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Ethiopia
Landslides Kill 157
Two landslides in Gofa, Ethiopia have killed at least 157 people, and officials warn the number could increase as rescue efforts continue. The first landslide was triggered by heavy rains in the mountainous region, and the second occurred shortly after. Three families were reportedly buried by the first, with the death toll rising sharply after the second as those trying to help were buried. Locals are currently attempting search efforts by digging with their bare hands, awaiting the necessary machinery to aid the recovery. Seasonal rains have caused flooding and mass displacement in addition to frequent landslides, even as other parts of the country face severe drought.
This map depicts the location of the Gofa Zone administrative area in southern Ethiopia, where two landslides recently occurred due to heavy rains in the region. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Al Jazeera
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China
Truce Between Hamas and Fatah
The Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have signed an agreement in Beijing to end their rift and eventually form a government together. The agreement, which contained no timetable or commitments, was described by both parties as merely the first step. Previous attempts at such declarations have proven unsuccessful, casting doubt on the possibility that the China-sponsored negotiations could result in an agreement between the former rivals. Israel immediately opposed the deal as it refuses to recognize any role for Hamas in any future Palestinian administration. Western countries such as the United States have historically refused to recognize any Palestinian government that does not explicitly recognize Israel. This stance has contributed to the failure of previous attempts at unification between the two groups.
This map depicts the location of Israel and Palestinian territories. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Newsweek
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World
New Deep Sea Oxygen Source
Scientists have discovered a significant new source of oxygen in the deepest waters of the ocean. This so-called “dark oxygen” was found during a deep-sea survey of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, a region of the eastern Pacific Ocean drawing the attention of many countries for its supply of valuable minerals. As detailed in an article published in Nature Geoscience, the discovery was completely unexpected, with the survey taking water oxygenation readings that were initially considered a malfunction. Oxygen in water has long been believed to be primarily the product of biological processes, like photosynthesis by algae, and that the deep sea was a net-consumer of oxygen. The survey team eventually discovered that the potato-sized nodules on the seafloor being explored for their mineral content are themselves capable of generating an electric current that can split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. This discovery forces scientists to re-examine their assumptions about the scale of life’s earliest contributions to the oxygenation of Earth’s atmosphere, and also to consider the potential environmental impacts of removing this source of oxygen from the ocean.
This map depicts the location of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, which is being explored by multiple countries for deep sea mining, and also where scientists discovered a significant new source of oceanic oxygen production. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: Outside of Europe, what country is home to the Southern Alps?
A: New Zealand
The Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana are a mountain range extending along much of the length of New Zealand’s South Island, reaching its greatest elevations near the range’s western side. It is the highest range in Australasia. The Māori name of the range is Kā Tiritiri o te Moana, meaning “the Mirage of the Ocean”. The English explorer James Cook bestowed the name Southern Alps on March 23rd, 1770. The Southern Alps run approximately 310 miles (500 km) northeast to southwest. Its tallest peak is Aoraki / Mount Cook, the highest point in New Zealand at 12,218 ft (3,724 m).
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Q: What country is home to the Strait of the Dardanelles?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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