Q19 · UPSC Prelims 2017 · Set A · Geography

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At one of the places in India, if you stand on the seashore and watch the sea, you will find that the sea water recedes from the shore line a few kilometres and comes back to the shore, twice a day, and you can actually walk on the sea floor when the water recedes. This unique phenomenon is seen at

A Bhavnagar
B Bheemunipatnam
C Chandipur
D Nagapattinam

Correct answer: (c) Chandipur

Explanation

  1. A

    Bhavnagar

    (a) Bhavnagar. The Gulf of Khambhat has a large tidal range, but the ‘walk kilometres on the sea floor twice a day’ tourist phenomenon is not the Bhavnagar shoreline in this question. Not the key.

  2. B

    Bheemunipatnam

    (b) Bheemunipatnam. This Andhra coast does not show that extreme, walkable recession. Not the key.

  3. C

    Chandipur

    (c) Chandipur. Chandipur-on-sea (Odisha) is famous for the tide receding several kilometres, exposing the beach so visitors can walk on the sea floor, twice a day. That is the official key.

  4. D

    Nagapattinam

    (d) Nagapattinam. A Tamil Nadu port coast without that unique hide-and-seek tide. Not the key.

Summary. Official key is (c) Chandipur. On the Balasore coast of Odisha the tide withdraws far enough that the sea floor can be walked for a stretch, then returns. The DRDO Integrated Test Range is a neighbouring Chandipur fact, not the reason for the tide. Bhavnagar’s macrotidal gulf, Bheemunipatnam and Nagapattinam do not match this textbook description. Chandipur is the named unique shore.