2015 · Q15
If a ship has to go from Chennai to Kochi, it has to go around Sri Lanka rather than crossing through the Palk Strait. Why?
General KnowledgeGeography
- AThe Palk Strait has disputed islands and the Sri Lankan Navy does not allow the ships to cross through
- BIt is too shallow for ships to cross
- CShipping is prohibited through the Strait due to its religious significance connected with the epic Ramayana
- DThe around Sri Lanka route is actually shorter than crossing through the Palk Strait
Explanation
The Palk Strait is too shallow for large ships because Adam's Bridge (Rama Setu), a chain of shoals, stretches across it between India and Sri Lanka. Deep-draft vessels must therefore sail around Sri Lanka to get from Chennai to Kochi. There is no religious prohibition on shipping and no naval ban of the kind described, and the around-Sri Lanka route is longer, not shorter. Hence B.