21 Oct

India: One Billion Vaccine Doses Delivered









*|MC:SUBJECT|*


India
One Billion Vaccine Doses Delivered
Yesterday, India celebrated the administration of one billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to its population. The achievement was made possible due to India’s capacity for domestic production at the world’s largest vaccine producer, the Serum Institute of India. The achievement stands in contrast to the country’s troubles in the earlier part of the year, when the now-worldwide Delta variant of the virus drove a massive second wave of infections, with the vaccination drive being hampered by shortages and breakdowns in the rollout process. Part of the strategy to overcome those issues was to increase the gap between doses to 16 weeks, meaning that while almost 75% of the Indian population over 18 years old has received one dose, the number of eligible Indians fully vaccinated with both doses is only just above 30%.
 
This map depicts the proportion of the citizens who’ve been vaccinated in different Indian states. Click on the map to learn more.

Graphic Source: India Today on Twitter
__________________________________________


South Korea
Space Launch a Partial Success
South Korea’s first rocket built domestically and developed with the country’s own independent space technology, the KSLV-II NURI, was launched on Thursday. Although the launch failed to complete its mission by placing a dummy satellite in orbit, it still completed its flight sequence and is being hailed as a giant leap forward for the country’s space plans. The Korean Aerospace Research Institute said it will conduct at least 5 more test launches before allowing the rocket to carry regular payloads.

This map depicts South Korea and the location of the Naro Space Centre, from where South Korea’s first domestically-built rocket launched. Click on the map to learn more.

Graphic Source: Phys.org
__________________________________________


Canada
Scientists Date Viking Colony 
A new radiocarbon dating technique using reference points from an ancient solar storm has proven Vikings were settled in North America at L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland exactly 1000 years ago in 1021 AD, almost 500 years before Columbus. Scientists analyzed pieces of wood cut by metal blades, which Indigenous people did not possess at the time, leading archaeologists to conclude that this small settlement of eight framed buildings was built by Vikings. A massive solar storm occurred in 992 AD that left trees on Earth with a distinctive radiocarbon signal in their growth ring the following year. Scientists located the growth ring with solar flare evidence and added the remaining 29 growth rings to reach the 1021 AD conclusion.

This map depicts the routes of early Viking transatlantic passages. Click on the map to learn more.

Further Reading: The Guardian, WSJ, Earth.com, Technology Networks
Graphic Source: Daily Mail

Friday’s Answer

Q: Living only in fresh water, where in the world are pink dolphins found? 

A: The Amazon
The Amazon river dolphin, or ‘boto,’ is a rare species of dolphin found throughout the Amazon and Orinoco river basins in much of South America. They only thrive in freshwater rivers and lakes. They can grow over 9 feet (2.7 m) long and weigh over 350 pounds. These dolphins are born gray and gradually turn pink as they age, with male dolphins being much pinker than their female counterparts. They communicate using high-frequency sonar clicks as they trek the dark waters. As shy creatures, they spend much of their time underwater, making their existence seem almost mythical. Due to threats of environmental pollution and fisheries, the Amazon river dolphin is classified as a vulnerable and endangered population.

Source

Today’s Question


Q: What major U.S. city was “raised” up to 14 feet above sea level in the mid-1850s? 
 

Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.

 

AGS is accepting DailyGeo GeoQuestion suggestions.  
Write to ags@americangeo.org with any ideas!
Please include GeoQuestions in the subject line, along with your answer and source.

Share Share

Tweet Tweet

Forward Forward

DailyGeo is a daily digital communication created by AGS for the geography community. Feel free to share and encourage others to become part of the community too!
 
Copyright © 2021 American Geographical Society, All rights reserved.
We understand this might not be for everyone. Although we would hate to see you go, you can unsubscribe here.

How are we doing? We want to hear your feedback on the DailyGeo – what are we doing right and what should we be doing differently. Talk to us by emailing ags@americangeo.org.