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Philippines
Earthquake Prompts Evacuations
Yesterday morning a strong earthquake struck the Masbate province on the main island of Luzon in the Philippines. According to the US Geological Survey, the quake had a depth of 12.5 miles (20 km) and a magnitude of 6.1, striking at a local fault line. The quake resulted in power outages across much of Masbate as well as on the nearby Ticao island. Dozens of patients were evacuated from a Masbate provincial hospital as a result of the quake, but have since been returned. Local officials have begun assessing damages, with businesses and schools able to reopen at their own discretion. The Philippines resides along the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire,” an arc of faults from the meeting of tectonic plates, creating the region with the the most frequent earthquakes in the world.
This map depicts the location of a 6.1 magnitude earthquake that struck a central Philippines province on Thursday. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Barron’s
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Equatorial Guinea
Marburg Virus Spreads
Authorities from the World Health Organization (WHO) have confimed an outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus in Equatorial Guinea. So far, nine deaths have been attributed to Marburg and 16 more cases are being investigated in the northeastern province of Kie-Ntem, near the border with Cameroon. Suspected cases of the virus were investigated in Cameroon but were negative. However, the WHO is already aiding health workers in Cameroon and Gabon to prepare for outbreaks in their countries. Marburg virus is a relative of Ebola, with symptoms similar to other hemorrhagic fevers. It is not an airborne virus, but spreads through contact with bodily fluids, and can be passed from other mammals to humans.
This map depicts the Kie-Ntem province of Equatorial Guinea, where nine deaths have been attributed to the Marburg virus. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Daily Mail
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Japan
7,000 New Islands Found
The territory of Japan is expected to officially be comprised of 14,125 islands, after around 7,000 new islands were recognized in a technologically-enhanced recount. A 1987 study conducted by the Japan Coast Guard gave an official count of 6,852 islands in the Japanese territory. However, a lawmaker recently argued the data was old and the true figure could be vastly different. The original study listed by hand what islands had a circumference of at least 100 meters, but did not recognize river sandbanks or islands situated within lakes or rivers. Additionally, volcanic activity has led to the creation of more islands in the last 35 years. Despite the increase in official number of islands, geographers believe it is unlikely to change the overall size of Japan’s territory or its territorial waters.
This map depicts the territory of Japan, enhanced to increase the visibility of its constituent islands and their location along the continental shelf. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: All land in England higher than 3,000 ft (914 m) above sea level lies within what “district?”
A: Lake District
The Lake District, or “Lakeland,” is a mountainous region in Cumbria, in northwestern England. It is famous for its lakes, forests, and mountains (or fells), as well as its association with 19th century poets such as William Wordsworth. Aside from having higher elevations, Lake District is also home to England’s tallest mountain, Scafell Pike, standing 3,209 ft (978 m) tall, and England’s deepest and largest lakes, Wast Water and Windermere, respectively. The Lake District National Park encompasses most of central Lake District, although some coastal areas and the Lakeland Peninsulas are outside of the park’s boundaries. In 1951, the area was designated a national park and retained its size until 2016, when the park was extended around 3 percent to incorporate the Lune Valley. In 2017, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in 2018, it was voted as the country’s favorite national park. Every year, around 15 million visitors travel to the countryside to view the Lake District’s fells and experience the beauty that had enraptured the English poets 200 years ago.
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Q: What Icelandic peninsula is home to volcanoes, lava fields, and black sand beaches that have appeared in many Sci-Fi and fantasy films and series?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in Monday’s DailyGeo.
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