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Japan
7.1 Earthquake Strikes Japan
A powerful 7.1 earthquake shook southwest Japan on Thursday, prompting tsunami warnings, and, for the first time, prompting the Pacific nation to warn of an enhanced likelihood of a “megaquake” occurring soon after this significant earthquake. The warning advised people to remain vigilant, but not to flee, and emphasized that the warning did not indicate that a significant earthquake was about to occur, only that the chances were increased. A day after the government issued this advisory, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3 struck Tokyo and eastern areas of Japan. Shortly after the earthquake Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the government had not received any reports of serious damage.
This map depicts the area under the megaquake advisory, the area under the tsunami advisory, and estimated areas for earthquake epicenter. Click on the map to learn more.
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United States
Glacial Flood Hits Juneau
Over 100 homes were damaged in the Alaskan city of Juneau following a glacial flood that struck early Tuesday morning. Since May, the water level of the Suicide Basin on the Mendenhall Glacier had been rising, and July saw the area receive twice the amount of rain as normal. The water reached a crest point last week, triggering a warning from local officials for residents in the Mendenhall River Valley to be prepared for a rapid evacuation. The ice dam created by the glacier which was holding the water finally gave way late Monday. The resulting glacial outburst flood, characterized like the effect of pulling a plug from a bathtub drain, saw the basin’s waters drop 400 feet (122 m). No deaths or serious injuries have been reported.
This map depicts the area of Juneau, Alaska, struck by a glacial outburst flood from the Suicide Basin of the Mendenhall Glacier this week, causing damage to over 100 homes. Click on the map to learn more.
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United States
Growth in Flood & Fire Hot Spots
Neither the threat of wildfires nor catastrophic flooding have kept Americans from moving to Texas and Florida, while California saw an outflow from fire-risk areas. Between July 2022 and July 2023, nearly 69,000 people bought homes in frequently flooded counties in Florida and roughly 24,000 moved to the heaviest flood-risk areas of Texas. Miami seems to buck the trend, with more residents leaving. The inflow of new residents is happening as former residents are fleeing. Counties with a high risk of wildfires also saw an influx, with 63,365 more people entering high-fire-risk states in 2023 than those leaving. Leading this trend is Texas, with 35,000 new residents in wildfire-endangered areas. A reversal from 2022, California’s high-fire-risk areas saw more people leave than move in last year. The cost-benefit calculus seems to be shifting in California and south Florida, where home insurance costs and increase in high-profile disasters have had a tangible impact on residents.
This map depicts net population growth in high-fire-risk and flood-prone areas in the US. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: What city once known as the “Paris of Central Asia” lies roughly halfway between Istanbul, Turkey, and Hanoi, Vietnam?
A: Kabul, Afghanistan
Said to be over 3,500 years old, Kabul is the largest urban center in Afghanistan and also its political and economic hub. The capital city is located at a crossroads in Asia—roughly halfway between Istanbul, Turkey, in the west and Hanoi, Vietnam, in the east—the city is situated in a strategic location along the trade routes of Central Asia and South Asia. Kabul was a key destination on the ancient Silk Road and was traditionally seen as the meeting point between Central Asia, India and Persia. The city is known for its historical gardens, bazaars, and palaces such as the Gardens of Babur, Darul Aman Palace, and the Arg. In the second half of the 20th century, the city became a stop on the hippie trail undertaken by many Europeans from West Asia to South Asia and gained the nickname “Paris of Central Asia”.
Source
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Q: What is the only sovereign nation outside Europe where Dutch is the official and prevailing language?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in Monday’s DailyGeo.
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