Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Environmentalists have raised concerns over a proposed 100 megawatt solar power project near Sambhar Lake, stating that it may damage the fragile wetland ecosystem and biodiversity of the region. Sambhar Lake, located in the Jaipur and Nagaur districts of Rajasthan, is the largest inland saltwater lake in India and has an elliptical shape. The saline wetland is surrounded by the Aravalli Hills and is fed by five streams, namely Rupangarh, Mendha, Samoad, Khari, and Khandela. It was designated as a Ramsar Site in 1990 because of its ecological significance and importance for migratory birds and wetland biodiversity.

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Yavarí-Tapiche Territorial Corridor is a proposed 16-million-hectare protected territory in the western Amazon region. The corridor lies along the border areas of Brazil and Peru within the southern basin of the Amazon River. It is considered a major global biodiversity hotspot and home to the largest population of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact (PIACI) in the western Amazon. Several indigenous communities such as the Matsés, Matis, Korubo, Marubo, Remo, and Kapanawa live in or around the corridor. The Matsés community plays an important role in protecting isolated tribes and monitoring the forest using traditional ecological knowledge.

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Agalega Islands have gained strategic importance amid increasing competition in the Indian Ocean region. Agalega Islands are a two-island dependency of Mauritius located in the western Indian Ocean. The islands consist of North Island and South Island, connected by a natural sandbank during low tide. Their economy mainly depends on coconut oil exports. The islands are emerging as an important logistics and maritime surveillance base, enhancing India’s reach across the southern and western Indian Ocean.

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Mount Uturuncu volcano in Bolivia has recently drawn scientific attention after researchers detected fresh batches of hot magma rising from deep underground, raising concerns about possible volcanic activity in the future. Mount Uturuncu is a dormant stratovolcano located in the Andes Mountains of southwestern Bolivia. It is known as a “zombie volcano” because it shows signs of activity despite being considered dormant. Beneath the volcano lies the massive Altiplano-Puna Magma Body, one of the largest active magma reservoirs in Earth’s crust. The volcano displays a unique “sombrero” pattern where the central region rises while surrounding land subsides.

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Rottnest Island recently came into news after a suspected shark attack near the island led to the death of a tourist. Rottnest Island is located in the Indian Ocean, about 19 km northwest of Fremantle near Perth in Australia. The island is known for its sand dunes, salt lakes, and protected wildlife. It was named “Rottenest” by Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh, who mistook quokkas for large rats. Quokkas, a rare marsupial species, are now protected due to the island’s wildlife sanctuary status. Rottnest Island currently serves as a major tourist and recreational destination.

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Pulicat Lake attracts birdwatchers and photographers from across South India who visit the lake to witness graceful flamingos in its calm waters. Pulicat Lake is a large brackish water lagoon situated along the Bay of Bengal coast. It is the second-largest brackish water lagoon in India after Chilika Lake. The lake spreads across Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and is separated from the Bay of Bengal by Sriharikota Island.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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”.