Previous Year Question
Which one of the following countries of South-West Asia does not open out to the Mediterranean Sea?
Syria
Jordan
Lebanon
Israel
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
(a) Syria — Opens out to the Mediterranean Sea
Syria is situated in the eastern Mediterranean region of West Asia.
Its western boundary lies along the Mediterranean Sea.
Latakia and Tartus are its two principal Mediterranean ports.
Coastal Syria is more humid than the country’s arid interior and experiences the influence of the Mediterranean climate.
(b) Jordan — Does not open out to the Mediterranean Sea
No part of Jordan’s boundary lies along the Mediterranean Sea.
Jordan is bordered by Israel and the West Bank in the west, Syria in the north, Iraq in the east and Saudi Arabia in the south.
Jordan’s only maritime outlet is the Port of Aqaba on the Gulf of Aqaba.
The Gulf of Aqaba is a northern extension of the Red Sea. Therefore, Jordan reaches the Red Sea but not the Mediterranean Sea.
(c) Lebanon — Opens out to the Mediterranean Sea
Lebanon’s entire western boundary lies along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
Its coastal plain is narrow, with the Lebanon mountain range situated to its east.
Beirut, its capital, is an important commercial and port city on the Mediterranean coast.
Tripoli, Sidon and Tyre are its other important coastal cities.
(d) Israel — Opens out to the Mediterranean Sea
Israel’s western boundary lies along the Mediterranean Sea.
Its Mediterranean coastal plain extends from north to south and contains a large concentration of the country’s population and economic activities.
Haifa and Ashdod are its important Mediterranean ports.
Israel also has access to the Gulf of Aqaba near Eilat in the south. Thus, it possesses coastlines on both the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba–Red Sea.
Conclusion: Syria, Lebanon and Israel open out to the Mediterranean Sea, whereas Jordan’s maritime outlet is only on the Gulf of Aqaba–Red Sea.
Important qualification: It would be incorrect to describe Jordan as completely landlocked because it has a short coastline and maritime outlet on the Gulf of Aqaba. The precise fact is that Jordan does not open out to the Mediterranean Sea.