Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Lake Kariba has recently witnessed rising water levels due to fresh inflows from the upper Zambezi River after years of drought, erratic rainfall, and heatwaves. Lake Kariba is located along the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe in central Africa. It is the world’s largest artificial lake and reservoir by volume and the fourth largest by surface area.
The lake was formed between 1958 and 1963 after the construction of the Kariba Dam.

Notes:
A 6.0 magnitude earthquake recently struck near Honaunau-Napoopoo on the Big Island. The Big Island is the largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, United States. It is formed by five volcanoes — Kohala, Hualalai, Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Kilauea. Mauna Loa and Kilauea are the most active volcanoes contributing to the island’s growth. Mauna Loa has the greatest mass of any mountain on Earth.

Notes:
Kopra Reservoir has emerged as a national biodiversity model reflecting the 2026 International Day for Biological Diversity theme — “Local Action, Global Impact.” It is the first Ramsar Site in Chhattisgarh. The reservoir serves as an important wetland ecosystem and supports regional communities through hydrological and socio-economic benefits. It is also a crucial habitat for aquatic biodiversity and migratory birds.

Notes:
Rapid melting of the Ghepan Glacier is posing a threat to Sissu Village. Ghepan Lake, also called Ghepang Ghat glacial lake, is located at an altitude of 4,068 metres above Sissu, Himachal Pradesh. It is a moraine-dammed glacial lake formed behind natural deposits of rocks, sand, and debris left by retreating glaciers. According to the National Remote Sensing Centre, the lake nearly tripled in size between 1989 and 2022. The National Disaster Management Authority has classified the lake as “highly vulnerable”.

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Amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, Israel recently pushed deeper into Lebanon and captured the historic Beaufort Castle along with the surrounding strategic ridge. Beaufort Castle, also known as Qalaat al-Shaqif or the “Castle of the High Rock,” is a medieval fortress located near Nabatieh in southern Lebanon. The castle was originally built by Crusaders in the 12th century and later came under Muslim, Mamluk, and Ottoman control. It is considered one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the Near East and has strong defensive architecture with a high castle and a low castle.

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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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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed a redevelopment plan for Powai Lake in Mumbai, with consultancy support from AECOM Asia Company Limited. Powai Lake is an artificial lake located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was constructed by the British in 1890 by damming the Mithi River to augment Bombay’s water supply. The lake is surrounded by the Powai Bird Sanctuary and serves as an important habitat for resident and migratory birds, besides supporting Marsh Crocodiles and the conservation of the Indian Mahaseer.

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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.