Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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After record-breaking rains, an ancient lake in Death Valley National Park, previously vanished, has reappeared. Death Valley National Park is located in southeastern California, USA, and is the hottest and driest place in North America. It holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded in the United States. It is the largest national park in the continental US. The valley is a rift valley (graben) formed by the sinking of rock between major block-faulted mountains running parallel in the east and west.

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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.

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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.

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Gandikota Canyon, located in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, is emerging as a major geological and heritage tourist site, often called the Grand Canyon of India. A canyon is a deep, narrow valley with cliffs, formed mainly by long-term erosion from rivers and other natural forces, exposing rock layers that reveal geological history. Gandikota Canyon lies within the Erramala Hills on the banks of the Penna River, forming a deep gorge carved through red sandstone and granite over millions of years. It is part of the Rayalaseema plateau, within the Deccan peninsular system.

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Recently, a large phytoplankton bloom surrounded the Chatham Islands during the austral summer and was visible from satellites. The Chatham Islands are a group of islands located in the South Pacific Ocean, about 800 kilometers east of New Zealand. They are New Zealand’s easternmost territory and consist of 10 mainly volcanic islands. Only Chatham Island and Pitt Island are inhabited. Chatham Island has cliffs in the south and lowlands, peatlands, and beaches in the north. Pitt Island is forested with rugged cliffs and sandy coasts.

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A Chinese reconnaissance drone recently flew over the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the northern South China Sea, which Taiwan described as “provocative and irresponsible.” The Pratas Islands, also called the Dongsha Islands, consist of three islands, with Dongsha Island being the only one above sea level; the other two are submerged. The islands have a circular atoll structure made mainly of clastic coral and reef flats.

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Researchers found the world’s oldest known rock art, a painted human hand outline, inside a cave on Muna Island, Indonesia, dated to at least 67,800 years ago. Muna Island is located in Southeast Sulawesi province of Indonesia and covers about 1,704 square kilometres. The island has a hilly landscape rising up to about 445 metres, with teak forests in the north and northeast. Muna Island is known for rich culture, natural beauty, forests, and clean beaches

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Nine workers and engineers were rescued after their boat malfunctioned while working on a bridge across Mir Alam Tank in Hyderabad. The rescue operation was carried out by the Hyderabad Disaster Management and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA). Mir Alam Tank is a historic reservoir located in Hyderabad, Telangana, situated to the south of the Musi River. Before the construction of Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar, it served as the main source of drinking water for Hyderabad. The tank is named after Mir Alam Bahadur, Prime Minister during the reign of Asaf Jah III, the third Nizam of Hyderabad.

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Two paraglider pilots were rescued by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) after falling into Tehri Lake during the Acro Festival and Simulation of Incidents in Flight (SIV) Championship Tehri 2026. Tehri Lake is an artificial reservoir located near Tehri Garhwal town in Uttarakhand. It was formed during the construction of the Tehri Dam by diverting the Bhagirathi River. The lake is situated at an altitude of about 1,700 metres above sea level. It has a depth of nearly 262 metres and a length of around 42 kilometres.

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Indian mountaineer Kabak Yano from Arunachal Pradesh successfully summited Mount Aconcagua in Argentina. The climb is part of her ambitious 7-Summit Mountaineering Expedition. Mt Aconcagua, located in the Andes of Argentina, is the highest peak in South America and outside Asia, standing at 6,962 meters. The mountain is of volcanic origin but is not currently active.