Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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A magnitude-7.6 earthquake struck the Caribbean Sea southwest of the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands is a British overseas territory in the Caribbean, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica. It consists of three islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. The islands are peaks of the Cayman Ridge, an underwater mountain range. Known for coral reefs, clear waters, and white sand beaches, Grand Cayman is the largest and most populous island. The territory covers 264 sq. km, with George Town as its capital.

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Amsterdam Island, also called Nouvelle Amsterdam, is a small French territory in the southern Indian Ocean. It is part of the French Southern and Antarctic Territories and is located midway between Australia, Antarctica, Madagascar, and other regions. The island is about 3,200 km away from neighboring territories. Amsterdam Island is an elliptical-shaped volcanic island, covering 55 sq.km with a 10 km length and 7 km width. The island has been burning for nearly a month.

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Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest and most active volcano, has erupted again, releasing lava and thick ash clouds. It is located in Sicily, Italy. It is Europe’s tallest active volcano and Italy’s highest peak south of the Alps. It is recognized as a Decade Volcano due to frequent eruptions near populated areas. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Recent research reveals a significant pause in coral reef growth in the Gulf of Eilat (Gulf of Aqaba). The Gulf is located at the northern tip of the Red Sea, bordered by Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. It is much deeper (1,850 meters) compared to the shallow Gulf of Suez (100 meters). The Gulf of Aqaba is known for its coral reefs, which are among the northernmost in the world.

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Vietnam’s foreign ministry recently published a map defining its claim in the Gulf of Tonkin. The Gulf of Tonkin is also called “Beibu Gulf” in Chinese and “Bac Bo Gulf” in Vietnamese. It is a shallow, semi-enclosed water body in the northwestern South China Sea. It is bordered by Vietnam’s northern coast, China’s Guangxi region, the Leizhou Peninsula, and Hainan Island. It connects to the South China Sea via its southern mouth and the Hainan Strait in the northeast. Major ports include Haiphong and Ben Thuy in Vietnam and Beihai in China.

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The Simandou mine in Guinea will significantly impact the global iron ore market, supplying 10% of China’s annual demand and competing with Australia and Brazil. It is located in the Simandou mountain range, Guinea. It is controlled by a 75% Chinese consortium. The mine boasts high-quality ore with 65% Fe content, one of the best globally. It has 2.4 billion tonnes of reserves, with a potential yield of 2.25 billion tonnes. The mining deposits, Pic de Fon and Ouéléba, cover 7.5 km in length and 1 km in width.

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The Israel-Hamas conflict has escalated, leading to a fragile ceasefire brokered by the US, Egypt, and Qatar. A key issue is Israel’s withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategic area along Gaza’s border with Egypt. The corridor is a 14 km long, 100-meter-wide strip, including the Rafah crossing and Kerem Shalom crossing. It was designated a demilitarized zone under the 1979 Camp David treaty. After Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority took control, but Hamas seized it in 2007.

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New Zealand’s High Court overturned the conviction of White Island’s owners after the 2019 volcanic eruption that killed 22 people. White Island (Whakaari) is an active composite stratovolcano in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty, located 48 km off Whakatāne. It is New Zealand’s most active cone volcano, formed over 150,000 years. The 2019 eruption was its last major event, causing fatalities and injuries. The island, privately owned, was declared a private scenic reserve in 1953, attracting tourism and scientific research. It features hot springs, geysers, and fumaroles and was named by Captain James Cook in 1769.

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Beneath Antarctica’s Mount Erebus, volcanic ice caves harbor thriving microbial life, offering insight into potential life on alien worlds. Mount Erebus is the southernmost active volcano, located on Ross Island in Antarctica. It was discovered in 1841 by Sir James Clark Ross and named after his ship, Erebus. Its summit stands at 12,448 feet (3,794 meters), making it the second tallest volcano in Antarctica. The volcano has an active lava lake, continuously active since 1972, with small Strombolian eruptions.

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A six-day survey in Majuli River Island, Assam, highlights rising human-wildlife conflict (HWC) concerns. Majuli is the world’s largest river island in Assam, covering 421 sq. km, formed by the Brahmaputra and Subansiri Rivers. It became India’s first island district in 2016 and is known for its lush greenery, water bodies, and paddy fields. The island is a hub of Assamese neo-Vaishnavite culture, with Satras preserving dance, literature, theatre, and mask-making.