UPSC Prelims 2015 Question:

The area known as ‘Golan Heights’ sometimes appears in the news in the context of the events related to

Explanation:

• Golan Heights us seen in the news in the context of Middle East. The Golan Heights  is a rocky plateau in south-western Syria until 1967, when Israel captured most of the area in the Six Day War, occupying it and annexing it in 1981. That unilateral annexation was not recognized internationally, and Syria demands the return of the territory.
  
  
• Strategic importance of the Golan heights: 
  • The heights give Israel an excellent vantage point for monitoring Syrian movements. 
  • The topography provides a natural buffer against any military thrust from Syria. 
  • The area is also a key source of water for an arid region. 
  • Rainwater from the Golan's catchment feeds into the Jordan River. 
  • The land is fertile, and the volcanic soil is used to cultivate vineyards and orchards and raise cattle.
    
    

Therefore, option (2) is the correct answer.  

Subject: Geography | Mapping