Q. Consider the following water bodies :

1. Lake Tanganyika
2. Lake Tonlé Sap
3. Patos Lagoon

Through how many of them does the equator pass? (UPSC Prelims 2025)
Answer: None
Notes: The correct answer is [D] None. The equator passes through several major water bodies globally, but none of the three listed in the question are among them.

• Lake Tanganyika (Incorrect): This is one of the African Great Lakes, located south of the equator. Its northernmost tip is approximately 3° South latitude. It is shared by Burundi, DR Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia.
• Lake Tonlé Sap (Incorrect): Located in Cambodia, Southeast Asia, this lake is situated well north of the equator, at approximately 12° North latitude. It is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and is connected to the Mekong River.
• Patos Lagoon (Incorrect): Located in southern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul), this is the largest barrier-lagoon in South America. It is situated far south of the equator, at approximately 30° South latitude.

For clarity, the major lakes and water bodies that the equator actually passes through include Lake Victoria in Africa, the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. In South America, it passes through the mouth of the Amazon River.