Write short note on: Water transportation.

Answer: Water transport is the cheapest means of transport for heavy and bulky goods over long distances.

• Inland waterways: navigable rivers, canals and lakes, e.g. Rhine (Europe), Mississippi (USA), Great Lakes–St. Lawrence waterway, Ganga (National Waterway 1 in India).
• Ocean (sea) transport: coastal shipping and international shipping along ocean routes such as the North Atlantic route (busiest), Suez Canal route, Cape of Good Hope route and Panama Canal route.
• Advantages: no need to build the route, low fuel cost, large carrying capacity, suitable for international trade; about 90% of world trade by volume moves by sea.
• Limitations: slow, depends on weather, rivers may freeze or have low water in dry season, needs ports and harbours.
• Canals like Suez and Panama have shortened ocean routes greatly.