Mount Kenya
March 29, 2025↓News– Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest peak after Kilimanjaro, is experiencing rapid glacier loss due to climate change.
About Mount Kenya
- Location: Central Kenya, just south of the Equator.
- Elevation: 5,199 meters (17,058 feet) at its highest peak, Batian.
- Peaks: Batian (5,199m), Nelion (5,188m), and Point Lenana (4,985m)
- Geology: An extinct stratovolcano that has undergone significant erosion over time.
- Glaciers: Hosts Lewis Glacier and Tyndall Glacier, among Africa’s few remaining tropical glaciers.
- UNESCO Status: Recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1997 for its ecological and cultural importance.
- Sacred Mountain: Considered sacred by the Kikuyu people, who believe it is the home of their god, Ngai.
Senkaku Islands
March 27, 2025↓News- Japan has expressed strong concerns over the extended presence of Chinese Coast Guard vessels near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
Source- Wikipedia About Senkaku Islands
- Location: The Senkaku Islands are an uninhabited group of 8 islands situated in the East China Sea.
- Current Control: The islands are currently administered and controlled by Japan since 1972
- Dispute: The islands are the focus of a territorial dispute involving China (which calls them the Diaoyu Islands), Japan, and Taiwan (which refers to them as the Tiaoyutai Islands).
History of the Dispute - After World War II, Japan renounced several territories, including Taiwan, under the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco.
- The Nansei Shoto Islands, including Senkaku, were placed under U.S. trusteeship, and later returned to Japan in 1971.
- China began asserting claims in the 1970s, following the discovery of potential oil and gas reserves in the area.
Significance of the Senkaku Islands
- Strategic Location– Located in the East China Sea, the islands lie near key international shipping lanes, making them vital for regional maritime trade and naval access.
- Rich Natural Resources– Believed to have abundant fisheries and potential oil and natural gas reserves.
- Geopolitical Importance– The islands are a flashpoint in East Asia, reflecting the broader strategic rivalry between China and the U.S.
Black Sea
March 26, 2025↓News- US and Russian officials are in Saudi Arabia and holding talks on Ukraine War and Black Sea Ceasefire. The Black Sea ceasefire agreement aims to restore free navigation for shipping.
Source- nautilusshipping About Black Sea
- Location– It is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean lying between Europe and Asia.
- Bordering region:
- West: The Balkan Peninsula in Southeastern Europe.
- East: The Caucasus Mountains.
- North: The East European Plains, including Russia and Ukraine.
- South: Anatolia in Turkey, part of Western Asia.
- Bordering countries:
- North: Russia and Ukraine.
- South: Turkey.
- West: Bulgaria.
- East: Georgia.
- Romania also has access to the Black Sea.
Other Geographical features:
- The Black Sea connects to the Aegean Sea (Mediterranean) through the Bosporus Strait, Sea of Marmara, and Dardanelles Strait.
- The Kerch Strait links it to the Sea of Azov.
- Russia has the longest coastline (2,300 km), followed by Turkey (1,329 km) and Ukraine (1,282 km).
- The Crimean Peninsula extends into the Black Sea from the north.
- Major rivers flowing into it include the Danube, Dnieper, Southern Bug, Rioni, and Dniester.
Farakka Barrage
March 25, 2025↓News- Farakka Barrage began operations in 1975, marking its 50th anniversary in 2025.
About Farakka Barrage
- Location: Built on the Ganga River in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, about 18 km from the Bangladesh border.
- Commissioning: The project construction commenced in 1961 and it became operational on April 21, 1975.
- Purpose: It diverts 40,000 cusecs of water into the Farakka Feeder Canal to remove silt from the Bhagirathi-Hooghly River, ensuring the navigability of Kolkata Port.
- Water sharing agreements: India and Bangladesh have signed multiple agreements over Ganga water sharing, including the 1977 Farakka Agreement and the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty.
Key facts about Hooghly River - About– The Hooghly River, also called the Bhagirathi-Hoogly and Kati-Ganga River, is a major river in West Bengal.
- Length & Formation- A 260 km-long distributary of the Ganges, formed when the river splits in Murshidabad—one branch becomes the Padma (flowing into Bangladesh), while the other forms the Hooghly.
- Rivers drain into Hooghly– Ajay, Falgu, Jalangi and Churni to the north and Rupnarayan, Mayurakshi, Damodar and Haldi to the south.
- Important cities along its course– Jiaganj, Azimganj, Murshidabad, and Baharampur
Lapis Lazuli
March 24, 2025↓News– Lapis lazuli has been found in many countries but the highest quality rock comes from Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province.
Source- The Hindu About Lapis Lazuli
- It is a deep blue metamorphic rock known for its striking colour and semi-precious gemstone value.
- It has been prized for thousands of years as a semi-precious gemstone and a source of the rare ultramarine pigment used in art.
- Composition and Appearance:
- The blue color of lapis lazuli comes from lazurite (25-40%), with its shade varying based on sulphur content. It also contains:
- Pyrite – Gives golden streaks.
- Calcite – Causes lighter patches, reducing blueness.
- Diopside & Sodalite – Found in smaller amounts.
- Major sources:
- The world’s highest-quality lapis lazuli comes from the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan, where it has been mined for over 6,000 years.
- Other sources include Chile, Russia, and the USA.
- Historical and Cultural significance:
- In ancient times, traders in India imported lapis lazuli from Badakhshan, perhaps as long ago as 1000 BC.
- Ornaments made of lapis lazuli have been discovered at Indus Valley Civilization sites (Mohenjo-daro & Harappa).
- Ancient Egypt: Ground into powder for eye makeup and used in royal ornaments.
- Renaissance Europe: Processed into ultramarine, a rare and expensive blue pigment used by painters.
Hemavati River
March 24, 2025↓News- Two youths, who went swimming in the Hemavati river near Henli village in Sakleshpur, drowned recently. Hemavati River.
About Hemavati River
- It is an important tributary of the Kaveri River, playing a vital role in Karnataka’s irrigation and water supply.
- Course:
- It originates in the Western Ghats near Ballalarayana Durga, Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka, at an elevation of 1,219 meters.
- It flows through Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Tumkur, and Mysuru districts.
- It is joined by its chief tributary, the Yagachi River, in Hassan district.
- It merges with the Kaveri River at Krishnarajasagara.
- Total length: 245 km.
- Drainage area: 5,410 sq km.
- Hemavati Reservoir (Gorur Dam): A masonry dam with a central spillway and earthen flanks, located near Gorur village, Hassan district.
Sillahalla Power Project
March 22, 2025↓News– The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) recently canceled the public hearing for the Silahalla Power Project in the Nilgiris due to strong public opposition and environmental concerns. Sillahalla Power Project.
About Sillahalla Power Project
- Type: Pumped storage hydroelectric project by Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO).
- Location: Kundah Taluk, Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu.
- Objective: To generate 1,000 MW electricity to meet peak power demand.
- Associated Rivers: Silahalla stream (tributary of the Kundah River), which ultimately feeds into the Bhavani River (a tributary of the Cauvery River).
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve – Key Facts - Geographical Location:
- Situated in: The Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats.
- Spread across: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka.
- Major Protected Areas within the reserve:
- Tamil Nadu: Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Mukurthi National Park.
- Kerala: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Silent Valley National Park.
- Karnataka: Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park.
- Vegetation– Tropical evergreen forests, montane sholas, grasslands, moist deciduous forests, and thorn forests.
- Flora– It is home to 132 endemic plant species, including rare species like Adenoon, Calacanthus, and Frerea.
- Fauna: It hosts the largest population of Nilgiri Tahr and Lion-tailed macaque, along with elephants, tigers, gaurs, sambars, and chitals.
- Significance– It is the first UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve in India (1986) under the Man and Biosphere Programme.
Equinox & Solstices
March 21, 2025↓News- March 20, 2025, marks the vernal or spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.
About Equinox
Source- National Weather Service - Equinoxes are astronomical events occurring twice a year when the Sun appears directly above the Equator at noon.It results in nearly equal day and night durations across the globe.
- They take place in March and September and are the only times when both the North and South Poles receive sunlight simultaneously.
- Vernal or Spring Equinox: Occurs between March 19 and 21, marking the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Autumnal Equinox : Occurs between September 21 and 24, signaling autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Earth’s position during an Equinox– On equinox days, the Earth’s axial tilt aligns in such a way that both hemispheres receive an equal amount of sunlight. On all other days, the tilt of the Earth results in uneven distribution of sunlight, affecting seasonal changes.
About Solstices
- Solstices occur when the Earth’s axial tilt is at its maximum inclination toward or away from the Sun, leading to significant differences in daylight hours.
- Summer Solstice (Northern Hemisphere): It falls between June 20 and 22, marking the longest day and shortest night of the year as the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun.
- Winter Solstice (Northern Hemisphere): It falls between December 20 and 23, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year as the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun
- In the Southern Hemisphere, the solstices are reversed, meaning December experiences the summer solstice while June marks the winter solstice.
Ana Sagar Lake
March 19, 2025↓News– The Supreme Court has ordered the Rajasthan government to dismantle the illegally constructed Seven Wonders Park near Ana Sagar Lake in Ajmer within six months. The decision cites environmental concerns and violations of wetland regulations. Ana Sagar Lake.
About Ana Sagar Lake
- Location– It is an artificial lake (man-made lake) located in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan.
- Constructed by– King Arnoraja , the grandfather of Prithviraj Chauhan, between 1135-1150 AD.
- Historical significance:
- Mughal Emperor Jahangir established the renowned Daulat Bagh garden next to the lake.
- Later, Shah Jahan enhanced the site by adding five marble pavilions (Baradaris) along the lake, transforming it into a prominent tourist and heritage attraction.
- Importance:
- The lake covers an area of around 13 km² and is a vital water source for the region.
- It aids in groundwater recharge, sustains biodiversity, and boosts tourism in Ajmer.
Note– Ana Sagar Lake is not yet designated as a Ramsar site under the Wetlands of International Importance.
Key Facts about Philippines
March 13, 2025↓News– Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was recently arrested on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant over allegations of crimes against humanity during his war on drugs campaign. Philippine
About Philippines
Source- WorldAtlas - Capital– Manila
- Location– It is an island country of Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean.
- Maritime bordering countries-Taiwan to the north, Japan to the northeast, Palau to the east and southeast, Indonesia to the south, Malaysia to the southwest, Vietnam to the west, and China to the northwest
- Geographical features:
- Water bodies: Philippine Sea (east), Celebes Sea (south), Sulu Sea (southwest), and South China Sea (west and north).
- Highest Point: Mount Apo.
- Major Rivers: Cagayan River (Philippines’ longest river), Mindanao, Agusan, Agno River etc.
- Climate: Tropical and monsoonal.
- Biodiversity Heritage– The Philippines has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Tubbataha Reef (Sulu Sea), Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, Mount Hamiguitan Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Political system– The Philippines has a democratic government, a constitutional republic with a presidential system
