Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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The Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland experienced its seventh volcanic eruption since December 2023. It is located in southwest Iceland. It is part of the submarine Reykjanes Ridge on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The region hosts volcanic systems such as Reykjanes, Svartsengi, Fagradalsfjall, Krýsuvík, Brennisteinsfjöll, and Hengill. It features en-echelon fissure systems and attracts tourists for volcano tours, hiking trails, and the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. The peninsula has a population of around 27,829 (2020), with Reykjanesbær as its largest settlement.

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A migrant boat sank near the Greek island of Samos, claiming eight lives, including six children. Samos, in the eastern Aegean Sea, is one of Greece’s largest and easternmost islands, just 1.7 km from the Turkish coast. The island spans 478 sq. km and features steep mountains, sandy beaches, olive groves, and pine forests. Mount Kerketeus is its highest peak at 1,433 meters. Samos has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. It hosts UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Pythagoreion and Heraion. Samos is the birthplace of Pythagoras and astronomer Aristarchus.

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The Phlegraean Fields, near Naples, Italy, are a massive supervolcano starting to show signs of activity, raising concerns among scientists. Unlike Mount Vesuvius, it’s a volcanic system with multiple centers within a caldera, a large depression formed by a past eruption 39,000 years ago. The caldera spans 12-15 km and extends under the Tyrrhenian Sea. Phlegraean Fields is Europe’s largest active caldera and more active than Vesuvius. It has been restless since 1950 due to bradyseism and last erupted in 1538, forming Monte Nuovo. It is among the top carbon dioxide emitters worldwide.

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Israel plans to double its population in the occupied Golan Heights, a hilly region overlooking the upper Jordan River valley. The Golan Heights, originally Syrian territory, was occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed in 1981, though this is not internationally recognized. It spans 71 km north to south, 43 km wide, and covers 1,150 sq. km. The region has 30+ Israeli settlements with 20,000 settlers, considered illegal under international law, alongside 20,000 Druze Arabs who remained after the occupation. The Golan Heights is strategically important for water resources, overlooks Damascus, and borders Jordan and Lebanon.

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A Russian oil tanker recently split during a storm, spilling oil into the Kerch Strait. The Kerch Strait connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov and separates Crimea from Russia’s Taman Peninsula. It’s 3 km long, 15 km wide, and 18 meters deep, with its narrowest point being just 3-5 km. Kerch city is located on the Crimean side, and the strait is a vital global shipping route. After Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, it has been a point of conflict. The Kerch Strait Bridge, completed in 2018, links Russia to Crimea and is Europe’s longest bridge.

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The Prime Minister of India expressed condolences for Cyclone Chido victims and pledged support for relief efforts. Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte, a French territory in the Mozambique Channel, with winds reaching 200 km/h, making it the strongest cyclone in 90 years. Mayotte is part of the Comoros archipelago, consisting of two main islands: Grande Terre and Petite Terre (Pamandzi), located in the Indian Ocean’s Mozambique Channel.

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A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.3 struck Vanuatu, causing significant damage and potential casualties. Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and west of Fiji. Its capital, Port Vila, is located on the island of Efate. The country consists of 13 principal volcanic islands and many smaller ones, with active volcanoes like Yasur, Manaro, and Garet. Initially colonized by Melanesians, it became the New Hebrides under Anglo-French rule and gained independence in 1980. Vanuatu is highly vulnerable to climate change, with sea levels rising twice the global average, ranking it most at risk globally.

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India clinched the inaugural Women’s U-19 Asia Cup by defeating Bangladesh by 41 runs in the final on December 22, 2024, at Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur. India set a total of 117 runs, with G Trisha scoring a significant 52 runs. The Indian bowlers, led by Ayushi Shukla, Sonam Yadav, and Parunika Sisodia, effectively dismantled the Bangladesh batting lineup, restricting them to just 76 runs. This victory marks a significant achievement for the Indian women’s cricket team at the U19 level.

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Sagar Island hosts the iconic Gangasagar Mela every January and is impacted by climate change. Sagar Island is located in the West Bengal. The island is also known as Gangasagar or Sagardwip. It lies in the Ganges delta on the Bay of Bengal’s continental shelf. The island consists of 43 villages and is separated from Mahisani Island by the River Muriganga Batala. Sagar, Mahisani, and Ghoramara islands fall under the sand group category. It is a significant Hindu pilgrimage site where Makar Sankranti is celebrated in honor of the Sun. The Kapil Muni temple on the island is a major attraction for devotees.

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Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano, one of the world’s most active, is erupting again. It is located in Hawaii’s Big Island within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, USA. Kilauea is the youngest and most active shield volcano in Hawaii, known for frequent eruptions. Its eruptions occur from vents at its summit caldera or along rift zones. The central crater, Halemaumau, holds mythological significance as the believed home of the Hawaiian fire goddess Pele.