Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
A Comptroller and Auditor General of India report highlighted that 518 lakes (74%) in Jammu and Kashmir have disappeared or shrunk, causing ecosystem degradation and climate risks. Hokersar Lake is a high-altitude wetland in Baramulla district, Jammu and Kashmir, at 1,583 m elevation. Known as the “Queen Wetland of Kashmir,” it is a Ramsar Site (designated 2005). It is connected to the Jhelum River through channels sustaining its ecosystem.

Notes:
More than 1,000 Roman artefacts were discovered in Lake Neuchatel, Switzerland, providing insights into life during the Roman Empire. Lake Neuchâtel is the largest lake entirely within Switzerland and lies at the base of the Jura Mountains. It was formed during the last Ice Age (period of extensive glaciation about 15,000 years ago) due to melting glaciers carving valleys. The lake is about 38.3 kilometres (km) long and 8.2 km wide, covering 212.33 square kilometres (sq km).

Notes:
Sakurajima Volcano is located on the southern tip of Kyushu Island near Kagoshima city in Japan. It is one of Japan’s most active stratovolcanoes, with frequent eruptions of varying intensity. It is an andesitic volcano with high viscosity magma and high gas content, leading to explosive eruptions. It lies on a convergent plate boundary and forms part of the Aira Caldera system. The volcano consists of two main peaks: Kitadake (north) and Minamidake (south). Recent eruptions have sent large ash plumes, impacting nearby regions.

Notes:
China is deploying ships and barriers to tighten control over the entrance of the Scarborough Shoal. The move has escalated tensions with the Philippines, which also claims the shoal. The Scarborough Shoal is a disputed atoll in the South China Sea claimed by China and the Philippines. It is known as Huangyan Island (China) and Panatag Shoal / Bajo de Masinloc (Philippines). It lies about 220 km west of Luzon (Philippines) and over 800 km southeast of Hong Kong. It is the largest atoll in the South China Sea, covering around 150 sq. km with a shallow lagoon.

Notes:
China conducted military drills, including live-fire exercises, near Luzon Island, highlighting regional strategic tensions. Luzon is the largest and most important island of the Philippines, located in its northern part. It hosts over half of the country’s population, making it the political and economic centre. The capital city Manila is situated on Luzon. The island is bordered by the Philippine Sea (east), South China Sea (west), and Sibuyan Sea (south). The Luzon Strait lies to its north, separating it from Taiwan.

Notes:
Underwater archaeologists discovered a hidden ancient city beneath Lake Issyk-Kul in Central Asia. The submerged settlement is estimated to be around 700 years old, indicating a previously unknown civilization. The discovery provides insights into historical trade routes, settlements, and cultural life in the region. Lake Issyk-Kul is located in northeastern Kyrgyzstan and is surrounded by the Tian Shan Mountains. It is an endorheic lake, meaning it has no outflow to seas or rivers. The lake contains blue, slightly saline (brackish) water. It is the second-largest high mountain lake in the world after Lake Titicaca.

Notes:
Pompeii is a preserved Roman city near Naples, Italy, at the base of Mount Vesuvius. It was founded around the 6th century BCE by the Samnites and later became part of the Roman Empire. The city was destroyed and buried in 79 CE due to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The eruption preserved the city under ash, providing a unique snapshot of Roman life. Pompeii was rediscovered in 1748, revealing buildings, artifacts, and human remains. It offers one of the most complete archaeological records of an ancient city. It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Recently, AI has helped reconstruct the face and final moments of a victim of the eruption.

Notes:
Scientists have reported that light pollution is threatening the dark skies of the Atacama Desert, one of the best locations for astronomy. The desert is known for its extremely clear atmosphere and minimal artificial light, making it ideal for observatories. The Atacama Desert is the driest desert in the world, located in northern Chile. It lies between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The region receives extremely low rainfall, with some areas recording no rain. It is known for its clear, dark skies, making it ideal for astronomical observations. Recent concerns highlight that light pollution is threatening its pristine night skies.

Notes:
A recent study suggests the Rongorongo script of Easter Island developed independently before European arrival. Easter Island is a dependency of Chile located in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It is the easternmost part of the Polynesian island region and is extremely isolated. The island was discovered in 1722 by Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen on Easter Sunday. It has a tropical rainforest climate and three extinct volcanoes: Terevaka, Poike, and Rano Kau. There are no permanent rivers, but three crater lakes exist.

Notes:
Thousands of people have been evacuated from areas south of Manila after the eruption of Mayon Volcano. Mayon Volcano is an active stratovolcano located in Albay province on Luzon Island in the Philippines. It is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire and is formed due to the subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate beneath the Philippine Mobile Belt. The volcano rises to about 2,462 metres above the Albay Gulf and is known for its highly symmetrical cone shape. It lies within Mayon Volcano National Park and has a summit crater with steep upper slopes.