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United States
Seattle Ranks Worst in Air Quality
Seattle had the worst air quality in the world for the second day in a row on Thursday as the air continued to be clogged with smoke from multiple wildfires in the region. After a heavy fog of smoke covered the city, the air quality in the region was measured at 245 on the Air Quality Index at 11 a.m. on Thursday. Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, British Columbia, have also ranked among the world’s worst locations for air quality over the past two days, alongside cities in India, China, and Pakistan. Local agencies have warned Seattle residents of the diminished air quality due to wildfire smoke and have encouraged people to limit their outdoor exposure and keep indoor air clean by closing windows and doors. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, unhealthy air quality and exposure to wildfire smoke puts sensitive groups at risk, including outdoor workers, pregnant people, people with heart and lung disease, and those over the ages of 65 or under the age of 18.
This map depicts air quality markers throughout Seattle, Washington, after the city was ranked worst in air quality worldwide. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: King5
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Finland
Border Wall to be Built
Finnish border control has established a plan for a partial wall along the Finnish-Russian border. Weaknesses in the border, which spans just over 800 miles (1300 km), have been identified as posing a potential risk for large-scale illegal migration from Russia, driven by the current Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Leaders from Finland’s main political parties have given bipartisan support for the plan, which would cover approximately 20% of the total border. The project is projected to take up to four years and several hundred million euros. A pilot section of the fence spanning roughly 1.86 miles (3 km) will be decided on and built quickly, but the entire project may be postponed until after Finland’s general election, due to be held in April 2023.
This map depicts the Finnish-Russian border. Sections drawn in pink are the proposed locations for walls to be built. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Yle
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Qatar
World Cup Dates Approach Near
The 2022 FIFA World Cup, due to kick off on November 20, is just one month away. Today, all 32 participating nations will select the 55 soccer players for their provisional squads. Many teams were assigned base camps within 6 miles of each other in Doha. Construction for most World Cup infrastructures, including eight stadiums and a metro system, have been completed. Other facilities such as fan zones and apartment units are yet to be finished. Given Doha’s small size, concerns around accommodation availabilities and traffic congestion continue to be raised. Qatari officials responded by not only offering unusual accommodation options like traditional wooden boats called dhows, but also adding 30,000 extra rooms. Despite the challenges, demand for the World Cup stands strong with about three million tickets already sold, according to FIFA.
This map depicts the location of base camps for each participating team, as well as the stadiums to be used during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: Known for its Spanish colonial history and its legacy of piracy, what is Nicaragua’s oldest city?
A: Grenada
The city of Grenada sits along the eastern coast of Lake Nicaragua, in the western portion of the country. It was founded by the Spanish in 1524, and the city’s natural beauty inspired artists, poets, and writers long before the Spanish conquest. Today Grenada boasts colonial architecture intersected with Central American culture and color. Its geographic positioning makes it one of Nicaragua’s most important cities and a historical hotspot for explorers, conquistadors, and even pirates. Having been a trade post for Spanish transport of silver and gold dating back to the 16th century, imperial superpowers like the French, English, and Dutch successively attempted to claim its land. Even Captain Morgan is said to have visited the city. While its colonial heritage puts Grenada on the map, its rich cultural background and scenic environment have endured. Surrounding the city are the Mombacho Volcano, tropical forests, and even Las Isletas, the protected islands within Lake Nicaragua with rich and diverse wildlife.
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Q: What is the most southeastern region of Italy, known for occupying the country’s “heel” of the “boot?”
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in Monday’s DailyGeo.
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