Places in News Current Affairs MCQs

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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.

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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.

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The Santiaguito Volcano is an active volcano located in western Guatemala near the city of Quetzaltenango. It was formed after the major 1902 eruption of the Santa María Volcano. It consists of a lava-dome complex and is among the most active volcanic regions in the world. The volcano frequently emits ash and smoke, indicating continuous volcanic activity. Occasionally, it produces lava flows and dangerous pyroclastic flows. Recently, an eruption forced hikers to flee as rocks and volcanic material were ejected into the air.

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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.

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Ukraine intensified long-range strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, including the Primorsk and Tuapse regions. Meanwhile, LNG carrier Umm Al Ashtan resumed movement from Dahej to Das Island through the Strait of Hormuz, indicating improving regional stability. Das Island is an island located in the Persian Gulf and belongs to the United Arab Emirates. Das Island is a major strategic hub for oil and liquefied natural gas production and exports. It exports crude oil and liquefied natural gas to countries in Asia and Europe. The island is also ecologically important as a breeding and migratory site for turtles and seabirds.

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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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Mount Uturuncu volcano in Bolivia has recently drawn scientific attention after researchers detected fresh batches of hot magma rising from deep underground, raising concerns about possible volcanic activity in the future. Mount Uturuncu is a dormant stratovolcano located in the Andes Mountains of southwestern Bolivia. It is known as a “zombie volcano” because it shows signs of activity despite being considered dormant. Beneath the volcano lies the massive Altiplano-Puna Magma Body, one of the largest active magma reservoirs in Earth’s crust. The volcano displays a unique “sombrero” pattern where the central region rises while surrounding land subsides.

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Rottnest Island recently came into news after a suspected shark attack near the island led to the death of a tourist. Rottnest Island is located in the Indian Ocean, about 19 km northwest of Fremantle near Perth in Australia. The island is known for its sand dunes, salt lakes, and protected wildlife. It was named “Rottenest” by Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh, who mistook quokkas for large rats. Quokkas, a rare marsupial species, are now protected due to the island’s wildlife sanctuary status. Rottnest Island currently serves as a major tourist and recreational destination.

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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.