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Lithuania
Sweden Gets NATO Green Light
After nearly a full year of resistance, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to support Sweden’s bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The change of heart came on the eve of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. As per the organization’s protocol, all 31 member states have veto over any new country joining the group. Turkey had previously blocked Sweden’s application to NATO, accusing it of hosting Kurdish militants. Turkey was joined in stalling Sweden’s accession by Hungary, which had accused Sweden of denigrating Hungary’s human rights record. With the approval of President Erdogan, Hungary also stated this morning it would approve Sweden’s membership. With Sweden’s membership now apparently set, the countries of the alliance will turn their attention today and tomorrow to Ukraine’s desire to join the alliance.
This map depicts the current NATO member states and the years in which they joined the organization. Click on the map to learn more.
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Spain
Missing Boats Off Canary Islands
Several hundred people who were traveling on three migrant boats from Senegal to Spain’s Canary Islands have gone missing. Two of the boats have been missing for 15 days while the third boat, carrying about 200 people, left Senegal on June 27. All three boats departed from Kafountine in the south of Senegal, approximately 1,057 miles (~1,700km) from Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands. Spanish authorities say they have rescued 86 people from a boat near the Canary Islands, believing them to be from Senegal. The Canary Islands off the coast of West Africa have become the main destination for migrants trying to reach Spain, with smaller numbers seeking to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Spain’s mainland. The Atlantic migration route is one of the deadliest in the world, with 559 people killed in 2022 alone.
This map depicts the route three migrant boats, carrying several hundred passengers, took from Senegal before going missing near the Spanish Canary Islands. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: BBC
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United States
Northern Lights Visible
This week, sky gazers across the upper United States will be able to see the Aurora Borealis, also known as Northern Lights. Due to a forecasted geomagnetic storm, a major glow is expected to be visible in up to 17 states mid-week. This phenomenon, most commonly seen in Alaska, Canada, and Scandinavia, could be seen as far south as Maryland in rural areas. These lights occur when the Sun’s activity pulls the Earth’s magnetic field away from the planet and snaps it back, causing a powerful electron ripple. The storm may be visible on Wednesday, growing into Thursday.
This map depicts the areas which have the greatest and a possible chances to see the northern lights. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: Lying along the Mediterranean coast, what Algerian city is considered the country’s second-largest, after its capital Algiers?
A: Oran
Oran is a major coastal city and port in northwestern Algeria and is known for its commercial and cultural importance. Located at the point of Algeria that is closest to Spain, and being the midway between Tangier, Morocco and Algiers, Oran’s geography plays an important role in the city. Founded in the early 10th century, Oran’s sea connections to Europe aided in its commercial development. During World War II, the Algerian coastal port became the location of the Allied countries landing in North Africa. A large part of France’s fleet took refuge here, however British naval forces sank and damaged most of the French ships in an effort to keep them from being captured by German soldiers. Later, US forces captured the city. At the time, Oran had the highest proportion of European inhabitants of any North African city, however after Algeria’s independence in 1962, many Europeans subsequently left, and Oran shifted to commercial development.
Source
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Q: Located in northwestern Poland, where can you find these mysteriously curved pine trees?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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