UPSC Prelims 2026 Question:

Which of the following statements with reference to Lake Turkana is/are correct?

1. It is the largest desert lake in the world. 
2. The lake is situated in South Sudan along the eastern fringe of the Sahara desert.
3. The lake is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also referred to as the 'Jade Sea'.
   
   Select the answer using the code given below:

Explanation:  

Lake Turkana is a major Rift Valley lake located mainly in northern Kenya, with its far northern end  extending towards Ethiopia. It is globally significant for its desert-lake ecosystem, fossil deposits and national  parks. UNESCO identifies Lake Turkana as the largest desert lake in the world and notes that it is  popularly called the “Jade Sea” because of its colour.  

• Lake Turkana is the largest desert lake in the world. It lies in an arid landscape and is also among the  most saline large lakes in East Africa. So, statement 1 is correct. 
• Lake Turkana is not situated in South Sudan and it is not along the eastern fringe of the Sahara Desert.  It is located mainly in northern Kenya in the East African Rift region. So, statement 2 is not correct.
• Lake Turkana National Parks are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lake is also referred  to as the “Jade Sea” because of its distinctive colour. So, statement 3 is correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (2) is the correct answer.