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Brazil
Virus Along The Amazon
Brazil has recorded the second-highest COVID death toll in the world, and the Amazon Rainforest, often referred to as the Earth’s lungs, ironically has become one of the worst-hit regions. This interactive map by The New York Times shows the highly-infected cluster of cases along the Amazon river. A recent study reveals the six cities with the highest coronavirus exposure in the country are all situated on the Amazon River. The fragile health system has buckled with settlements along the river experiencing higher deaths per capita than Brazil’s national average. Members of the Amazon’s indigenous community are dying in huge numbers, as they are revealed to be roughly six times more likely to be infected than white people.
This map depicts the industrial city of Manaus and the farming municipality of Tefé in Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest, which have been badly hit by the virus. All COVID-19 updates will be displayed in a red box.
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World
South China Sea Dispute
On Thursday, Australia formally sided with the United States against China’s claim of ownership over the majority of the South China Sea. Also opposing the Chinese claim are Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam, who agree with the 2016 international tribunal who ruled China had no right to the region. The Chinese say their claim originates with the “nine-dash line,” seen on historic maps, and have already built military bases on artificial islands in the area. The South China Sea is officially uninhabited, although there are two island chains, supposed natural resource reserves, and a major shipping route and fishing grounds. Around three trillion dollars worth of trade pass through the region annually.
This map depicts the various claims to the South China Sea. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Tibet Sun
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Israel
Israel Opens Fire
Israel’s military opened fire in Golan Heights after claiming the armed Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah, were infiltrating Israeli territory. The area has been tense since the death of a Hezbollah militant last week in an apparent Israeli air strike. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) accused the group of planning an attack, and supposedly traced cell phone locations when they crossed the Blue Line, the UN recognized border between Israel and Lebanon. Hezbollah has stated they did not engage in any attack in the area occupied by Israel. Reports are unclear, however, if Hezbollah did infiltrate Israel, and are planning a retaliatory attack for the loss of their soldier. Relations between Israel and Lebanon have been strained since a deadly month-long war in 2006.
This map depicts the alleged infiltration of Hezbollah militants in Golan Heights occupied by Israel. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: Which natural feature prevents the 14,000 miles long Pan-American Highway from fully connecting Alaska to Argentina?
A: Darién Gap
Through several attempts have been made, engineers have been unable to constuct roads through the Darién Gap, which consists of dense rainforests, swampland, and mountainous terrain at the Panama-Colombia border. Travelers must take a plane or boat to bypass the 60-mile long gap, preventing completion of the “longest motorable road.”
Source
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Q: What promontories at the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar marked the western end of the Classical world?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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