Water scarcity as a cause of conflict (Level 1)

Many countries are connected by rivers, lakes or oceans. The water ways between them are used for transporting goods and people. Countries with common waters need to organise the use of water. Where fresh water becomes scares, this can be the cause of conflicts and even wars.

Some suggested Links

Design Map - a site on which you can make your own river maps.
Rivernet an interesting site on river systems.
Tip 1: For the first three questions you will need an world map.
Tip 2: There are always three correct answers!

1	Rivers often connect several countries. Which answers are correct?

	The River Danube connects Austria, Holand and Hungary.
	The River Euphrat connecs Turkey, Syria and Iraq.
	The River Nile connects Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt.
	The River Amazonas connects Columbia, Venezuela, Equador, Peru and Brazil.
	The Yangtze connects Nepal, China, Korea and Japan.

2	Rivers can also divide. Which Rivers serve as natural boundaries?

	The Rhine between Switzerland and Germany
	The River Congo between Zaire and Congo.
	The River Mississippi between Canada and the U.S.A.
	The River Jordan between Israel and Jordon.
	The River Indus between Pakistan and India.

3	Which countries are connected and separated by Ocean Seas?

	The Red Sea lies between Jordan and Israel.
	No, that would be the Dead Sea. The Red Sea is more to the South, between Egypt, Ethiopia, Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
	The Caspian Sea lies between Iran, the Russian Federation, Kasachstan and Turkmenistan.
	The Adriatic Sea lies between Spain and Algeria.
	The Indian Ocean surrounds the Islands Madagascar, Sri Lanka, the Seychelles, Maldives, Maritius.
	The Caribbean Sea surrounds Cuba, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and other Island states.

4	Islands are particularly dependant on water ways. Which statements are true?

	The Lipari Islands have to transport a good portion of their drinking water per ship from the Italian mainland.
	Japan has to import cars from China.
	The Christmas Islands need to import Chocolate, Fir trees and other Xmas objects by sea.
	The Seychells need to import staple food such as rice and wheat from Africa or India.
	On Iceland there are no universities. The students leave home to study in Norway or England.

5	What are some of the reasons for problems between countries connected by the same river ?

	Water is passed on to the lower country with more sewage.
	The rivers have more floods in the lower country.
	The rivers have less water or dry more frequently in the lower country.
	The river contains too many large, carnivorous (= meat eating) fish.
	Water is passed on to the next country at a lower temperature.

6	Water consumption world wide: Which sector uses most water?

	households
	agriculture
	industry
	tourism

7	How does this differ between different continents? Which three statements are correct?

	In Greece tourism is the dominant consumer of water.
	In Asia and Africa agriculture is the dominant consumer of water.
	In Europe industry is the dominant consumer of water.
	In North America the private households are the dominant consumer.