Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Scientists have warned that the Axial Seamount underwater volcano near the Oregon coast, USA, may erupt soon due to increased earthquakes. It lies about 300 miles off Oregon’s coast in the Pacific Ocean. Axial Seamount is a shield volcano with a large caldera at its summit. It rises to a depth of 1,400 metres below sea level. It is part of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) and houses the New Millennium Observatory (NeMO), the world’s first underwater volcanic observatory. NeMO transmits real-time volcanic data via undersea cables to Pacific City, Oregon, aiding scientific research.

Notes:
Recently, a new study found that land-use change caused the loss of nearly 75% of natural plant species on the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. Mount Kilimanjaro is located in northeastern Tanzania. It is Africa’s tallest mountain (5,895 metres) and the world’s largest free-standing mountain, meaning it is not part of any range. It is a stratovolcano made up of three volcanic cones — Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira.

Notes:
Lake Suchitlán in El Salvador is facing a crisis due to the rapid spread of invasive water lettuce. Lake Suchitlán is located in El Salvador. Water lettuce is a perennial, free-floating aquatic weed found in tropical regions across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. It is also called water cabbage, Nile cabbage, or shellflower. The plant has lettuce-like leaves with long, feathery white to tan roots hanging below.

Notes:
A drying climate in East Africa caused Lake Turkana’s water levels to drop, triggering earthquakes and volcanic activity beneath it. Lake Turkana, formerly Lake Rudolf, is a vast, shallow lake in northern Kenya, extending slightly into Ethiopia. It lies along the Eastern Rift Valley, separated from Lake Logipi by volcanic formations called the Barriers.

Notes:
The Rajasthan High Court recently sought a detailed conservation plan from the state government due to rising ecological threats to Gadisar Lake in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Gadisar Lake is a 14th-century artificial reservoir originally built by Raja Rawal Jaisal and later renovated by Maharawal Gadsi Singh, giving it its present name. It historically served as Jaisalmer’s main water source through an efficient rainwater harvesting system in the desert. Encroachment, urban pressure, siltation and pollution have reduced its catchment area and damaged ecological balance. The lake supports local biodiversity and migratory birds, making it a vital urban-wetland ecosystem.

Notes:
Scottish historian William Dalrymple urged the Maharashtra government to promote lesser-known heritage sites at Ellora Caves. Ellora is located near a village in Maharashtra. Ellora is among India’s first UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The caves show 700 years of Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Sufi, and Naga traditions.

Notes:
ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute launched a stock enhancement programme for short-neck clam (Paphia malabarica) in Ashtamudi Lake showing early signs of recovery. Short-neck clam is a valuable bivalve mollusk and India’s first Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified species. It is the major fishery resource of brackish water Ashtamudi Lake.

Notes:
An Indian Army mountaineering team from Eastern Command successfully summited Mount Kangto, standing at 7,042 metres, for the first recorded time. Mount Kangto is the highest peak of Arunachal Pradesh and is located in the Kameng Himalayas. The team approached and climbed the peak via the challenging southern route. The achievement marked Mount Kangto as no longer an unconquered peak. The team was “Flagged In” by Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) RC Tiwari, Army Commander of the Eastern Command.

Notes:
Fresh lava fountains erupted from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano, almost a year after its ongoing eruptive phase began. Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, located in the southeastern part of Hawaii Island, United States. It is a shield-type volcano, formed due to the Hawaiian hot spot. The summit caldera contains the lava lake Halema‘uma‘u, considered the home of the Hawaiian volcano goddess, Pele.

Notes:
Iran’s Hormuz Island recently gained global attention as its coastlines turned blood-red overnight, creating a surreal natural spectacle. Hormuz Island is a hilly island located in the Strait of Hormuz, between the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, about 8 km off the coast of Iran. The island covers an area of 41.9 sq. km and is famous for its unique scenery and colorful soil, earning it the nickname “Rainbow Island”. Its terrain is composed of sedimentary rock and volcanic ash, and due to low precipitation, both the soil and water are salty.