Venice |
Why in News: A persistent high-pressure system lingering over Venice has resulted in unusually low tides, causing water levels to drop significantly and canals to become dry.
About Venice
- Geographical Location:Situated in northern Italy, the city of Venice boasts a distinctive geography.
- Island Composition:Venice is comprised of over 118 small islands scattered across a lagoon, which is a body of water separated from a larger water body by land formations.
- Lagoon : Spanning 70,176.4 hectares, the Venetian lagoon is separated from the Adriatic Sea and serves as the setting for the city’s unique layout.
- Geographic Formation:These islands are situated within the shallow confines of the Venetian Lagoon, an enclosed bay located between the mouths of the Po and Piave rivers.
- UNESCO Designation: Recognized for its historical and cultural significance, both the lagoon and a portion of the city are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- City Nicknames:Over the years, Venice has acquired several epithets, including “La Dominante,” “La Serenissima,” “Queen of the Adriatic,” “City of Water,” “City of Masks,” “City of Bridges,” “The Floating City,” and “City of Canals,” each reflecting its unique character and allure.
Sea of Japan |
Why in News: Recently, North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan, also referred to as the East Sea.
About East Sea
- Geographical Location: The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea situated in the western Pacific Ocean, located in Eastern Asia. It is bordered by Japan and Sakhalin Island to the east, while Russia and Korea on the Asian mainland bound it to the west.
- Geographic Features: Positioned within a deep basin, the Sea of Japan is separated from the East China Sea to the south by the Tsushima and Korea straits, and from the Sea of Okhotsk to the north by the La Perouse (or Sōya) and Tatar straits. To the east, it connects to the Inland Sea of Japan via the Kanmon Strait, and to the Pacific Ocean through the Tsugaru Strait.
- Climate Influence:The relatively warm waters of the Sea of Japan significantly influence the climate of Japan.
- Ocean Currents: It serves as the convergence point for cold currents from the north and warm currents from the south.
- Island Distribution:With the exception of the South Korean Island of Ulleungdo, there are no large islands within the Sea of Japan. Most of the smaller islands are located near the sea’s eastern coast.
Fukushima nuclear plant |
Why in News: China has urged Japan to reconsider its decision to discharge over 1 million tonnes of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean.
About Fukushima nuclear disaster
- Background: In March 2011, a magnitude 9 earthquake struck, triggering a devastating tsunami that inundated the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Okuma.
- Impact :The tsunami severely damaged the plant’s diesel generators, resulting in a loss of power supply to the reactors and disabling backup systems crucial for cooling.
- Consequences :The interruption in coolant supply caused reactor cores to overheat, leading to the Fukushima disaster.
- Radioactive Materials:Radioactive materials leaked from reactor pressure vessels and exploded in the facility’s upper levels, contaminating the surrounding air, water, soil, and local population.
- Dissemination via Winds:Winds dispersed radioactive particles carried into the air into the Pacific Ocean, exacerbating the environmental impact.
- Current State:Since the disaster, the Fukushima Daiichi power plant and the surrounding area have remained uninhabitable due to high levels of radiation contamination.
Papua New Guinea |
Why in News: Recently, a new wave of tribal conflict in the secluded highlands of Papua New Guinea has resulted in the deaths of numerous individuals.
About Papua New Guinea
- Geographical Location:Positioned in the southwestern Pacific, Papua New Guinea is an island country encompassing the eastern portion of New Guinea, along with numerous smaller offshore islands.
- Neighboring Countries:It shares borders with Indonesia to the west, Australia to the south, and the Solomon Islands to the southeast.
- Capital City:The capital of Papua New Guinea is Port Moresby.
- Topography:The terrain of Papua New Guinea is predominantly mountainous, although there are low-lying plains in the southern region of New Guinea.
- Settlement : The islands of Papua New Guinea were settled over millennia by a mix of peoples, collectively known as Melanesians.
- Language Diversity:English serves as the primary language for governmental and commercial purposes, while Tok Pisin is the most commonly spoken language in daily interactions. Linguistically, Papua New Guinea is the most diverse country globally, boasting over 800 languages.
- Religion: The majority of Papua New Guinea’s population identifies as at least nominally Christian.
- Government Structure:Papua New Guinea attained self-governance on December 1, 1973, and independence on September 16, 1975. It operates as a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth. The British monarch, represented by a governor-general, serves as the head of state, while the Prime Minister holds the position of head of government.
Gwadar Port |
Why in News: Demonstrations have broken out in Pakistan opposing China’s Belt and Road initiative.
About Gwadar Port
- Location: Gwadar Port, situated in Pakistan’s Balochistan Province, is a warm water port positioned on the Arabian Sea in Gwadar.
- Strategic Importance:Serving as a crucial juncture between China’s One Belt One Road initiative and its Maritime Silk Road Project, Gwadar Port plays a significant role in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
- Geopolitical Positioning: Located at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, beyond the Strait of Hormuz, Gwadar Port holds proximity to vital shipping lanes connecting to and from the Gulf of Persia.
Management Structure: The port operations are overseen by a Chinese government-owned company.
