CDS Geography · World and Human Geography
Continents, Islands and Latitudes
Which countries the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn cross, the record facts about Antarctica and Australia, the mountains and plateaus of each continent, and where the islands CDS asks about lie.
Why this matters
Fourteen CDS questions from 2017 to 2025: 1 EASY, 12 MODERATE, 1 HARD. Four came in the single 2025 (I) paper. Antarctica came up in both 2024 papers, and the Tropic of Capricorn twice as a which-country-does-it-not-cross item.
Concept 1 of 4: The Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn
A latitude question is a map question in disguise. Learn which countries each line cuts, and learn the near misses: the countries that sit right beside the line but never touch it. CDS likes to put a near miss among three countries the line does cross.
Definition
Two lines CDS keeps asking about:
- The Equator (0°) crosses Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil in South America, and Kenya, Somalia and Indonesia elsewhere. Singapore, at about 1.3° N, is one of the big cities closest to it.
- The Tropic of Capricorn (about 23.4° S) crosses four South American countries: Chile, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.
- Bolivia stops at about 22.9° S, just north of the Tropic, so the line never enters it.
- Uruguay lies between about 30° S and 35° S, wholly south of the Tropic.
| Place or line | Latitude | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Equator | 0° | Crosses Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil in South America |
| Singapore | About 1.3° N | The closest to the Equator of Singapore, Mogadishu, Colombo and ManilaQ CDS 2020 (II): Singapore, not Mogadishu (about 2° N). |
| Colombo | About 7° N | Sri Lanka's chief city, farther from the Equator than Singapore |
| Manila | About 14.6° N | The farthest of the four from the Equator |
| Tropic of Capricorn | About 23.4° S | Crosses Chile, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil |
| Bolivia | Southern tip about 22.9° S | Wholly north of the Tropic of CapricornQ CDS 2019 (I): the Tropic does not pass through Bolivia. |
| Uruguay | About 30° S to 35° S | Wholly south of the Tropic of CapricornQ CDS 2020 (II): the Tropic does not pass through Uruguay. |
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2019 · CDS (I) 2019 — General Knowledge · Q72Moderate
Example 1 · World and Human Geography · Continents, Islands and Latitudes
Which among the following countries of South America does the Tropic of Capricorn not pass through?
Bolivia touches all the Tropic countries but not the Tropic
Bolivia borders Chile, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil, all four of which the Tropic of Capricorn crosses. Bolivia itself ends at about 22.9° S, so the line never enters it.
Uruguay is too far south
Uruguay sits between about 30° S and 35° S, wholly south of the Tropic of Capricorn. Argentina, its neighbour, is crossed by the line; Uruguay is not.
Concept 2 of 4: Antarctica and Australia
Antarctica wins its records because of ice. The ice sheet is so thick that the continent stands higher on average than any other, even though much of the rock under the ice is low. Australia's facts are about which coast things are on: the big range and the big reef are both on the east side.
Definition
Facts CDS has tested:
- Antarctica covers about 14 million sq km, larger than Europe (about 10 million sq km).
- It has the highest average elevation of any continent, about 2,300 m, because of its thick ice sheet.
- Its highest peak is Vinson Massif (Mount Vinson), about 4,892 m.
- The West Wind Drift circles it from west to east. Seen from above the South Pole, that is clockwise.
- In Australia, the Great Dividing Range runs down the east side, from Cape York to Victoria. Perth is on the far west coast.
- The Great Barrier Reef lies off Queensland, with the Coral Sea to its east, between the reef and the open South Pacific.
| Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
| Antarctica or Europe: which is larger? | Antarctica, about 14 million sq km against about 10 millionQ CDS 2024 (II): true. In the same item, Mount Ross is not the highest peak and the West Wind Drift does not run anticlockwise. |
| Continent with the highest average elevation | Antarctica, because of its ice sheet |
| Highest peak of Antarctica | Vinson Massif (Mount Vinson), about 4,892 m |
| Direction of the West Wind Drift | West to east; clockwise when seen from above the South Pole |
| Great Dividing Range | Down Australia's east side, from Cape York to VictoriaQ CDS 2025 (I): it does not run from Melbourne to Perth. |
| Sea between the Great Barrier Reef and the open South Pacific | The Coral Sea |
Practice this conceptself-check · 3 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2024 · CDS (I) 2024 — General Knowledge · Q41Moderate
Example 2 · World and Human Geography · Continents, Islands and Latitudes
Which of the following statements regarding continent of Antarctica is/are correct?
1. It has the highest average elevation as compared to all other continents.
2. Mount Vinson is the highest peak of this continent.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Vinson, not Ross
The highest peak of Antarctica is Vinson Massif. Mount Ross is not; the Ross Sea and the Ross Ice Shelf are named after the same explorer, which is why the name feels familiar.
The Great Dividing Range never reaches Perth
The Great Dividing Range runs down Australia's east side. Perth is on the far west coast, across the whole width of the continent.
Concept 3 of 4: Mountains and plateaus of the continents
Pin each mountain and plateau to its continent and, where you can, to one country. Most CDS errors here are not about the landform at all: they are a plateau put in the wrong continent, or a famous peak swapped for its neighbour.
Definition
Africa:
- Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), about 5,895 m, is Africa's highest mountain. Mount Kenya is second.
- The Virunga Mountains, a volcanic chain on the borders of DR Congo, Rwanda and Uganda, are home to the endangered mountain gorillas.
- The Abyssinian (Ethiopian) plateau is in Africa.
Europe and Asia:
- The Caucasus stand between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.
- The Urals run north to south through Russia and divide European Russia from Asian Russia.
- The Anatolian plateau is Asian Turkey; the Iberian plateau (the Meseta) is Spain, in Europe.
South America:
- The Patagonian plateau is in southern Argentina.
| Mountain or plateau | Continent and place | Remember |
|---|---|---|
| Kilimanjaro | Africa, Tanzania | Africa's highest mountain, about 5,895 mQ CDS 2023 (II): Kilimanjaro, not Mount Kenya or the Atlas. |
| Mount Kenya | Africa, Kenya | Africa's second highest mountain |
| Virunga Mountains | Africa, DR Congo, Rwanda and Uganda | Home of the endangered mountain gorillasQ CDS 2025 (I): Virunga, not Kilimanjaro or the Ngorongoro Crater. |
| Caucasus | Between Europe and Asia | Separates the Black Sea from the Caspian SeaQ CDS 2019 (II): the Caucasus, not the Urals or the Carpathians. |
| Urals | Russia | Divides European Russia from Asian Russia |
| Abyssinian plateau | Africa, Ethiopia | The Ethiopian highlands |
| Anatolian plateau | Asia, Turkey | The Asian part of Turkey |
| Iberian plateau (Meseta) | Europe, Spain | The high centre of the Iberian peninsula |
| Patagonian plateau | South America, Argentina | The dry south of Argentina |
Practice this conceptself-check · 3 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2023 · CDS (II) 2023 — General Knowledge · Q96Moderate
Example 3 · World and Human Geography · Continents, Islands and Latitudes
Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched ?
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
| Plateau | Continent |
|---|---|
| 1. Abyssinian | Africa |
| 2. Patagonian | Australia |
| 3. Anatolian | Asia |
| 4. Iberian | North America |
Patagonia is in South America
The Patagonian plateau is in southern Argentina, South America. It is not in Australia, however far south both sound.
Iberia is Europe, not North America
The Iberian plateau (the Meseta) is the centre of Spain. Spain and Portugal make up the Iberian peninsula of Europe.
Kilimanjaro over Mount Kenya
Both are volcanic peaks of East Africa near the Equator. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) is the higher one and the highest in Africa; Mount Kenya is second.
Concept 4 of 4: Islands of the world
For an island, learn two things: its rank by size if it is a big one, and which ocean or sea it sits in. CDS often offers a nearby sea as the wrong answer, so place each island exactly.
Definition
The biggest islands, by area:
- 1. Greenland (Denmark).
- 2. New Guinea, about 786,000 sq km, north of Australia.
- 3. Borneo, about 748,000 sq km. 4. Madagascar. Sumatra is sixth.
- Australia is counted as a continent, not an island.
Other islands CDS has asked:
- Bermuda is in the North Atlantic Ocean, about 1,000 km east of the United States. It is not in the Caribbean.
- Easter Island (Rapa Nui) is in the South Pacific, the south-eastern corner of Polynesia, and has been a territory of Chile since 1888. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its stone statues.
- Macau and Hong Kong both stand on the Pearl River estuary in south China: Macau on its west side, Hong Kong on its east.
| Island | Where | Remember |
|---|---|---|
| Greenland | North Atlantic and Arctic | The world's largest island |
| New Guinea | Western Pacific, north of Australia | Second largest, about 786,000 sq kmQ CDS 2017 (II): larger than Borneo, Madagascar and Sumatra. |
| Borneo | South-East Asia | Third largest, about 748,000 sq km |
| Madagascar | Indian Ocean, off Africa | Fourth largest |
| Bermuda | North Atlantic Ocean | East of the United States, outside the Caribbean |
| Easter Island (Rapa Nui) | South Pacific | Part of Polynesia; a territory of Chile since 1888Q CDS 2025 (I): both statements, Polynesia and Chile, are correct. |
Practice this concept4 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
CDS · 2022 · CDS (I) 2022 — General Knowledge · Q33Moderate
Example 4 · World and Human Geography · Continents, Islands and Latitudes
Where are the Bermuda Islands located ?
Bermuda is not in the Caribbean
Bermuda lies in the open North Atlantic, about 1,000 km east of the United States. The Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico are much farther south.
New Guinea beats Borneo
The two are close in size, but New Guinea (about 786,000 sq km) is second in the world and Borneo (about 748,000 sq km) third. Greenland is first.
Easter Island is Chilean but Polynesian
Easter Island is governed by Chile, a South American country, yet its people and culture belong to Polynesia. Both facts are true together.
Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance
A revision cheat-sheet for the formulas and gotchas above. Click any concept name to jump back to its full explanation.
Reference tables (4)
The Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn7 rows
| Place or line | Latitude | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Equator | 0° | Crosses Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil in South America |
| Singapore | About 1.3° N | The closest to the Equator of Singapore, Mogadishu, Colombo and ManilaQ CDS 2020 (II): Singapore, not Mogadishu (about 2° N). |
| Colombo | About 7° N | Sri Lanka's chief city, farther from the Equator than Singapore |
| Manila | About 14.6° N | The farthest of the four from the Equator |
| Tropic of Capricorn | About 23.4° S | Crosses Chile, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil |
| Bolivia | Southern tip about 22.9° S | Wholly north of the Tropic of CapricornQ CDS 2019 (I): the Tropic does not pass through Bolivia. |
| Uruguay | About 30° S to 35° S | Wholly south of the Tropic of CapricornQ CDS 2020 (II): the Tropic does not pass through Uruguay. |
Antarctica and Australia6 rows
| Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
| Antarctica or Europe: which is larger? | Antarctica, about 14 million sq km against about 10 millionQ CDS 2024 (II): true. In the same item, Mount Ross is not the highest peak and the West Wind Drift does not run anticlockwise. |
| Continent with the highest average elevation | Antarctica, because of its ice sheet |
| Highest peak of Antarctica | Vinson Massif (Mount Vinson), about 4,892 m |
| Direction of the West Wind Drift | West to east; clockwise when seen from above the South Pole |
| Great Dividing Range | Down Australia's east side, from Cape York to VictoriaQ CDS 2025 (I): it does not run from Melbourne to Perth. |
| Sea between the Great Barrier Reef and the open South Pacific | The Coral Sea |
Mountains and plateaus of the continents9 rows
| Mountain or plateau | Continent and place | Remember |
|---|---|---|
| Kilimanjaro | Africa, Tanzania | Africa's highest mountain, about 5,895 mQ CDS 2023 (II): Kilimanjaro, not Mount Kenya or the Atlas. |
| Mount Kenya | Africa, Kenya | Africa's second highest mountain |
| Virunga Mountains | Africa, DR Congo, Rwanda and Uganda | Home of the endangered mountain gorillasQ CDS 2025 (I): Virunga, not Kilimanjaro or the Ngorongoro Crater. |
| Caucasus | Between Europe and Asia | Separates the Black Sea from the Caspian SeaQ CDS 2019 (II): the Caucasus, not the Urals or the Carpathians. |
| Urals | Russia | Divides European Russia from Asian Russia |
| Abyssinian plateau | Africa, Ethiopia | The Ethiopian highlands |
| Anatolian plateau | Asia, Turkey | The Asian part of Turkey |
| Iberian plateau (Meseta) | Europe, Spain | The high centre of the Iberian peninsula |
| Patagonian plateau | South America, Argentina | The dry south of Argentina |
Islands of the world6 rows
| Island | Where | Remember |
|---|---|---|
| Greenland | North Atlantic and Arctic | The world's largest island |
| New Guinea | Western Pacific, north of Australia | Second largest, about 786,000 sq kmQ CDS 2017 (II): larger than Borneo, Madagascar and Sumatra. |
| Borneo | South-East Asia | Third largest, about 748,000 sq km |
| Madagascar | Indian Ocean, off Africa | Fourth largest |
| Bermuda | North Atlantic Ocean | East of the United States, outside the Caribbean |
| Easter Island (Rapa Nui) | South Pacific | Part of Polynesia; a territory of Chile since 1888Q CDS 2025 (I): both statements, Polynesia and Chile, are correct. |
Watch out for (10)
- Bolivia touches all the Tropic countries but not the Tropic→ The Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn
- Uruguay is too far south→ The Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn
- Vinson, not Ross→ Antarctica and Australia
- The Great Dividing Range never reaches Perth→ Antarctica and Australia
- Patagonia is in South America→ Mountains and plateaus of the continents
- Iberia is Europe, not North America→ Mountains and plateaus of the continents
- Kilimanjaro over Mount Kenya→ Mountains and plateaus of the continents
- Bermuda is not in the Caribbean→ Islands of the world
- New Guinea beats Borneo→ Islands of the world
- Easter Island is Chilean but Polynesian→ Islands of the world
Test yourself on World and Human Geography
15 past CDS questions from this chapter, timed at 15 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.