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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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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Recently, Lonar Lake in Maharashtra was in the news as its water level continued to rise despite declining reservoir and groundwater levels in the state. Lonar Lake is located in Buldhana district, Maharashtra. It is the world’s only known meteorite impact crater formed in basaltic rock.
The crater was formed by a meteorite impact about 50,000 years ago on the Deccan Plateau. It is also the world’s only known saline crater lake, with water about seven times saltier than seawater. The lake is surrounded by steep slopes and centuries-old temples.

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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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The Prime Minister recently visited the Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple during his State visit to Seychelles. It is a Hindu temple located in Victoria, the capital of Seychelles. It is the only Hindu temple in Seychelles. The temple was built in 1992 by the Hindu community in Seychelles. It is dedicated to Lord Vinayagar (Lord Ganesha) and is located on Mahé Island. The temple is built in the Dravidian architectural style, resembling the temples of Tamil Nadu.

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Taal Volcano in the Philippines recently experienced a brief phreatomagmatic eruption, caused by interaction between magma and water. It is a stratovolcano located in Batangas Province, about 70 km south of Manila, Philippines. It is classified as a complex volcano by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). The volcano consists of multiple stratovolcanoes, craters, and volcanic cones, rather than a single cone. It is one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines and lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire. It has a large caldera containing Taal Lake, within which lies Vulcan Point.

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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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UNESCO has added Sebastia (West Bank) and five castles in Lebanon’s Mount Amel region, including Beaufort Castle, to both the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger. Sebastia, near Nablus in the West Bank, was the ancient city of Samaria, the capital of the biblical Kingdom of Israel. The Mount Amel inscription covers five historic castles in southern Lebanon, including Beaufort Castle. These castles represent a blend of Crusader, Ayyubid, Mamluk, and local architectural styles, reflecting nearly 900 years of military and cultural history.

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The two-day Telugu Mahotsavam was inaugurated at the Undavalli Caves in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. The Undavalli Caves are one of India’s finest examples of rock-cut architecture. They are located at Undavalli village in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, overlooking the Krishna River. The caves were built between the 4th and 5th centuries CE and are associated with the Gupta period. They were carved out of solid sandstone on a hillside. The largest cave has four storeys and houses a monolithic reclining idol of Lord Vishnu on the second floor.