Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Researchers have discovered the oldest-known strains of the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis from ancient human remains found in burial sites around the Lake Baikal region. Lake Baikal is located in southern eastern Siberia in Russia, near the Mongolia border. It is the oldest freshwater lake in the world and also the deepest freshwater lake globally. It is the largest freshwater lake by volume, holding nearly one-fifth of the world’s unfrozen freshwater. The lake contains around 45 islands and islets, with Olkhon Island being the largest.

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Volcan de Fuego (“Volcano of Fire”) in Guatemala recently erupted, forcing tourists to quickly evacuate as burning rocks fell on its slopes. It is an active basaltic stratovolcano located in Guatemala and one of the most active volcanoes in Central America. The volcano overlooks the historic city of Antigua, along with two other major stratovolcanoes. Volcan de Fuego is part of the Central American Volcanic Arc, a chain of volcanoes extending from Guatemala to Panama. Guatemala is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

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In Faridabad, near Badkhal Lake, environmental concerns have emerged after reports that treated sewage water from a Smart City sewage treatment plant has been released into the lake. The water is supplied from a 10 MLD sewage treatment plant and is used for lake recharge under a Smart City project. Badkhal Lake is located in Faridabad, Haryana.

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A recent study found that more than 1,000 tiny earthquakes have revealed a deep, slanted magma reservoir beneath Lake Laach, instead of the vertical reservoir scientists had expected. Lake Laach is a volcanic caldera lake located in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is part of the East Eifel volcanic field in the larger Eifel volcanic region. The lake was formed by a massive volcanic eruption and still shows signs of volcanic activity through mofettes, which release carbon dioxide bubbles.

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Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering & Winter Sports conducted a 22-member mountaineering expedition to the Mt Khyam Tso Massif in the Rumtse Phu region of Ladakh. The expedition was flagged off on 26 June 2026 under the leadership of Hem Chandra Singh. Mt Khyam Tso Massif is a rugged, high-altitude mountain range located in the remote Rumtse Phu region of Ladakh. The massif consists of technically challenging peaks, many of which rise to over 6,000 metres above sea level. It is known for its difficult terrain and extreme weather conditions, making it a demanding destination for mountaineering expeditions.

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Qeshm Island was recently in the news after projectiles struck the island amid renewed hostilities in the region. It is the largest island in the Persian Gulf and belongs to Iran. The island is located near the Strait of Hormuz, opposite the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas. It has a hot and arid climate with rocky terrain, sandy bays, and mud flats. Qeshm is home to the Hara Mangrove Forest, an important habitat for migratory birds. It also hosts the Qeshm Geopark, the first UNESCO-recognised geopark in the Middle East (2006).

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Mount Olympus has been nominated for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a Mixed Site. It is being recognised for both its outstanding natural and cultural heritage. Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, with Mytikas (2,917.7 m) as its highest peak. It is located in northeastern Greece, on the border of Thessaly and Central Macedonia. In Greek mythology, it is regarded as the abode of the Twelve Olympian Gods, led by Zeus.

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Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened heavy strikes on Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain, citing concerns over its nuclear programme. Pickaxe Mountain (also called Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La) is located in Isfahan Province, Iran, in the Zagros Mountain Range. It houses a fortified underground nuclear facility believed to be over 100 metres beneath hard granite. The facility is intended for the production and assembly of advanced centrifuges.

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All 10 members of an international mountaineering expedition, including renowned climber Nirmal Purja, died after an avalanche. The accident occurred on Broad Peak, located on the Pakistan–China border. Broad Peak is the 12th-highest mountain in the world, with an elevation of 8,051 metres (26,414 feet). It lies about 8 km southeast of K2 in the Karakoram Range. Broad Peak is locally known as Falchan Kangri, meaning “Broad Mountain.”

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Lake Mead was recently in the news after its water level fell to about 1,040.4 feet, the lowest recorded level since the reservoir was created. It is a reservoir on the Colorado River, located on the Arizona–Nevada border in the southwestern United States. Lake Mead was created by the construction of Hoover Dam, which impounds the Colorado River. It is the largest reservoir in the United States by total water-storage capacity.