Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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The first case of bird flu killing a walrus was found on Hopen Island, part of Svalbard, Norway. Hopen Island is located in the Arctic Ocean, in the Svalbard Archipelago, which is part of Norway. The island is situated in the southern part of the archipelago, between the Barents Sea and the Greenland Sea. Hopen Island is one of the smaller islands in the Svalbard group, covering an area of about 47 square kilometers. The island’s landscape is mainly made up of low-lying tundra, rocky outcrops, and coastal cliffs.

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French President hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at Pyrenees’ Tourmalet Pass for private talks. The Pyrenees form a natural border between Spain and France, extending 500 km from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. Created by the collision of Iberia with Eurasia, it’s politically divided between Spain and France, with Andorra in between. Aneto Peak, at 3,404 m, is its highest point. The mountains also merge with the Cantabrian range in Spain.

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Pirates’ recent assault in the Gulf of Aden sparks alarm. The gulf acts as a crucial maritime corridor connecting the Red Sea and Arabian Sea. Named after Yemen’s Port of Aden, it borders Somalia to the south and Yemen to the north, with the Arabian Sea to the east and Djibouti to the west. The prominent Sheba Ridge characterizes its terrain, extending from the Indian Ocean ridge system.

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In the Strait of Gibraltar, orcas sank a sailing yacht, with the incident occurring in Moroccan waters. The strait connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, separating Europe and Africa. Its narrowest point lies between Morocco and Spain. Geological studies attribute its formation to the movement of tectonic plates. Water flow dynamics involve the Mediterranean Sea’s highly saline waters flowing outward beneath the Atlantic Ocean’s currents, while less saline waters flow inward atop the Mediterranean current.

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The Philippines challenges China over Scarborough Shoal’s environmental damage, urging international scrutiny. Situated in the South China Sea, the shoal is a vital fishing area rich in marine life, claimed by both China and the Philippines. Despite no physical structures, China controls it with a continuous coast guard presence since 2012, citing historical ownership dating back to the Yuan Dynasty. The dispute remains unresolved.

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Mount Ibu, an active stratovolcano on Halmahera Island, Indonesia, recently erupted, ejecting ash 4 km high with purple lightning around its crater. Indonesia, part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire” with 127 active volcanoes, often experiences such events. Stratovolcanoes, like Ibu, are characterized by conical shapes formed by layers of volcanic material. They rise sharply near the summit and are common in subduction zones, such as the Andes Mountains.

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The world’s largest optical astronomy digital camera will be placed on the edge of Chile’s Atacama Desert, renowned for its dryness and clear skies. Mounted on the Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Simonyi Survey Telescope, it weighs three tonnes and boasts a 3.2-gigapixel resolution. This initiative aims to study dark energy, dark matter, potential Earth impacts, and close celestial bodies. The observatory anticipates generating 20 terabytes of daily data, forming a 15-petabyte catalog over its ten-year survey.

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India aims to operate Mongla Port in Bangladesh and build a new terminal to counter China’s regional influence. Mongla, the second largest seaport in Bangladesh, is strategically located 62 km from the Bay of Bengal, protected by the Sundarban forest. India’s interest in Mongla will improve access and reduce transportation costs to northeastern states like Assam and Tripura. India Ports Global Limited has expressed interest, following the 2015 MoU for transit.

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A Japanese town takes action to prevent tourist disturbances while photographing Mount Fuji. The iconic peak, standing at 3,776 meters, is located 100 km west of Tokyo on Honshu Island. It’s a dormant stratovolcano, last erupting in 1707, yet remains active. Mount Fuji boasts a smooth slope, wide base, and UNESCO World Heritage status since 2013. Despite volcanic activity, its summit is often snow-covered, offering a stunning skyline.

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During excavations for an airport on Crete, Greece’s largest island, a 4,000-year-old circular monument was discovered. Crete, the fifth largest Mediterranean island, covers 8,336 sq. km and features rugged mountains. Historically significant, it hosted the Minoan civilization (2700-1420 BCE) and has been ruled by various powers, including Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, and Ottomans. It became part of Greece after independence from Ottoman rule.