Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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India and Indonesia have partnered to restore the Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta, Southern Java. Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia, located in Sleman region. It is locally known as Roro Jonggrang, meaning “Temple of the Slender Virgin.” The temple was built in the 9th century by the Sanjaya dynasty. It is dedicated to the Hindu Trimurti: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The complex remained buried for centuries and was rediscovered in the 19th century. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

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Recently, Israeli airstrikes destroyed Qasmiyeh Bridge over Litani River in Lebanon’s southern coastal highway. Litani River is the longest and major river of Lebanon. It originates west of Baalbek and flows southwest through Bekaa Valley between Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountains. It finally drains into the Mediterranean Sea.

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Kolleru Lake has shown a measurable ecological decline over the last 50 years as highlighted by environmental activists. It is a shallow lake located in Andhra Pradesh between Krishna and Godavari river deltas near Eluru. It acts as a natural flood-balancing reservoir for Krishna River and Godavari River. It is known as “Fisherman’s Paradise” and “Bird Heaven” due to rich biodiversity. It receives water from Budameru, Ramileru, Tammileru, and Errakalva rivers

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Researchers at the University of Utah discovered that freshwater saturates the rock and sediment beneath the Great Salt Lake to depths of up to 13,000 feet. The Great Salt Lake is a saline, endorheic lake located in northern Utah, United States, and it is the largest inland saltwater body in the Western Hemisphere. It is fed by the Bear River, Weber River, and Jordan River, but has no outlet, so water leaves primarily through evaporation. The lake’s salinity is higher than that of the oceans due to high evaporation rates and limited inflow, and it exists in an arid environment similar to the Dead Sea.

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A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Indonesia’s Northern Molucca Sea, causing damage, one death, tsunami waves, and multiple aftershocks. Molucca Sea is located in the western Pacific Ocean within the Indonesian archipelago. It is bounded by Sulawesi to the west, Halmahera to the east, the Sula Islands to the south, and connects northward to the Philippine Sea. The sea lies over the Molucca Sea Plate, which experiences Divergent Double Subduction — subducting westwards under the Eurasian (Sangihe) Plate and eastwards under the Philippine Sea (Halmahera) Plate. It is a highly active seismic region with frequent earthquakes and crustal movements.

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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).

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Hussain Sagar Lake is facing severe foul odour due to heavy algal bloom during rising summer temperatures. Algal bloom occurs due to eutrophication, where excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus enter the water. Hussain Sagar Lake is an artificial lake in Hyderabad, built in 1562 AD under Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah. It is located on a tributary of the Musi River and is among Asia’s largest man-made lakes. The lake is also called Tank Bund and connects Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

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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.

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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.

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Nepal has objected to India resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Lipulekh Pass, citing the 1816 Sugauli Treaty. India has rejected the claim, stating that Lipulekh has been a traditional route for the yatra. Lipulekh Pass is a high-altitude mountain pass located in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. It lies near the trijunction of India, Nepal, and China, making it strategically significant. The pass connects Uttarakhand in India with the Tibet region of China. It is situated at an altitude of about 5,334 metres (approximately 17,500 feet).