Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Taftan Volcano in southeastern Iran has risen about 3.5 inches (9 centimetre) in last 10 months. It is a stratovolcano located near Iran–Pakistan border. It is the tallest mountain in southeastern Iran. The volcano has two summits named Narkuh and Matherkuh. It contains an active hydrothermal system. It is the only active volcano in Makran continental volcanic arc. The arc is formed due to subduction of Arabian Plate beneath Eurasian Plate.

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More than 2,700 tourists were recently rescued after being stranded due to heavy snowfall near Tsomgo Lake in East Sikkim. Tsomgo Lake, also known as Tsongmo or Changu Lake, is a glacial lake located in Sikkim. It is formed by melting snow from the surrounding mountains. The lake receives its water mainly from seasonal snowmelt in the high-altitude region. After winter ends around mid-May, the lake’s surroundings bloom with rhododendrons, primulas, blue and yellow poppies, and irises. Rhododendron is the state tree of Sikkim. The area supports rich biodiversity, including Brahminy ducks and the rare red panda.

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A 67,800-year-old hand stencil found in a limestone cave on Sulawesi is now the oldest known rock art in the world. Sulawesi, earlier called Celebes, is a large island in Southeast Asia and part of the Greater Sunda Islands of Indonesia. Makassar is its largest city. It is surrounded by Borneo (west), the Philippines (north), Maluku Islands (east), and Flores and Timor (south). The island is mountainous with some active volcanoes; its highest peak is Ratenkombola (Mario).

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Golestan Palace, located in Tehran, Iran, is a historic royal complex and one of the oldest monuments in the capital city. The palace recently sustained damage due to shockwaves and debris from airstrikes conducted by the United States and Israel, highlighting risks to cultural heritage during conflicts. It served as the official residence and seat of power of the Qajar Dynasty, which ruled Iran from 1789 to 1925.

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Kharg Island is a small coral island in Iran in the northern Persian Gulf, recently discussed in United States strategic debates. It is one of the few Persian Gulf islands with natural freshwater, stored in porous limestone formations. The island has hot, humid summers and its highest point is Mount Didehban. In the early 1960s, discovery of offshore oil fields led to major petroleum and petrochemical infrastructure development. Its strategic importance comes from its location near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping route.

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Raisen Fort is a historic hilltop fort where police recently arrested youths after a cannon-firing video surfaced on social media. The fort is located on a sandstone hill in Raisen town, Madhya Pradesh and is among the largest forts in Central India. Built in the 11th century, it witnessed rule of local Hindu chiefs, Mandu Sultans, Mughals under Akbar, and later Nawabs of Bhopal. Around 1760, Fiaz Mohammad Khan occupied it and was recognised by Alamgir II as Faujdar. The fort has massive stone walls with nine gateways and panoramic views.

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Recently, about 25 visitors were injured after a swarm of bees attacked tourists at Sinhagad Fort, bringing the historic site into news. Sinhagad, earlier known as Kondhana, is an ancient hill fortress located near Pune, Maharashtra, in the Sahyadri range and is believed to be around 2,000 years old. The fort was captured in 1340 CE by Muhammad bin Tughlaq and later controlled by the Nizam Shahi dynasty. Shivaji captured the fort in 1647, but it was handed to the Mughals under the Treaty of Purandar. It was recaptured in 1670 by Tanaji Malusare during the Battle of Sinhagad, where he sacrificed his life. After this victory, the fort was renamed Sinhagad (Lion’s Fort).

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Recently, tourism to Gurudongmar Lake has started reviving after more than two years, following damage caused by the South Lhonak Lake Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) which destroyed road infrastructure. Gurudongmar Lake lies in North Sikkim close to the Tibet border of China. It is one of the highest lakes in India and the world, surrounded by snow-covered Himalayan mountains. The lake is mainly glacier-fed and contributes water to Tso Lhamo Lake, which later forms the source of the Teesta River. It is considered sacred by Buddhists, Sikhs, and Hindus.

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Roopkund Lake, popularly called Skeleton Lake, is a small glacial lake famous for hundreds of human skeletons found around it. It lies at 5,029 metres (16,500 ft) in the Garhwal Himalayas near the base of Mount Trishul, Uttarakhand. The lake is only about 130 feet wide and remains frozen for most of the year, revealing skeletons when ice melts. Skeletons were first noticed in 1942 by a British forest ranger. Scientific studies using radiocarbon dating and DNA analysis found over 300 individuals.

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Iranian drone strikes on Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have raised concerns over disruption of global energy supply routes. Fujairah is the only UAE emirate located on the eastern coast along the Gulf of Oman and has no coastline on the Persian Gulf. It is separated from the rest of the UAE by the Hajar Mountains. The Port of Fujairah is the world’s fourth-largest bunkering (marine fuel supply) hub after Singapore, Rotterdam, and Zhoushan.