Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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A recent study reconstructed nearly 4,000 years of climate and vegetation history of Majuli Island using pollen-based palaeoecological evidence. Majuli is the world’s largest inhabited river island and is culturally important as a centre of Neo-Vaishnavite culture and settlement of several tribal communities. The island is located between the Brahmaputra River and the Subansiri River in Assam. The study examined climate variability, vegetation changes, and flood patterns over thousands of years to better understand environmental changes in the region.

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Shiveluch Volcano recently erupted, sending ash plumes nearly 10 km into the atmosphere and triggering red-level aviation alerts in Russia’s Far East. It is one of the largest and most active volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. Shiveluch is a stratovolcano, formed by alternating layers of hardened lava, volcanic ash, and volcanic rocks.

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The World Bank recently approved an additional US$9 million in financing for the Republic of the Marshall Islands to address rising energy costs. The Marshall Islands is an island nation located in the central Pacific Ocean. It lies northeast of Papua New Guinea and southeast of the Federated States of Micronesia. The country consists of coral atolls and islands arranged in two chains: Ratak (Sunrise) and Ralik (Sunset).

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Geochronologists recently found that Giant’s Causeway was formed over 5.5 million years, which is 8 million years less than previously estimated. The Giant’s Causeway is located on the Antrim Plateau in Northern Ireland. The site consists of around 6 km of black basalt columns along the coast. The basalt columns resemble stepping stones and are mostly polygonal or hexagonal in shape. These pillars rise from the sea and gradually increase in height until they reach the cliff top. Its stair-like appearance is believed to be the reason behind the name “Giant’s Causeway.” The site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

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A major explosion and fire incident occurred at the Barzan Gas Supply Facility in the Ras Laffan Industrial Area of Qatar. The incident resulted in at least 54 injuries and 18 workers reported missing. The Ras Laffan Gas Facility is one of the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export hubs. It also houses the world’s largest artificial harbor and plays a key role in global natural gas processing and exports. The facility is located in Al Khor municipality, about 80 km north of Doha, the capital of Qatar.

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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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Mount Erebus, the world’s southernmost active volcano, has a permanent active lava lake. It is the only known volcano that releases tiny crystals of pure gold into the atmosphere. Mount Erebus is the world’s southernmost active volcano. It is a stratovolcano located on Ross Island in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. It is an intraplate volcano belonging to the McMurdo Volcanic Group in the West Antarctic Rift System. It is the second-highest volcano in Antarctica, after Mount Sidley. Mount Erebus and Deception Island are the only two active volcanoes in Antarctica.

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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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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.”