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Syria-Turkey
Earthquake Toll Up to 19,000
This morning, a United Nations humanitarian aid convoy entered northwest Syria through Turkey to aid in the aftermath of the massive pair of earthquakes that struck the two countries three days ago. The official death toll from the earthquakes and their aftershocks continues to rise, with 19,000 people confirmed dead as of Thursday morning. According to officials, around 7,000 buildings collapsed in Turkey alone. While some survivors are still being pulled from collapsed buildings, the window of opportunity to find them is closing. Winter weather is also exacerbating these challenges, with victims not trapped in the rubble facing the possibility of hypothermia. Rescue teams from more than two dozen countries converged on the disaster zones to search for survivors and aid victims. Many more countries have pledged money, equipment, and supplies. In Syria, rescue efforts have been hampered by a lack of equipment and infrastructure following years of civil war.
This map depicts countries around the world that have committed rescue personnel to assist in the aftermath of the earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Statista
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Brazil
Illegal Mining Expansion
Officials from several government agencies have begun operations to expel illegal miners from Yanomami Indigenous territory, located in Brazil’s northern Amazon region. In December, Greenpeace and the Socio-Environmental Institute (ISA) discovered a 93-mile (150 km) illegal road and four hydraulic excavators in the territory. While small-scale illegal miners, known as “garimpeiros,” have been active in the area for the past 50 years, the scale, speed of construction, and the use of heavy machinery has made these mining operations highly destructive. Newly-elected President Lula has issued several decrees to protect Indigenous lands and the environment, most recently declaring a state of emergency in the Yanomami Territory. Currently, about 20,000 illegal miners operate across the Yanomami Territory, causing violence, health issues, and child malnutrition for the region’s 27,000 Yanomami indigenous inhabitants.
This map depicts a satellite image of an illegal mining supply road in the Yanomami Indigenous Territory in Brazil. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Greenpeace
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United States
Red Tide Warning in Sarasota
Sarasota Bay has received an updated health advisory following elevated levels of red tide found at 16 beaches within the county. Red tide continues to be a prevalent issue on the west coast of Florida and along the Gulf of Mexico, due to the rapid growth of a microscopic algae called “Karenia brevis.” This algae can be toxic to humans and marine life at high levels. Not only does red tide pose health concerns to the public by causing mild respiratory symptoms such as eye, nose, and throat irritation, but there have been reports of fish kills in Sarasota County where Korenia brevis levels are between 10,000 and 100,000 cells per liter. Florida’s Department of Health has warned residents with previous respiratory ailments to stay away from beaches, and to avoid harvesting or eating shellfish.
This map depicts the cell abundance of Korenia brevis, the red algae responsible for the red tide phenomenon along the west coast of Florida. Click on the map to learn more.
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Cape Horn, Chile and Cape Agulhas, South Africa are the southern most points of the South American and African continents, respectively. Which one lies furthest south?
A: Cape Horn, Chile
Located on Hornos Island, Chile, Cape Horn is the southernmost point in South America, and marks the point where the Pacific and Atlantic oceans meet. The southerly location experiences a windy and cool climate, and while March is its wettest month, precipitation is high throughout the year. In 1616, Dutch navigator Willem Schouten and his crew were the first to sail around the cape, leading Schouten to name the area “Kaap Horn” after the Dutch city of Hoorn. For years, the Drake Passage, just under Cape Horn, was a crucial route for ships sailing from Europe to East Asia or from coast to coast in the Americas. It wasn’t until the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 that decreased the number of ships traveling around Cape Horn, as the region’s icebergs, large waves, and strong winds and currents made it extremely dangerous to navigate.
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Q: In which state can you find 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the U.S.? (Hint: the state is home to more than 3 million lakes and 3,000 rivers!)
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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