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Ukraine
Kakhovka Dam Destroyed
The Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power plant in a currently Russian-controlled area of southern Ukraine has been destroyed, causing catastrophic flooding. Ukraine’s military intelligence agency has accused Russia of blowing up the dam, which supplies water to many residents in southern Ukraine and acts as an essential cooler to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The flooding has forced around 1,300 people to evacuate so far, and Ukranian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak has called the act “a global ecological disaster.” Russian forces deny any involvement in the explosion, and have accused Ukraine of sabotaging the dam in response to a failing counter-offensive.
This map depicts the location of the Kakhovka dam explosion in southern Ukraine. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: BBC
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Haiti
Deadly Flooding
Following heavy rains from June 1st to 4th, catastrophic flooding has blanketed the Island of Haiti, leading to subsequent landslides. According to a statement released by the Haitian Civil Protection Agency, at least 42 people are reported dead and a further 85 injured. Over 13,300 people have been displaced throughout five of Haiti’s 10 departments. The situation is set to worsen as these floods are just the latest calamity to strike the Caribbean nation that already suffers with weak infrastructure, criminal violence, political turmoil, and several other natural disasters (e.g. small earthquake on June 5th).
This map depicts the main departments of the Island Haiti (highlighted in pale orange) affected by the June 2023 flooding. Click on the map to learn more.
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Europe
New Generation of Night Trains
The European Sleeper, a crowd-funded company, aims to reduce air travel by offering sustainable and pleasant night train journeys. Carbon emissions per passenger-mile on trains are about one fifth of those on planes, making them a more eco-friendly option. While the rolling stock is old and lacks certain amenities like a restaurant car, the company aims to make the service affordable and accessible. Plans are underway to introduce new carriages that prioritize affordability. Sleeper services had declined in the past due to the rise of budget airlines, but they are now experiencing a revival. The demand for night trains has been fueled by a desire for greener travel options and a dissatisfaction with air travel experiences. Many passengers are willing to pay just for the experience and lower environmental impact.
This map depicts the new routes of sleeper train routes being established throughout Europe. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: At 8.9 miles (14.4 km) long and 958 feet (292 m) below sea level, what is the world’s longest and deepest undersea tunnel?
A: Ryfylke Tunnel, Norway
With so much of the country being only a narrow, mountainous strip of land along the North Atlantic, Norway’s identity is defined by its relationship to the sea. With numerous inhabited islands off its coast surrounded by seasonally treacherous seas, it makes sense that the Norwegians, given the opportunity and resources, would find alternatives to ferry service to keep up the flow of people and goods year-round. Norway’s resolve and engineering mastery to address these needs is represented by the Ryfylke Tunnel, which opened in January of 2020. The Ryfylke Tunnel took over the title of world’s deepest automotive tunnel from Norway’s own Eiksund Tunnel, below the Vartdalsfjorden, which reaches just over 941 feet (287 m) below sea level. And it seems like Norway intends to keep a firm grip on the prize, because the Boknafjord Tunnel, currently under construction to reach a stunning 1286 feet (392 m) deep, is set to open in 2027.
Source
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Q: Where in the United States can you find the only floating zip (postal) code?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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