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Ukraine
One Year of War
Governments around the world have been expressing support for Ukraine on the first anniversary of the Russian invasion. On February 24, 2022, after weeks of massing forces along Ukraine’s borders, the Russian army invaded two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared recognition for two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent states. Despite fears that the larger Russian force would quickly topple the Ukrainian government, the Ukrainian military successfully repelled Russian units from the capital region. Utilizing weapons and intelligence from supporting nations, Ukraine reclaimed large swaths of territory over the following months. Since November, the front between the two forces has remained largely unchanged, as speculation continues about which side will make the next bold offensive move. Just yesterday, the United Nations General Assembly held a vote on a non-binding resolution condemning Russia’s actions and urging Russian forces to withdraw from Ukraine’s territory, with 141 countries voting in favor to seven against, and 32 abstentions.
This map depicts control over Ukrainian territory at various stages of the year-long war. Click on the map to learn more.
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Tajikistan
Strong Earthquake Strikes
An earthquake struck eastern Tajikistan in the early hours of Thursday morning. The quake, registering between 6.8 and 7.2 in magnitude, was felt in China and other neighboring nations, along with several aftershocks. The Murghob district, where the epicenter struck, is sparsely populated, and reported no immediate casualties. However, the area is home to the Sarez Lake, which is currently under observation due to its potential to flood several countries if disrupted.
This map depicts the epicenter of the earthquake that struck eastern Tajikistan early Thursday morning. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Straits Times
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Australia
High Speed Rail Construction
A new high speed rail line is planned to be installed along the coast of Australia in the hopes of increasing development and housing accessibility and decentralizing densely populated areas. Using inspiration from Japanese transit, this estimated $108 billion fast track will gradually be built off the existing railroad corridors to allow quicker services to be offered. These improvements will have the capacity to reduce an 11-hour train ride from Sydney to Melbourne to just 6 hours by 2050. The proposed project hopes to improve regional lifestyle choices, however some residents are opposed to the construction due to heightened emissions and concerns over costs.
This map depicts the initial plans for a high-speed rail connection along Australia’s eastern coast. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: What US state is widely known for its desert landscapes, despite deserts actually covering less than 10 percent of its land area?
A: Texas
Texas is so large that its topography varies, from mountains to prairies to coastal plains. The state has 10 climatic regions and 11 ecological regions. While Texas is known for being a hot and arid desert, the only area in the state with a desert landscape is located in West Texas, which is home to the Chihuahuan Desert and Big Bend National Park. The rest of the state is made up of coastal swamps, woods, plains, and rolling hills. Its large size also produces varied climates. The panhandle region has large temperature extremes, with average highs in July of 96°F (35°C) and average lows in January of 34°F (1°C), whereas the Gulf Coast region is considered more mild but is prone to hurricanes.
Source
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Q: What African country’s capital is the most populous Portuguese-speaking capital city in the world?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in Monday’s DailyGeo.
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