Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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A boat capsized in Lake Kivu, eastern Congo, killing at least 78 people out of 278 passengers. Lake Kivu is one of East Africa’s Great Lakes, between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. It is Rwanda’s largest lake and the sixth largest in Africa, situated in the Albertine Rift. The lake covers 1,040 square miles and lies 1,460 meters above sea level. 58% of the lake’s waters are in DRC, with the rest in Rwanda. It has a maximum depth of 475 meters and empties into the Rusizi River flowing into Lake Tanganyika.

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Pilgrims recently had the first-ever view of the sacred Kailash peak from the Old Lipulekh pass in Indian territory.
Lipulekh Pass is a high-altitude pass in Uttarakhand, near the trijunction of India, Nepal, and China, at 5,334 meters.
It links Uttarakhand with Tibet and serves as a gateway to the Himalayas. It is situated in Vyas Valley, Pithoragarh. It opened for trade with China in 1992. It has ancient trade significance and is part of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a sacred Hindu pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, believed to be Lord Shiva’s abode.

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The Chagos Islands, located in the Indian Ocean, have a rich history of cultural connections and colonial struggles. The archipelago consists of seven atolls and is geographically close to the Maldives, sharing deep historical ties. There are historical claims by the Maldives over the Chagos Islands, supported by cultural and navigational connections. Marine conservation in the region is a significant contemporary issue.

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Archaeologists discovered a secret tomb in Petra, Jordan, with 2000-year-old skeletons and a chalice resembling the Holy Grail. Petra is an ancient city in southern Jordan, established around 312 A.C., making it about 2000 years old. It was the capital of the Nabateans, an Arab tribe mentioned in the Bible. Petra thrived as a spice trade center connecting China, Egypt, Greece, and India. The Romans conquered Petra in 106 A.C., turning it into a Roman province, before losing it to Islamic rule in the 7th century. Petra was rediscovered in 1812 by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.

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The regional assembly of Portugal’s Azores Islands approved the largest protected marine area in the North Atlantic. This decision aims to meet international conservation goals ahead of schedule. The Azores Archipelago consists of nine volcanic islands located in the North Atlantic. The islands are part of the Autonomous Region of the Azores and were formed from the Azores Plateau. They sit above the Azores Triple Junction, where the Eurasian, North American, and African tectonic plates meet. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge runs between the African-Eurasian and North American Plates, crossing the Azores Plateau.

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Research shows that toxins called microcystin from cyanobacteria can make animals and people sick when exposed to Lake Erie’s infected water. Lake Erie is the fourth largest of the Great Lakes, forming a boundary between Canada and the U.S. Its main tributaries include the Detroit, Huron, and Raisin rivers, and it discharges through the Niagara River. Microcystin, produced by the cyanobacterium Microcystis, forms harmful blooms and releases toxins that impact freshwater ecosystems.

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Recent satellite images show a significant military buildup on Triton Island, part of the disputed Paracel Islands. Triton Island is a small, uninhabited landmass covering about 1.2 square kilometers in the South China Sea. It lies southwest within the Paracels archipelago, approximately 4,000 feet by 2,000 feet in size. The Paracel Islands are claimed by China, Vietnam, and Taiwan, making the region politically sensitive. Despite being uninhabited, Triton Island holds strategic value due to its location near rich fishing areas and possible oil and gas reserves.

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Annapurna Base Camp saw a record number of tourists after this year’s Dashain festival. Mount Annapurna is located in Gandaki Province, north-central Nepal, in the Annapurna Range. It is the world’s tenth-highest peak, with an elevation of 8,091 meters. The mountain lies within the Annapurna Conservation Area, covering 7,629 square kilometers. Known as the “Killer Mountain” due to its high fatality rate among climbers attempting the summit.

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Neft Daslari, also known as “Oil Rocks,” is the world’s oldest offshore oil platform situated about 100 kilometers from Baku, Azerbaijan. Established in the late 1940s, it evolved from a single drilling rig to a vast network of oil wells and bridges, once housing over 5,000 workers. Recently, environmental concerns over pollution and declining production highlight its significance in Azerbaijan’s oil industry as discussions around climate initiatives intensify globally. There are proposals to transform it into a tourist site or museum.

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Willingdon Island, a man-made island in Kochi, Kerala, is undergoing discussions for rejuvenation to revive its commercial operations. It is a man-made island named after Lord Willingdon, a British Viceroy, and is among the largest of its type in India. The island houses the Kochi Naval Base, Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, and the Port of Kochi, and is linked to the mainland by the Venduruthy Bridge. Lord Willingdon (1931-1936) was known for major events like the Government of India Act, 1935, the Poona Pact, and the Round Table Conferences involving Gandhi and Ambedkar.