alone accounts for 60% of the airways of the world. New York, London, Paris. Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Rome, Moscow, Karachi, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago are the nodal points where air roots converge or radiate to all continents.

 

(iii) What are the modes by which cyberspace will expand the contemporary economic and social space of humans?

Ans. Human beings have used different methods long distance communications, of which the telegraph and telephone were important. The telegraph was instrumental in the colonization of the American West. The telephone became a critical factor in the urbanization of America. Even today, the telephone is the most commonly used mode. In developing countries, the use of cell phones made possible by satellites is important for rural connectivity. The world soon upgraded their copper cable systems to include optic fibre cables. These allow large quantities of data to be transmitted rapidly, securely and are virtually error free. Today, Internet is the largest electronic network on the planet, connecting about 1000 million people in more than 100 countries.

 

Artificial satellites now are successfully deployed in the Earth’s orbit to connect to even the remote corners of the globe with limited on site verification. These have rendered the unit cost and time of communication in variant in terms of distance. Cyberspace is the world of electronic computerized space.  It is encompassed by the Internet, such as the World Wide Web (www). In simple words, it is electronic digital world for communicating or accessing information over computer networks without physical movement of the sender and the receiver. It is also referred to as the internet. Cyberspace exists everywhere. It may be in an office, sailing boat, flying plane and virtually anywhere.

 

There were less than 50 million internet users in 1995, about 400 million in 2000 and over one billion in 2005. The next billion users were added by 2010. Today there are 5.35 billion internet users.

 

As billions use the internet each year, cyberspace will expand the contemporary economic and social space of humans through email, E-commerce, E- learning, and E- governance. Internet, together with fax, television and radio will be accessible to more and more people, cutting across place and time. It is these modern communication systems more than transportation that has made the concept of Global Village a reality.

Question Bank

 Very short answer type questions:

 

  1. Define transport.

Ans. Transport is a service of facility for carriage of persons or goods from one place to another using animals, humans and different kinds of vehicles, which take place over land water and air.

 

  1. What is a transport network?

Ans. When several places (nodes) are joined together by a series of roads (links) it forms a pattern which is referred to as transport network.

 

  1. When was the first public railway line opened? Which places did it join?

Ans. The first public railway line was opened in 1825 between Stockton and Darlington in northern England.

 

  1. What are the new modes of land transportation?

Ans. Beside roadways pipelines and cable ways are among the newer developments in land transportation.

 

  1. What are the two categories of roads?

Ans. Metalled and unmetalled are the two categories of roads.

 

  1. What are highways?

Ans. Highways are metaled roads connecting distant places for unobstructed vehicular movement with separate traffic lanes bridges, fly overs and dual carriage ways.

 

  1. Define transcontinental railways.

Ans. Transcontinental railways run across the continent and connects its two ends.

 

  1. Name the terminals for the Trans Canadian Highway.

Ans. Vancouver in west to Halifax in East.

 

  1. Name the terminals of Transcontinental Stuart Highway.

Ans. Darwin in the north to Melbourne in the south via Tennant Creek and Alice Springs in Australia.

 

  1. What are border roads?

Ans. Border roads are roads laid along international boundaries and play an important role in integrating people of the remote areas with the major cities.

 

  1. Mention the terminal points of South American transcontinental railway.

Ans. From Buenos Aires, Argentina to Valparaiso, Chile across the Andes Mountains through the Uspallata Pass.

 

  1. Which route is called the Big Trunk Route?

Ans. The North Atlantic Sea route is called the Big Trunk Route.

 

  1. When was the Suez Canal constructed?

Ans. The Suez Canal was constructed in 1869 between Port Said and Port Suez.

 

  1. Name the Seas linked by the Suez Canal.

Ans. Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea are connected by the Suez Canal.

 

  1. Panama Canal connects switch to oceans?

Ans. Panama Canal connects the Atlantic Ocean on the east and Pacific Ocean on the West.

 

  1. How is milk supplied from farms to factories in New Zealand?

Ans. Milk is supplied from farms to factories in New Zealand through pipelines.

 

  1. What is big inch?

Ans. Big inch is the pipeline which carries petroleum from the oil wells of Gulf of Mexico to the North Eastern states.

 

  1. When was Aryabhata, Rohini and Bhaskar- I launched respectively?

Ans.

  • Aryabhata 19 April, 1979
  • Rohini 1980
  • Bhaskar – I 1979

 

  1. Why South Africa has good rail connectivity?

Ans. South Africa has good rail connectivity due to the concentration of gold copper and diamond mining.

 

  1. Name the countries where commuter trains are popular?

Ans. Commuter trains are popular in the UK, USA, Japan, India.

 

  1. What is the economic significance of the Trans Canadian Railways?

Ans. Trans Canadian railways gained economic significance because it connected the Quebec Montreal industrial region with the wheat belt of the Prairie region and the coniferous forest region in the north thus making each of them complementary to each other.

 

  1. Which route has reduced the distance between Europe and Asia?

Ans. Mediterranean – Indian Ocean Sea route through Suez Canal has reduced the distance between Europe and Asia.

 

  1. Which canal has reduced the distance between New York and San Francisco?

Ans. Panama Canal has reduced the distance between New York and San Francisco.

 

  1. Name the inland waterway of Europe that connects Rotterdam and Basel.

Ans. The Rhine waterway connects Rotterdam and Basel.

 

  1. Give the significance of St Lawrence as an inland waterway.

Ans. St Lawrence Waterway serves the most important industrial region of USA and Canada.

 

  1. Which country has the highest road density in the world?

Ans. Japan has the highest road density in the world (327 for every 1002 km area).

 

  1. Name the navigational canal that serves as gateway of commerce for both the continents of Asia and Europe.

Ans. The Suez Canal serves as gateway of commerce for both the continents of Asia and Europe.

 

  1. Name the terminal stations of the Orient Express Railway.

Ans. Paris and Istanbul are the terminal stations of the Orient Express Railway.

 

  1. How is node different from link in transport system?

Ans.

A node is the meeting point of two or more routes.

A link is a road that joins two nodes.

 

  1. The Volga is one of the most developed inland waterways in Russia justify.

Ans. The Volga inland waterway:

a) It connects various industrial regions of Russia.

b) It connects various navigable canals.

 

  1. Why is West Asia the least developed in rail facilities? Give reason.

Ans. West Asia is least developed in rail facilities because:

a) It is a vast desert area and a sparsely populated region

b) It is not easy to lay railway lines in desert sands.

c) Further railway is built to secure large populations.

d) Since West Asia has sparse population other modes of transport are more suitable.

 

  1. Which animals are used as carriers?

Ans. Different animals are used in different places as carriers:

a) Horses are used as a drought animal even in the western countries.

b) Dogs and reindeers are used in North America, Europe and Siberia to draw sledges over snow covered ground.

c) Mules are preferred in the mountainous regions while camels are used for caravan movement in desserts.

d) In India bullocks are used for pulling carts.

 

  1. Which continent has the highest highway density? Give statistics of the fact.

Ans. In North America highway density is high (about 0.65 km per square km). Every place is within 20 Km distance from a highway. Cities located on the Pacific Coast (west) are well connected with those of the Atlantic Coast (east).

 

  1. What is the objective of under construction of Pan America Highway?

Ans. Pan America Highway will connect the countries of South America to North America and Canada.

 

Short answer type questions:

 

  1. What factors influence the mode of transportation?

Ans. The significance of a mode depends on the type of goods and services to be transported cost of transport and the mode available. International movement of goods is handled by ocean freighters. Road transport is cheaper and faster over short distances and for door-to-door services. Railways are most suited for large volumes of bulky materials over long distances within a country. High value light and perishable goods are best moved by airways. In a well-managed transport system these various modes complement each other.

 

  1. Suggest steps for better urban transport solution.

Ans. For better urban transport system, the following can be adopted:

a) Mass rapid transit

b) Improved public bus service

c) Expressway

d) Carpool

e) Higher parking fees

f) Govt measures like odd even car system to regulate traffic flow

 

  1. Write a short note on Trans Canadian railways?

Ans. Trans Canadian railway is 7,050 km long and runs from Halifax in the east to Vancouver to the West through Montreal Ottawa and Winnipeg. It was initially constructed as a part of an agreement to make British Columbia on the West Coast join Federation of states it gained economic significance because it connected the Quebec Montreal industrial region with the wheat belt of the Prairie region and the coniferous forest region in the north. Thus, making each of them complementary to each other. A loop line connects it to the important water ways of the world. It is the economic artery of Canada and wheat and meat are important exports on this route.

 

  1. Write the steps taken for modernization of waterways?

Ans. Modern passenger lines ships and cargo ships are equipped with radar, wireless and other navigation aids. The development of refrigerated chambers for perishable goods tankers and specialized ships has also improved cargo transport. The use of containers has made cargo handling at the world’s major ports easier. The sea routes are the cheapest means of transportation for bulky material over long distance as it doesn’t require route construction and maintenance.

 

  1. What are the factors on which development of inland waterways depend?

Ans. Rivers canals lakes and coastal areas have been important waterways since time immemorial. Boats and steamers are used as means of transport for cargo and passengers. The development of inland waterways is dependent on the navigability width and depth of the canal, continuity in the water flow and transport technology in use. Rivers are the only means of transport in intense forests. Very heavy cargo like coal, cement, timber and metallic ores can be transported through inland waterways.

 

  1. What are the problems faced by inland waterways?

Ans. Though in the ancient times rivers were the main highways of inland transportation but they lost importance because of competition from railways lack of water due to diversion of water for irrigation and their poor maintenance.

 

 

  1. How are rivers modified to enhance their navigability?

Ans. Many rivers have been modified to enhance their navigability by dredging, stabilizing riverbanks and building dams and barrages for regulating the flow of water.

 

  1. Write a note on Danube Waterway.

Ans. This important inland waterway serves eastern Europe. The Danube River rises in the Black Forest and flows eastward through many countries. It is navigable up to many places. The chief export items are wheat, maize, timber and machinery.

 

  1. Write a note on Volga Waterway.

Ans. Russia has a large number of developed waterways of which the Volga is one of the most important. It provides a navigable water way of 11,200 km and drains into the Caspian Sea. The Volga Moscow canal connects it with the Moscow region and the Volga Dawn Canal with the Black Sea.

 

  1. Write a note on railways in Australia.

Ans. The Australian Trans Continental Railway line runs west east across the southern part of the continent from Perth on the west coast to Sydney on the east coast passing through Kalgoorlie, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Another major north south line connects Adelaide and Alice Spring and to be joined further to Darwin Birdum line.

 

  1. Write a note on the Union and Pacific Railway.

Ans. This rail line connects New York on the Atlantic Cost to St Francisco on the Pacific Coast passing through Cleveland, Chicago, Omaha, Evans, Ogden and Sacramento. The most valuable exports on this route are ores, grains, paper, chemicals and machinery.

 

  1. What is Orient Express?

Ans. This line runs from Paris to Istanbul passing through Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, Budapest and Belgrade. The journey time from London to Istanbul by this expressway is now reduced to 96 hours as against 10 days by the sea route the chief exports on this rail – route are cheese, bacon, oats, wine, fruits and machinery.

 

  1. Describe some of the important highways of the world.

Ans. Some of the important highways of the world are:

a) Trans Canadian links Vancouver with Halifax

b) Alaska highway links Edmonton to Anchorage

c) North American highways link cities of East Coast with that of West Coast

d) Transcontinental Stuart Highway connects Darwin and Melbourne

e) Pan American highway links cities of South America Central America and USA, Canada.

f) Moscow Vladivostok Highway serves the East region in Russia

g) Golden quadrilateral in India links metropolitan cities

h) Highways crisscross China connecting all major cities

i) Highways join Algiers to Conakry in Africa

 

  1. How many types of railway tracks are there?

Ans. The railway gauge varies in different countries and are roughly classified as broad gauge (more than 1.5 m) standard gauge (1.44 m) meter gauges (1m) and the smaller gauges. The standard gauges are used in UK.

In India broad gauge (1,676mm or 5 feet 6 inches) is used.

 

  1. Explain the importance of trade transport and communication.

Ans. They link the areas of production with areas of consumption:

a) They reduce distance between places of natural resources manufacturing and market.

b) They facilitate the movement and exchange of goods and services and people.

c) Today’s World Economy heavily depends on efficient trade transport and communication.

d) High living standard and quality of life depend on efficient transport communication and trade.

e) It promotes cooperation and unity among scattered peoples.

 

  1. Name the longest highway of India. Which other highways are under construction?

Ans. The Golden Quadrilateral or Super Expressway is under way to connect the six metropolitan cities New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad.

 

  1. What are the important railway routes of African continent?

Ans. The important routes of the continent are:

a) The Benguela railway through Angola to Katanga Zambia Copper Belt

b) The Tanzania railway from the Zambian copper belt to Dar-e-Salam on the coast

c) The railway through Botswana and Zimbabwe linking the landlocked states to the South African network.

d) The blue Train from Cape Town to Pretoria in the Republic of South Africa

 

 

18.Write a short note on intercontinental Airways.

Ans. In the Northern Hemisphere there is a distinct east west belt of intercontinental air routes. Dense network exists in eastern USA, Western Europe and South East Asia. The USA alone accounts for 60% of the Airways of the world. New York, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Rome, Moscow, Karachi, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago are the nodal points where air routes converge or diverge to all continents.

 

  1. Bring out the significance of highways in Europe.

Ans. Europe has a large number of vehicles and a well-developed highway network. But highways face a lot of competition from railways and waterways. In Russia a dense highway network is developed in the industrialized region with Moscow as the hub. The important Moscow -Vladivostok Highway serves the region to the east. Due to the vast geographical area highways in Russia are not as important as railways.

 

  1. What is the significance of North Atlantic Sea route?

Ans. The foreign trade over this route is greater than that of the rest of the world combined. One fourth of the world’s foreign trade moves on this route. It is therefore the busiest in the world and otherwise called the Big Trunk route both the coast has highly advanced ports and harbor facilities.

 

  1. Describe any three major problems of road transport in the world.

Ans. Major problems of road transport in the world are:

a) Roads are unusable during the time of natural calamity and bad weather conditions.

b) Road network cannot cope with the demands of traffic as a result congestion occurs.

c) Road construction requires heavy investment in construction and maintenance.

 

 

Long answer questions:

 

  1. What are advantages and disadvantages of road transport?

Ans. The advantages and disadvantages of road transport:

Advantages

a) Most economical for short distance compared to railways.

b) Freight transport by road is gaining importance as it offers door to door services.

c) Roads are cheaper easier and simple to construct and maintain than the railways.

d) They can be taken through any terrain and negotiate bands unlike railways.

e) Since railways cannot be taken to every corner so roads play an important role in nation’s trade and commerce and for promoting tourism.

Disadvantages:

a) Un-metaled roads are not effective and serviceable throughout the year.

b) Even the metaled roads become unmotorable during heavy rains and floods.

c) Carrying capacity of roads per vehicle is much lower than the railways.

d) The quality of roads in the developing countries is not good as it requires heavy investment for construction and maintenance.

e) City roads suffer from chronic traffic congestion as a result of this most of the cities face the problem of traffic congestion.

 

  1. Write a note on the North American highways.

Ans.

a) In North America Highway density is high about 0.65 KM per square km. Every place is within 20 km distance from a highway. Cities located on the Pacific Coast (west) are well connected with those of the Atlantic Coast (east).

b) Likewise, the cities of Canada in the north are linked with those of Mexico in the South.

c) The Trans Canadian highway links Vancouver in British Columbia (west coast) to St John’s city in Newfoundland (east coast)

d) The Alaskan Highway links Edmonton (Canada) to Anchorage (Alaska)

e) The Pan American Highway a large portion of which has been constructed, well connect the countries of South America, Central America and USA to Canada.

 

  1. Write a note on highways in Asia.

Ans. In China Highways crisscross the country connecting all major cities such as Tsungtso (near Vietnam boundary), Shanghai (central China) Guangzhou (south) and Beijing (north). A new highway links Chengdu with Lhasa in Tibet.

In India there are many highways linking the major towns and cities. For example, National Highway No.7 (NH – 7) connecting Varanasi with Kanyakumari is the longest in the country the Golden Quadrilateral or Super Expressway is underway to connect the six metropolitan cities New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad. In Asia Highway Network is most developed in India and China.

 

  1. Write a note on railways in North America.

Ans. North America has one of the most extensive rail networks accountings for nearly 40% of the world’s total. In contrast to many European countries the railways are used more for long distance bulky freight like oars grains timber and machinery then for passengers. The densest rail network is found in the highly industrialized and urbanized region of East Central USA and adjoining Canada. In Canada railways are in the public sector and distribute all over the sparsely populated areas. The Trans Continental Railways carry the bulk of wheat and coal tonnage.

 

  1. Give some important points on railways in Europe.

Ans.

a) Europe has one of the densest rail networks in the world. There are about 4, 40,000 km of railways most of which is double or multiple tracked. Belgium has the highest density of 1 km of railway for every 6.5sq km area. The industrial regions exhibit some of the highest densities in the world. The important rail heads are London, Paris, Brussels, Milan, Berlin and Warsaw.

b) Passenger transport is more important than freight in many of these countries.

c) Underground railways are important in London and Paris.

d) Channel tunnel operated by Euro Tunnel Group through England connects London with Paris.

e) Transcontinental railway lines have now lost their importance to quicker and more flexible transport system of Airways and roadways.

f) In Russia railways account for about 90% of the country’s total transport with a very dense network west of the Urals. Moscow is the most important railhead with major lines radiating in two different parts of the country’s and a vast geographical area.

g) The Trans-Siberian Railway and the Orient Express are some of the important railways in the Europe.

 

  1. Give the advantages of water transport.

Ans. 90 to 95% of the international trade is carried out from water transport. The energy cost of water transportation is lower. The oceans offer a smooth highway traversable in all directions with no maintenance costs.

Winds and ocean currents help in movement of the oceanic vessels thus reducing the fuel cost of transportation. All that is needed is to provide port facilities at the two ends.

Compared to land and air ocean transport is a cheaper means of haulage (carrying of load) of bulky material over long distances from one continent to another. Modern passenger liner ships and cargo ships are equipped with radar wireless and other navigation aids. The development of refrigerated chambers for perishable goods tankers and a specialized ships has also improved cargo transport. The use of containers has made cargo handling at the world’s major ports easier.

Water transport is the only means of transportation in dense tropical forest where roads and railways cannot be constructed. It is also the main mode of transportation for people living on islands as it is economic.

 

  1. Write a note on the Mediterranean – Indian Ocean Sea Route.

Ans. This route passes through the heart of the Old World and serves more countries and people than any other route. Port Said, Aden, Mumbai, Colombo and Singapore are some of the important ports on this route. The construction of Suez Canal has greatly reduced the distance and time as compared to the earlier route through the Cape of Good Hope. This trade route connects the highly industrialized Western European region with West Africa South Africa South East Asia and the commercial agriculture and livestock economies of Australia and New Zealand. Before the construction of Suez Canal there was the route connecting Liverpool and Colombo which was 6400 km longer than the Suez Canal route. The volume of trade and traffic between both East and West Africa is on the increase due to the development of the rich natural resources such as gold, diamond, copper, tin, groundnut, oil, palm, coffee and fruits.

 

  1. Why Cape of Good Hope Sea route has less traffic?

Ans. The Cape of Good Hope Sea route is another important one across the Atlantic Ocean which connects West Europe and West African countries with Brazil Argentina and Uruguay in South America the traffic is far less on this route because of the limited development and population in South America and Africa only southeastern Brazil and Plata estuary and parts of South Africa have large scale industries. There is also little traffic on the route between Rio de Janeiro and Cape Town because South America and Africa have similar products and resources.

 

  1. Which canal has shortened the distance between Europe and Asia? Give five points on the canal.

Ans. Suez Canal has shortened the distance between Europe and Asia. This canal had been constructed in 1869 in Egypt between Port Said in the north and Port Suez in the South linking the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea:

a) It gives Europe a new gateway to the Indian Ocean and reduces direct sea route distance between Liverpool and Colombo compared to the Cape of Good Hope route.

b) It is a sea level canal without locks which is about 160 km in length and 11 to 15 m deep.

c) About 100 ships travel daily and each ship takes 10 to 12 hours to cross this canal.

d) The tolls are so heavy that some find it cheaper to go by the longer cape route whenever the consequent delay is not important.

e) A railway follows the canal to Suez, and from Ismailia there is a branch line to Cairo.

f) A navigable freshwater canal from the Nile River also joins the Suez Canal in Ismailia to supply freshwater to Port Said and Suez.

 

  1. Which canal have shortened the distance between eastern and western coasts of North America? What is its economic significance?

Ans. Panama Canal has shortened the distance between eastern and western coasts of North America this canal connects the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the West. Its economic significance is:

a) The canal is about 72 km long and involves a very deep cutting for a length of 12 km.

b) It has a six-lock system and ships cross the different levels (26 meter up and down) through these locks before entering the Gulf of Panama.

c) It shortens the distance between New York and San Francisco by 13,000 km by sea.

d) Likewise, the distance between Western Europe and the West Coast of USA; and North eastern and central USA and east and South East Asia is shortened.

e) The economic significance of this canal is relatively less than that of the Suez, however it is vital to the economies of Latin America.

 

  1. Which is the most heavily used inland waterways in the world? Why is it important?

Ans. Rhine waterway is the most heavily used inland waterways in the world. The Rhine flows through Germany and the Netherlands. It is navigable for 700 km from Rotterdam, at its mouth in the Netherlands to Basel in Switzerland. Ocean going vessels can reach up to Cologne. The Ruhr River joins the Rhine from the east. It flows through a rich coalfield and the whole basin has become prosperous manufacturing area. Dusseldorf is the Rhine Port for this region. Huge tonnage moves along the stretch south of the road. This waterway is the world’s most heavily used water way. Each year more than 20,000 ocean going ships and 2000 inland vessels exchange their cargoes. It connects the industrial areas of Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands with the North Atlantic Sea route.

 

  1. Give the advantages and disadvantages of air transport?

Ans. The advantages and disadvantages of air transport are:

Advantages:

a) It is the fastest means of Transportation.

b) Comfortable for long distance travel.

c) Suitable for rapid movement of valuable and perishable cargo.

d) It is the only means to reach inaccessible area.

e) It is also highly effective during emergency like when routes get blocked due to landslide, avalanches, flood etc.

Strategically Airways are very significant.

Disadvantages:

a) Costly not within reach of poor people.

b) It is also expensive to maintain aircraft as well as the airports.

c) Its operation is dependent on the weather conditions.

d) Construction of airports is limited by certain physical constrains.

 

  1. What are pipelines? Give the advantages and disadvantages of pipeline transportation.

Ans. Pipelines are used to transport liquids like water, oil, gas for uninterrupted flow:

Advantages:

a) It can be taken through any terrain.

b) The initial cost is high but the maintenance cost is low.

c) It is eco-friendly as it requires no fuel.

d) Its operation is not affected by unwanted human intervention.

Disadvantages:

a) Solids cannot be transported.

b) Any undetected leakage leads to wastage.

 

  1. What is cyberspace? Write a note on it.

Ans. Cyberspace is the world of electronic computerized space. It is encompassed by the Internet such as the World Wide Web (www). In simple words, it is the electronic digital world for communicating or assessing information over computer networks without physical movement of the sender and the receiver. It is also referred to as the Internet. Cyberspace exists everywhere. It may be in an office, sailing boat, flying plane and virtually anywhere. As billions use the Internet each year cyberspace will expand the contemporary economic and social space of humans through email e-commerce e-learning and e-governance. Internet together with fax, television and radio will be accessible to more and more people cutting across place and time. It is these modern communication systems, more than transportation that has made the concept of global village a reality.

 

  1. Which hemisphere is served more by the air transport? Why there is less development of it in the other hemisphere?

Ans. Northern Hemisphere reserve more by the air transport. In the Northern Hemisphere there is a distinct east-west belt of intercontinental air routes. Dense network exists in eastern USA western Europe and South East Asia. USA alone accounts for 60% of the airways of the world. New York, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Rome, Moscow, Karachi, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago are the nodal points where air routes converge or radiate to all continents. Africa, Asiatic part of Russia and South America lack air services. There are limited air services between 10 – 35 latitudes in the southern hemisphere due to sparser population limited landmass and economic development.

 

  1. Write a note on railways in Asia.

Ans. In Asia rail network is the densest in the thickly populated area of Japan China and India.

Other countries have relatively few rail routes. West Asia is the least developed in rail facilities because of vast deserts and sparsely populated regions. One of the most important railways of Asia is Trans-Siberian railways a major rail route of Russia which runs from St. Petersburg in the west to Vladivostok on the Pacific Coast in the east passing through Moscow, Ufa, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Chita and Khabarovsk. It is the most important route in Asia and the longest (9,332 km) double tracked and electrified trans-continental railway in the world. It has helped in opening up its Asian region to west European markets. It runs across the Ural Mountains, Ob and Yenisei Rivers. Chita is an important agro center and Irkutsk Upper center. They are connecting links to the south namely to Odesa (Ukraine) Baku on the Caspian Coast, Tashkant (Uzbekistan) Ulan Bator (Mongolia) and Shenyang (Mukden) and Beijing in China. There is a proposal to build Trans Asiatic railway linking Istanbul with Bangkok via Iran Pakistan India Bangladesh and Myanmar.

 

  1. What is the latest development in the field of communication.

Ans. Over the years human beings have used different methods for long distance communications of which the telegraph and the telephone were important. Even today the telephone is the most commonly used mode. In developing countries the use of cell phones, made possible by satellites, is important for rural connectivity. Today there is a phenomenal pace of development. The first major breakthrough is the use of optic fibre cables (OFC). Faced with mounting competition telephone companies all over the world soon upgraded their copper cable systems to include optic fibre cables.

These allow large quantities of data to be transmitted rapidly securely and or virtually error free. With the digitization of information in the 1990s telecommunications slowly merged with computers to form integrated networks termed as Internet. Internet is the largest electronic network on the planet connecting about 1000 million. As billions use the Internet each year cyberspace will expand the contemporary economic and social space of humans through email e-commerce e-learning and e-governance. Internet together with fax television and radio will be accessible to more and more people cutting across place at time. It is these modern communication systems more than transportation that has made the concept of global village a reality.

 

  1. Air transport has made world a global village. How? Also explain the significance of air transport.

Ans. Air Transport has brought about a connectivity revolution in the world in many ways. It is the fastest mode of transport. It is because of air transport that there is no place in the world which is more than 35 hours away. Significance of air transport can be understood as follows:

Economic significance:

  1. Air Transport is used only for high value boards and passengers.
  2. Valuable goods can be moved rapidly.
  3. It is preferred for long distance travel.
  4. It is the easiest way to reach inaccessible areas such as mountainous, snowfields or inhospitable deserts. In the Himalayan region the routes are often obstructed due to landslides avalanches or heavy snowfall. At such times air travel is the only alternative to reach a place.

Airbase also have great strategic importance:

  1. Airports with wide facilities have to be built.
  2. The construction of airports and facilities is very costly. Therefore, airports are built in places where the traffic is large.
  3. It requires large arrangements such as hangar, fueling, landing facilities.

 

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