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Panama
Hegseth Vows Canal Control
The government of China has responded to statements made by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth concerning control over the operation of the Panama Canal. In an address yesterday in Panama City given at a pier rebuilt with U.S. support, Hegseth said the U.S. and Panama would “take back the Panama Canal from China’s influence.” The Chinese embassy in Panama responded not long after Hegseth’s speech, accusing the United States of bullying the Panamanian government for its own geopolitical interests. The Panama Canal is a critical point in international trade, providing the ability for ships to navigate between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans without having to circumnavigate South America. It was built and controlled by the United States for decades before it was handed over to the government of Panama on condition that its operation be politically neutral. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has contended that ongoing Chinese development projects in and around the canal are providing cover for espionage by the Chinese government.
This map depicts ongoing Chinese development projects in and around the Panama Canal. Click on the map to learn more.
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Philippines
Kanlaon Volcano Erupts
Kanloan Volcano, located in the central Philippines on Negros Island, erupted on Tuesday, releasing a plume of ash that reached nearly 2.5 miles (4 km) into the sky. The eruption, which lasted for almost an hour, scattered ash across at least 14 nearby towns, reducing visibility and forcing authorities to close schools. Residents within a 4 mile (6 km) radius had already been evacuated following a previous eruption in December. The volcano has been under a level three alert—out of a scale of five—since the eruption in December, indicating ongoing volcanic activity. No injuries or significant damage have been reported. Kanlaon Volcano is one of 24 active volcanoes in the Philippines, which is situated on the Ring of Fire, where volcanic activity is common.
This map depicts the locations of the 24 active volcanoes in the Philippines, including Kanloan Volcano, which erupted yesterday. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: CBS News
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Libya
DNA Reveals Human Lineage
Scientists uncovered rare, remarkably well-preserved DNA of two humans who lived in the Sahara when it was a more amenable environment. The mummified remains date back to the “green Sahara,” or African Humid Period––an epoch between 14,500 and 5,000 years ago when the Sahara Desert was filled with rivers and lush vegetation. The DNA, from remains found in the Takarkori rock shelter in current-day Libya, revealed that North African human populations were not as isolated as expected, as the samples had about one-tenth of the amount of Neanderthal ancestry a farmer from the Levant might have had, and noticeably more Neanderthal DNA than modern sub-Saharan Africans. The study, published in Nature, suggests that instead of the people moving into North Africa bringing herding practices with them, local North African groups—who were isolated and very different from others and likely widespread in the region during the late Pleistocene—adopted pastoralism through cultural exchange.
This map depicts the timeline of various types of farming and subsistence in the broader Sahara region around its “green” period. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: What country is home to what is often referred to as the world’s smallest desert?
A: Canada
Carcross Desert, located in the Yukon Territory, Canada, is often referred to as the smallest desert in the world, covering an area of approximately one square mile (2.6 sq km). However, it is technically not a true desert due to its humid climate; instead, it consists of a series of northern sand dunes formed during the last glacial period when large glacial lakes deposited silt. These sand dunes are kept dry by the rain shadow effects of the mountains in Yukon’s southern lakes region. But the Carcross receives too much rainfall to meet the scientific definition of an arid desert. Although the winds are harsh and inhibitory to most plant life, the dunes are home to a few unusual flora and fauna. The area’s plant life includes the exceptionally rare Baikal Sedge (which is normally found only off the coast of Lake Baikal in Siberia), and the Yukon Lupine.
Source
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Q: What mountainous country is known for East Asia’s oldest surviving astronomical observatory?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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