Question
Q19. Consider the following statements:
- The Red Sea receives very little precipitation in any form.
- No water enters the Red Sea from rivers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: 3
Detailed Explanation
- No, the Red Sea does not receive water from other seas. It is an independent body of water that primarily exchanges water with the Indian Ocean via the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden.
- Unlike some seas, no major rivers drain into the Red Sea, making it unique in its salinity and water circulation.
- Its connection to the Mediterranean Sea is indirect, via the Suez Canal, but this is man-made and does not contribute significantly to its natural water dynamics.
| Factor | Explanation |
| Desert Climate | The regions around the Red Sea (like Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen) are extremely arid — part of the Sahara and Arabian deserts. |
| Lack of River Systems | No large river systems originate nearby to feed the Red Sea. |
| Evaporation Dominates | The Red Sea loses more water through evaporation than it gains from rainfall or land runoff. |
| Water Exchange | It maintains its level mainly through exchange of water with the Arabian Sea (via the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait) — not rivers. |
