Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, researchers discovered a buried ancient forest under the Falkland Islands, which grew before humans or sheep ever arrived. The Falkland Islands, also called the Malvinas Islands, is an internally self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom in the South Atlantic Ocean. It lies about 480 kilometers northeast of South America’s southern tip and east of the Strait of Magellan. The islands include East Falkland, West Falkland, and 776 smaller islands, separated by the Falkland Strait.

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Ethiopia’s Prime Minister recently announced that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is now complete and will be inaugurated in September. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), earlier called the Millennium Dam, is built on the Blue Nile River. It is located in Ethiopia’s Benishangul-Gumuz region near the border with Sudan. The Blue Nile is a major tributary of the Nile River.

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Over 1,000 earthquakes have shaken the Tokara Islands in southern Japan in the past two weeks, creating an unprecedented seismic situation. The Tokara Islands are a small archipelago located south of Kyushu and north of the Amami Islands in Japan. They are also called the Toshima Islands, covered administratively by Toshima-mura (Toshima Village). The archipelago includes 7 inhabited islands (e.g., Kuchinoshima, Nakanoshima, Suwanosejima) and 5 uninhabited islands (e.g., Gajajima, Kogajajima).

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Recently, Nyangai Island off the coast of Sierra Leone lost two-thirds of its surface area in less than a decade. It now measures only about 200 metres long and 100 metres wide (approximately 650 by 330 feet). Nyangai Island is part of the Turtle Islands archipelago in Sierra Leone. It is a low-lying island located in a region with strong coastal currents, making it highly vulnerable to erosion. The island has long served as a hub for trade, agriculture, fishing, and maritime transport.

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Recently, the Defence Secretary flagged off mountaineering expeditions to Mount Everest and Mount Kilimanjaro at an event held in South Block, New Delhi. Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain and the world’s largest free-standing mountain. It is located in northeastern Tanzania near the Kenya border and stretches around 80 km east to west. Kilimanjaro is a stratovolcano made up of three cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira.

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A volcano recently erupted in Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, marking the ninth eruption in the region since late 2023. Reykjanes Peninsula is located in southwest Iceland and spans 829 square kilometers. It lies where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge surfaces, meeting point of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. This location makes the region highly volcanically active with frequent eruptions and earthquakes.

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Recently, over 5,000 people applied for a first-ever migration visa to escape climate change impacts in Tuvalu. Tuvalu, formerly called the Ellice Islands, is a small island country in the west-central Pacific Ocean, located between Hawaii and Australia. It has nine islands (four reef islands and five coral atolls) spread over 676 km from northwest to southeast. The entire country is low-lying, with its highest point just 4.5 metres above sea level, making it highly vulnerable to sea level rise.

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The Geological Survey of India (GSI) recently warned the Jammu and Kashmir administration about a serious threat to the Guryul Ravine fossil site near Khonmoh, Srinagar. Guryul Ravine is located in the Vihi district of Jammu and Kashmir and is geologically significant. It contains fossils from the Permian–Triassic extinction event that occurred around 260 million years ago. This event, known as the End-Permian Extinction or the Great Dying, wiped out nearly all life on Earth. The site also records the world’s first-ever tsunami event, still visible in its rock layers.

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Tanzania’s Vision 2050 was recently launched to address the climate crisis affecting the Great Ruaha River. The river is drying due to climate change and mismanagement, threatening agriculture, biodiversity, and livelihoods. The plan focuses on climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, and fair land governance to restore the river’s health. Great Ruaha River is a major river in south-central Tanzania and a vital water source. It flows northeast through the Usangu wetlands, crosses the Usangu plains important for farming and livestock, and passes through Ruaha National Park.

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Indian Navy’s Survey Vessel Large (SVL) INS Sandhayak made its first visit to Port Klang, Malaysia from July 16 to 19, 2025. The visit aimed to enhance hydrographic cooperation between India and Malaysia. Port Klang is located in Malaysia. t serves as Malaysia’s largest and busiest port and is a crucial hub for international trade. It reflects India’s commitment to regional hydrographic capacity building under the Indian Naval Hydrographic Department (INHD) and National Hydrographic Office. INS Sandhayak was commissioned in February 2024 with full coastal and deep-sea survey capacity, ocean data collection, Search and Rescue (SAR), and humanitarian aid functions.