The famous Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River is located on the border between which two African countries?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Zambia and Zimbabwe

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
World geography questions often focus on major rivers, waterfalls, and the countries they flow through. Victoria Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfalls on Earth and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It lies on the Zambezi River in southern Africa. For many exams, it is essential to know not only which river feeds Victoria Falls, but also which countries share this natural wonder along their common border. This question checks whether you can correctly identify Zambia and Zimbabwe as those two countries.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The waterfall is Victoria Falls, located on the Zambezi River.
  • The question asks for the two countries between which Victoria Falls is situated.
  • Options list various pairs of African countries such as Zambia and Zimbabwe, Senegal and Botswana, Ethiopia and Kenya, Tanzania and Kenya, and Angola and Namibia.
  • We assume a basic understanding of African geography and river systems.


Concept / Approach:
Victoria Falls, known locally as Mosi oa Tunya meaning the smoke that thunders, lies on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Zambezi River forms part of the boundary between these two countries, and the falls are a major tourist attraction for both. The approach to solving the question is to visualise a map of southern Africa and recall that Zambia is landlocked to the north of Zimbabwe, with the Zambezi River marking part of their mutual border, where Victoria Falls is located.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the question and note that it is about the location of Victoria Falls, not just about the Zambezi River. Step 2: Recall from geography studies that Victoria Falls lies on the border where Zambia meets Zimbabwe. Step 3: Look through the options for the pair Zambia and Zimbabwe among the given alternatives. Step 4: Confirm that no other option lists this correct combination, and choose Zambia and Zimbabwe as the answer.


Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative way to verify is to remember the tourist towns associated with Victoria Falls. On the Zimbabwean side, the town is called Victoria Falls, and on the Zambian side, it is Livingstone. Both of these clearly point to the Zambia Zimbabwe border. Additionally, most atlases and exam preparation books specifically mention Victoria Falls as being between Zambia and Zimbabwe, reinforcing the correct pair in your memory.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Senegal and Botswana are located far apart in western and southern Africa respectively, and they do not share a border, so Victoria Falls cannot lie between them. Ethiopia and Kenya are in eastern Africa and are known for highlands and the Great Rift Valley rather than for the Zambezi River or Victoria Falls. Tanzania and Kenya share famous features such as Mount Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti Maasai Mara ecosystem, but not Victoria Falls. Angola and Namibia share a border in southwestern Africa and are near parts of the Zambezi basin, yet the falls themselves are not located between these two countries.


Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse Victoria Falls with other major African natural sites, such as the Nile cataracts or Lake Victoria, and then misplace it in east Africa. Another mistake is to focus only on the Zambezi River and forget the exact border countries. To avoid this, always memorise the simple association: Victoria Falls equals Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Visualising the map of southern Africa and the location of the waterfalls along the border helps fix the fact clearly in your mind.


Final Answer:
Victoria Falls is located on the Zambezi River along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

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