Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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A recent submarine volcanic eruption in the Bismarck Sea has highlighted the limited mapping of Earth’s deep ocean floor. The Bismarck Sea is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean near the northeast coast of Papua New Guinea. It is surrounded by the Bismarck Archipelago, including the Admiralty Islands, New Ireland, and New Britain. The sea connects to the Pacific Ocean and the Solomon Sea through the Vitiaz and Dampier Straits and St. George’s Channel.

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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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Shiveluch Volcano recently erupted, sending ash plumes nearly 10 km into the atmosphere and triggering red-level aviation alerts in Russia’s Far East. It is one of the largest and most active volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. Shiveluch is a stratovolcano, formed by alternating layers of hardened lava, volcanic ash, and volcanic rocks.

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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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Recent research has shown that stress levels along the San Andreas Fault in Southern California are the highest in nearly 1,000 years. The San Andreas Fault is a major continental transform boundary located in the western part of United States in North America. The fault is believed to have started forming around 30 million years ago during the mid-Cenozoic Era. It marks the boundary between the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate. The San Andreas Fault is classified as a strike-slip fault, where tectonic plates slide horizontally past each other.

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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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Volcan de Fuego (“Volcano of Fire”) in Guatemala recently erupted, forcing tourists to quickly evacuate as burning rocks fell on its slopes. It is an active basaltic stratovolcano located in Guatemala and one of the most active volcanoes in Central America. The volcano overlooks the historic city of Antigua, along with two other major stratovolcanoes. Volcan de Fuego is part of the Central American Volcanic Arc, a chain of volcanoes extending from Guatemala to Panama. Guatemala is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

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In Faridabad, near Badkhal Lake, environmental concerns have emerged after reports that treated sewage water from a Smart City sewage treatment plant has been released into the lake. The water is supplied from a 10 MLD sewage treatment plant and is used for lake recharge under a Smart City project. Badkhal Lake is located in Faridabad, Haryana.

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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.

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Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering & Winter Sports conducted a 22-member mountaineering expedition to the Mt Khyam Tso Massif in the Rumtse Phu region of Ladakh. The expedition was flagged off on 26 June 2026 under the leadership of Hem Chandra Singh. Mt Khyam Tso Massif is a rugged, high-altitude mountain range located in the remote Rumtse Phu region of Ladakh. The massif consists of technically challenging peaks, many of which rise to over 6,000 metres above sea level. It is known for its difficult terrain and extreme weather conditions, making it a demanding destination for mountaineering expeditions.