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2. (a) Describe the geographical characteristics of the Río Grande de Santiago
downstream from La Presa. [4 marks]

Award [1 mark] for meandering, [1 mark] for south west direction and [2 marks] for
other characteristics such as oxbow lake, delta.
Award a maximum [3 marks] for a list of landforms with no overview/description.
Full marks should not be awarded in the absence of map evidence – names or grid
references.

(b) Analyse how the freshwater resources shown in box A on the map could be used
for different purposes. [6 marks]

Use of the river for irrigation, navigation, domestic use.
Wetland has potential for tourism, nature reserves, farming, aquaculture.
Lakes – fish farming, tourism, sport and recreation.
At least two different types of water resource (wetlands, rivers, lakes) should be
analysed.
A maximum of [4 marks] should be awarded where only one resource is analysed.
Full marks should not be awarded without some use of map evidence – names or grid
references.

(c) “People should not try to prevent rivers from flooding.” Discuss this statement. [10 marks]

There are various approaches to answering this question. Candidates could focus on
avoiding the expensive consequences of river flooding, or the impacts of levée
building on floodplains or alternative stream management strategies.

Answers should propose arguments for and against allowing rivers to flood.
Arguments against could include the need to protect population, settlements,
infrastructure, farmland crops and livestock from loss.

Mention of drawbacks of natural flooding could include loss of agricultural land, the
cost of relocation of population, transport disruption, contamination of water supplies,
the spread of disease and disease carrying insects, loss of life and property.
Reference could be made to flood frequency and the cost of protection from small,
medium and large floods.

Counter arguments may refer to engineering strategies that actually exacerbate
flooding downstream in terms of the increased volume and reduced arrival time of a
flood surge. The benefits of allowing rivers to flood naturally might include reduced
costs of levée and dam construction, the accumulation of new soil thus raising fertility
and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers, more organic content entrained in the
river boosting the aquatic ecosystem, lower and later flood crests and less erosion of
the river bed. Answers may also refer to the benefits of the re-establishment of
wetland areas to absorb floodwater, thus lowering flood peaks and reducing the risk
downstream.

Good answers will probably conclude that a balance of protection in some areas and
allowing floods in others is the best solution. Not all of the above is needed for an
answer to reach the top bands, however, answers that present only one aspect of the
argument should not be credited above band C.