Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Recently, the Sea of Galilee in Israel turned red due to the bloom of Botryococcus braunii algae. The Sea of Galilee is a large freshwater lake located in northeastern Israel. It lies in the Jordan Rift Valley, mainly fed by the Jordan River and some underground springs. Known by names like Sea of Kinneret, Lake of Gennesaret, and Lake of Tiberias, it is bordered by plains in the north and hills of Lower Galilee in the west and southwest. Botryococcus braunii is a single-celled green algae found in freshwater or brackish lakes, known for producing hydrocarbons and forming protective biofilm structures.

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Scientists recently warned of faster melting in Argentina’s Perito Moreno Glacier due to rising temperatures. Perito Moreno Glacier, also called the ‘White Giant,’ is located near El Calafate in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. It is part of Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The glacier is 30 km long and lies in the Andes mountain range. It formed around 18,000 years ago during the last Ice Age.

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Recently, at least 20 people died after a migrant boat capsized off the southern Italian island of Lampedusa. It is administratively part of the autonomous region of Sicily in Italy but geographically part of the African continent. It is located in the Mediterranean Sea between Malta and Tunisia, 170 km southwest of Licata, Sicily. It is volcanic, with the last eruption about 9,000 years ago and major seismic events in the late 1800s.

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A study shows mariners in the Bering Strait are following 2018 shipping guidelines, showing quiet U.S.-Russia cooperation despite strained ties. The Bering Strait is the northernmost part of the Pacific Ocean, separating Asia (Russia) and North America (United States). It lies just south of the Arctic Circle and connects the Bering Sea to the Chukchi Sea of the Arctic Ocean. At its narrowest point, Russia and the U.S. are only 85 km apart, between Cape Dezhnev and Cape Prince of Wales. The strait is shallow with an average depth of 50 m and contains islands like St. Lawrence and the Diomede Islands.

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Three of six reactors at Gravelines Nuclear Power Station in Northern France were shut down. The shutdown was caused by a massive swarm of jellyfish clogging the cooling system. The plant is operated by Électricité de France (EDF). Jellyfish are gelatinous zooplankton belonging to the phylum Cnidaria. They are simple invertebrates with stinging tentacles and jet propulsion movement. They lack brains, blood, or hearts and are made of epidermis, mesoglea, and inner layer. Jellyfish blooms disrupt ecosystems by reducing biodiversity and collapsing fish populations.

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A Ukrainian drone attack recently caused a short-lived fire at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in Russia. Kursk region is located in the European part of Russia, bordering Ukraine to the west. It is historically famous for the Battle of Kursk in 1943, the largest tank battle in history and a turning point in World War II. The region lies within the basins of the Dnieper and Don rivers. Kursk hosts the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly, the world’s largest magnetic anomaly and one of the richest iron ore deposits. The incident raised concerns over nuclear safety in a strategically important region.

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The Pong Dam, also called the Beas Dam, recently saw water levels breaching the danger mark in Himachal Pradesh. It is an earth-fill embankment dam built on the Beas River in the Shivalik hills of Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh. The dam was constructed between 1961 and 1974 and was the tallest of its type in India at that time. It serves purposes of irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. The dam created an artificial lake named Maharana Pratap Sagar.

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Ethiopia inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Africa’s largest hydroelectric project, calling it a “great achievement.” GERD is a megadam built for power generation and regional energy trade. It is constructed on the Blue Nile River, about 30 km upstream from Sudan in Guba, Ethiopia. The Blue Nile provides approximately 85% of Nile waters, making the dam geopolitically sensitive. Initiated in 2011, GERD symbolizes Ethiopia’s self-reliance, development, and regional influence.

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Vembanad Lake in Kerala is facing a severe ecological crisis. It is the longest lake in India and the largest in Kerala. The lake is a Ramsar site and recognized as a wetland of international importance. It is fed by 10 rivers including Pamba, Meenachil, Achankovil, Manimala, and Periyar. The lake finally opens into the Arabian Sea. Recent concerns highlight threats to its ecosystem, fisheries, and biodiversity. Conservation efforts are needed to protect this vital freshwater-lagoon system.

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Ships of Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron (1TS), INS Tir and ICGS Sarathi, reached Réunion Island, while INS Shardul arrived in Port Louis, Mauritius, during training deployment. Réunion Island is a French territory in the Western Indian Ocean. Réunion is volcanic, with rugged mountains and short torrential rivers like Marsouins and Galet. It has the highest peak in the Indian Ocean, Piton des Neiges, and an active volcano, Piton de la Fournaise. The capital is Saint-Denis, on the northern coast.