Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
A drying climate in East Africa caused Lake Turkana’s water levels to drop, triggering earthquakes and volcanic activity beneath it. Lake Turkana, formerly Lake Rudolf, is a vast, shallow lake in northern Kenya, extending slightly into Ethiopia. It lies along the Eastern Rift Valley, separated from Lake Logipi by volcanic formations called the Barriers.

Notes:
Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted on 13 November 2025, sending volcanic ash 10 km (6.2 miles) into the sky. The Geological Agency of Indonesia raised the alert system to its highest level following the eruption. It is located on Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia. It is part of a twin-volcano system, with Lewotobi Laki-Laki (male) and Lewotobi Perempuan (female). These are stratovolcanoes, formed by repeated lava layers. Indonesia frequently experiences volcanic eruptions as it lies on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire,’ where tectonic activity causes earthquakes and tsunamis

Notes:
Curacao has created history by qualifying for the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup, becoming the smallest nation ever to reach the tournament with a population of about 1.56 lakh. Curacao is an island country in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 60 km north of Venezuela, and is a territorial country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It consists of the islands of Curacao and Klein Curacao, spread over 171 square miles with its capital at Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Curacao follows a constitutional monarchy with the Dutch monarch as head of state and a prime minister as head of government.

Notes:
Nearly 70% of corals at UNESCO-listed Ningaloo Reef have died due to Australia’s most intense and prolonged marine heatwave. Ningaloo Reef is Australia’s largest fringing coral reef and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for rich marine life and whale-shark aggregations. It is one of the world’s longest near-shore reef systems, located on the north-west coast of Western Australia, around 1,200 km north of Perth in the East Indian Ocean. The reef formed over millennia through coral limestone growth on a shallow shelf, supported by tectonic uplift of Cape Range and stable sea levels.

Notes:
Scottish historian William Dalrymple urged the Maharashtra government to promote lesser-known heritage sites at Ellora Caves. Ellora is located near a village in Maharashtra. Ellora is among India’s first UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The caves show 700 years of Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Sufi, and Naga traditions.

Notes:
ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute launched a stock enhancement programme for short-neck clam (Paphia malabarica) in Ashtamudi Lake showing early signs of recovery. Short-neck clam is a valuable bivalve mollusk and India’s first Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified species. It is the major fishery resource of brackish water Ashtamudi Lake.

Notes:
Iran’s Hormuz Island recently gained global attention as its coastlines turned blood-red overnight, creating a surreal natural spectacle. Hormuz Island is a hilly island located in the Strait of Hormuz, between the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, about 8 km off the coast of Iran. The island covers an area of 41.9 sq. km and is famous for its unique scenery and colorful soil, earning it the nickname “Rainbow Island”. Its terrain is composed of sedimentary rock and volcanic ash, and due to low precipitation, both the soil and water are salty.

Notes:
China separated Hainan Island from mainland customs to support entry into a trans-Pacific trade deal and develop a Hong Kong-style commercial hub. Hainan is China’s southernmost tropical island, located in the northeastern Beibu Gulf, across the Qiongzhou Strait. It is known as the “Hawaii of China”. It covers 35,400 sq. km, the largest island administered by China. The island has a population of about 10 million; its capital Haikou is called the “Coconut City.”

Notes:
The US Geological Survey (USGS) shared footage of mud erupting from the Black Diamond Pool in Yellowstone National Park, indicating renewed hydrothermal activity. Yellowstone National Park is the world’s first national park, located in the northwestern United States. The park spans about 8,992 sq km (3,472 sq miles) and is globally renowned for geothermal activity, volcanic landscapes, wildlife, and intact ecosystems. Yellowstone lies above a volcanic hotspot, with magma chambers driving geysers, hot springs, fumaroles, and mud pots. The park experiences hundreds of minor earthquakes annually, reflecting active tectonic processes.

Notes:
Recently, scientists captured the first three-dimensional (3D) images from inside Popocatepetl volcano, improving understanding of its internal structure. Popocatepetl means “Smoking Mountain” in the Aztec Nahuatl language, reflecting its frequent activity. It is located in central Mexico, about 72 kilometres southeast of Mexico City, on the border of México and Puebla states. The volcano lies on the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, formed by subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the North American Plate. It is one of Mexico’s most active volcanoes, erupting since 1519, and rises to 5,452 metres above sea level.