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North Korea
First COVID Outbreak
North Korean authorities officially announced the country’s first COVID-19 outbreak last Thursday, and are now reporting 1.2 million people are exhibiting symptoms and over 50 people are dead. North Korea is already a very isolated country, and during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, North Korea responded by further sealing itself off from the outside world, including its primary trading partner and political ally China. The country’s vaccination rate is effectively 0%, its health facilities already meager under normal circumstances, and its political and economic isolation means it has almost no access to medicines to fight COVID-19 infections. Leading analysts predict coronavirus could precipitate a humanitarian disaster in the country.
This map depicts the country of North Korea, where the government has announced the first officially-recognized mass infection of COVID-19. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Barron’s
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Lebanon
Hezbollah Loses Parliament
The final results of the parliamentary elections held Sunday in Lebanon have been confirmed today. The militant Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah and its allies have lost their majority in the legislature, reflecting the population’s dissatisfaction with the country’s continuing economic challenges and increasing poverty. Hezbollah’s coalition retained 61 seats out of parliament’s 128 total seats, losing 10. The nationalist Christian Lebanese Forces Party now holds the largest single bloc with 21 seats. With no clear majority in parliament, it is feared the country will face further political conflict as parties vie for influence to generate a majority alliance, possibly leading to sectarian violence.
This map depicts population distribution in Lebanon based on religious affiliations, which closely connects to voting alignments. On Sunday, Lebanon held parliamentary elections where Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah and its allies lost their majority. Click on the map to learn more.
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United States
Low Snowpack & Fire Danger
Interior western states are on track for another summer of drought and fire risk based on snowpack measurments. The Great Basin region of Nevada, along with the Rocky Mountain regions within Utah and Colorado are at below-median snow-water equivalent levels for 2022. This means they have accumulated a much smaller amount of snowpack in comparison to recent years. The current drought follows an abnormally warm winter in which Denver, Colorado received one of its lowest snowfalls on record. Furthermore, in parts of Southwest Colorado and New Mexico, large wildfires have already broken out, and experts worry this trend will continue.
This map depicts low snowpack levels across the Western United States. Fire danger in the region persists, although winter temperatures in this coming weekend are hoped to combat the risk. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: During the winter solstice, which capital city receives only 4 hours and 7 minutes of daylight?
A: Reykjavík, Iceland
During the winter solstice in Reykjavík, which takes place usually around December 21st, the capital city only receives four hours and seven minutes of daylight. The sun rises just before 11:30am and sets around 3:30pm. Because of Iceland’s high latitude, Reykjavík receives minimal sunlight during winter months, with more northern cities receiving even less. While December is the darkest month in Iceland, on a clear night, it’s possible to capture the Northern Lights or aurora borealis lighting up the sky. Once the equinox passes, each day receives about an extra seven minutes of daylight, so by late January, Reykjavík is already receiving almost seven hours of light.
Source
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Q: With over 25,000 islands and extending 1.1 million sq miles (2.87 million sq km), which archipelago is the largest in the world by area?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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