Q. Consider the following countries: - Finland
- Germany
- Norway
- Russia
How many of the above countries have a border with the North Sea? (UPSC Prelims 2024)
Answer:
Only two
Notes: The correct answer is
[B] Only two. The North Sea is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean located between Great Britain, Scandinavia, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France.
- Norway (Correct): Norway has an extensive coastline along the northeastern part of the North Sea. It is a major stakeholder in the sea's oil and gas resources.
- Germany (Correct): Germany has a coastline on the North Sea in its northwest region, located between the Netherlands and Denmark. Key German ports like Hamburg (via the Elbe) and Bremerhaven serve this sea.
- Finland (Incorrect): Finland is located further east and borders the Baltic Sea (specifically the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland). It has no direct access to the North Sea.
- Russia (Incorrect): Russia borders the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, and the Arctic and Pacific Oceans. It does not share a border with the North Sea.
The countries that officially border the North Sea are the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France.