Catalonia |
Why in News: Amid the pandemic, Catalonia held elections where Madrid aims to oust the separatist leadership after a failed independence attempt. With Spain grappling with a third wave of COVID-19, the vote might witness significant abstentions.
About Catalonia
- Location: Catalonia is situated in the northeastern part of Spain.
- The capital and largest city of Catalonia is Barcelona, a major cultural and economic hub.
- Provinces:It comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona.
- Borders:It shares its borders with France (Occitanie) and Andorra to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the east, and the Spanish autonomous communities of Aragon to the west and Valencia to the south.
- Independence Movement:Since the 2010s, there has been increasing backing for Catalan independence. On October 27, 2017, the Catalan Parliament unilaterally declared independence following a contentious referendum.
High Atlas Mountains |
Why in News: The recent devastating earthquake in Morocco originated from the High Atlas Mountains, situated roughly 71 kilometers southwest of Marrakesh.
About High Atlas Mountains
- Location:The High Atlas Mountains, a significant part of the Atlas Mountain Range, dominate the landscape primarily in Morocco but extend into parts of Algeria and Tunisia.
- Distribution:Extending approximately 1000 km from the Atlantic Ocean coast to the Morocco-Algeria border, these mountains form a northeast-southwest axis.
- Geographic Features:Known for their rugged terrain, the High Atlas Mountains boast towering peaks, deep valleys, and expansive plateaus, embodying a diverse range of landscapes.
- Elevation: Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in the range, reaches an elevation of about 4,167 meters (13,671 feet), while numerous other summits exceed 4,000 meters.
- Climate:Serving as a natural barrier, the mountains separate the mild Mediterranean climate from the encroaching Sahara desert, influencing regional weather patterns.
Deception Island |
Why in News: NASA recently shared an aerial photograph of Deception Island on its Instagram account.
About NASA Deception Island
- Location: Deception Island is situated within the South Shetland Islands, positioned northwest of the Antarctic Peninsula.
- Volcanic Activity:It is an active volcano, formed by a significant volcanic eruption that led to the collapse of its central portion, resulting in the flooding of seawater into the caldera.
- Distinctive Landscape: The island features a unique terrain characterized by barren volcanic slopes, steaming beaches, and glaciers covered in ash, forming a distinctive horseshoe-shaped opening known as Neptune’s Bellows.
- Harbour:Port Foster, located within the island’s surroundings, serves as one of the safest harbours in the Antarctic region.
- Volcanic Accessibility: Deception Island is notable for allowing vessels to sail directly into the heart of an active volcano, a rare phenomenon globally.
- Scientific Stations:Argentina and Spain maintain summer scientific stations on the island, following the destruction of previous stations by volcanic eruptions.
- Protected Area: Managed as part of the Antarctic Treaty, Deception Island is a protected area with restricted human visits and minimal environmental impact.
Seattle (USA) |
Why in News: After extensive planning spanning seven years, India is preparing to inaugurate its sixth consulate in Seattle, adding to its existing consulates in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York City, and San Francisco. Seattle, renowned as a technology hub, hosts prominent companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, among others.
About
Embassy Function and Structure:
- An embassy serves as the official representation of one country’s government in another and is typically situated in the capital city of the host country.
- The ambassador leads the embassy and serves as the chief diplomatic representative.
- Seattle, renowned as a technology hub, hosts prominent companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, among others.
Consulate Purpose and Operations:
- Consulates are smaller diplomatic offices usually established in key cities of the host country.
- They primarily focus on delivering consular services to citizens, including visa and passport issuance, legal assistance, and support during emergencies for individuals residing or traveling abroad.
Mount Celia Gold Operation (Western Australia) |
Why in News: NMDC, a government-owned steel company, has broadened its mineral assets by launching the Mount Celia Gold Operation in Western Australia.
About Mount Celia Gold Project:
- Nature:A gold extraction venture
- Location: Situated in Western Australia
- Undertaken by: Legacy Iron Ore Limited, an arm of NMDC Ltd (State-owned Steel CPSE)
- Importance: Marks NMDC’s maiden gold mining endeavor
