Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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Lavan Island recently came into news after reports claimed it was targeted during the Middle East conflict. It is a strategic Iranian island located in the Persian Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz. The island lies about 40 km west of Qeshm Island and is an important oil export terminal of Iran. Lavan Island serves as the operating base for the Salman, Resalat, and Reshadat offshore oil fields. The Salman field, located south of the island, is among the largest offshore oil complexes in the Persian Gulf.

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Agalega Islands have gained strategic importance amid increasing competition in the Indian Ocean region. Agalega Islands are a two-island dependency of Mauritius located in the western Indian Ocean. The islands consist of North Island and South Island, connected by a natural sandbank during low tide. Their economy mainly depends on coconut oil exports. The islands are emerging as an important logistics and maritime surveillance base, enhancing India’s reach across the southern and western Indian Ocean.

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Pulicat Lake attracts birdwatchers and photographers from across South India who visit the lake to witness graceful flamingos in its calm waters. Pulicat Lake is a large brackish water lagoon situated along the Bay of Bengal coast. It is the second-largest brackish water lagoon in India after Chilika Lake. The lake spreads across Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and is separated from the Bay of Bengal by Sriharikota Island.

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A 6.0 magnitude earthquake recently struck near Honaunau-Napoopoo on the Big Island. The Big Island is the largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, United States. It is formed by five volcanoes — Kohala, Hualalai, Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Kilauea. Mauna Loa and Kilauea are the most active volcanoes contributing to the island’s growth. Mauna Loa has the greatest mass of any mountain on Earth.

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Kopra Reservoir has emerged as a national biodiversity model reflecting the 2026 International Day for Biological Diversity theme — “Local Action, Global Impact.” It is the first Ramsar Site in Chhattisgarh. The reservoir serves as an important wetland ecosystem and supports regional communities through hydrological and socio-economic benefits. It is also a crucial habitat for aquatic biodiversity and migratory birds.

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A powerful earthquake recently struck off Mindanao Island in the Philippines. Mindanao is the second-largest island of the Philippines after Luzon and is located in the southern part of the Philippine archipelago. It is popularly known as the “Food Basket of the Philippines” due to its significant agricultural production. The Philippines is an island nation in Southeast Asia situated in the western Pacific Ocean.

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Geochronologists recently found that Giant’s Causeway was formed over 5.5 million years, which is 8 million years less than previously estimated. The Giant’s Causeway is located on the Antrim Plateau in Northern Ireland. The site consists of around 6 km of black basalt columns along the coast. The basalt columns resemble stepping stones and are mostly polygonal or hexagonal in shape. These pillars rise from the sea and gradually increase in height until they reach the cliff top. Its stair-like appearance is believed to be the reason behind the name “Giant’s Causeway.” The site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed a redevelopment plan for Powai Lake in Mumbai, with consultancy support from AECOM Asia Company Limited. Powai Lake is an artificial lake located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was constructed by the British in 1890 by damming the Mithi River to augment Bombay’s water supply. The lake is surrounded by the Powai Bird Sanctuary and serves as an important habitat for resident and migratory birds, besides supporting Marsh Crocodiles and the conservation of the Indian Mahaseer.

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Researchers have discovered the oldest-known strains of the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis from ancient human remains found in burial sites around the Lake Baikal region. Lake Baikal is located in southern eastern Siberia in Russia, near the Mongolia border. It is the oldest freshwater lake in the world and also the deepest freshwater lake globally. It is the largest freshwater lake by volume, holding nearly one-fifth of the world’s unfrozen freshwater. The lake contains around 45 islands and islets, with Olkhon Island being the largest.

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The Prime Minister recently visited the Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple during his State visit to Seychelles. It is a Hindu temple located in Victoria, the capital of Seychelles. It is the only Hindu temple in Seychelles. The temple was built in 1992 by the Hindu community in Seychelles. It is dedicated to Lord Vinayagar (Lord Ganesha) and is located on Mahé Island. The temple is built in the Dravidian architectural style, resembling the temples of Tamil Nadu.