Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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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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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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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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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, a Chinese Navy destroyer, along with Russian naval vessels, conducted live-fire drills near Japan’s Okinotori Island, marking the first such disclosure by Japan. Okinotori (also called Parece Vela) is a tiny, uninhabited atoll in the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is Japan’s southernmost island and part of the Ogasawara Islands. At high tide, only two rocky outcrops remain above sea level. Japan claims an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around Okinotori, a claim disputed by China. Its location between Taiwan and Guam makes it strategically important for military and shipping routes.

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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.