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Nepal
Plane Crash Kills 18
A passenger plane crashed shortly after take-off from Tribhuvan International Airport in the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu, killing everyone onboard except the pilot. All the passengers and crew were employees of Saurya Airlines, and was bound for the tourist hub of Pokhara in the western part of Nepal, as part of a scheduled maintenance check. While the investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, initial reports indicate that the plane turned the opposite direction of where it was supposed to go immediately after take-off. Nepal is one of the most dangerous places in the world for commercial flights due to both the inherent dangers of the mountainous terrain and lax enforcement of safety standards.
This map depicts the location of the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, where 18 people died when their. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Barron’s
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Brazil
Cocaine Found in Sharks
New research has revealed that sharks living off the coast of Brazil have tested positive for cocaine, marking the first instance of the drug being detected in free-ranging sharks. Scientists from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation examined 13 sharpnose sharks off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, finding cocaine present in both the liver and muscle tissue of all the specimens. The species was selected due to its residence in a small area of coastal waters, where it faces constant exposure to contaminant discharges throughout its life cycle. Cocaine pollution in the sea originates from sewage discharges by drug users and illegal production laboratories. The study associates the significant rise in global cocaine consumption with contaminated waters. Although the study could not determine the effects of cocaine on shark behavior due to lack of research, it notes that cocaine affects the brain and has caused hyperactive and erratic behavior in other animals. Researchers also suggest it is highly likely that crustaceans, fish, and other prey of sharks are also contaminated with cocaine.
This map depicts the coastal cities with waste water that has the highest levels of illicit drug contamination, including Rio De Janeiro, where sharks tested positive for cocaine. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Daily Mail
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Africa
African Soil Contaminated
African farmers’ soils are rapidly dying due to chemical fertilizers. About 63% of Kenya’s arable land is now acidic due to the usage of acidic fertilizers. Similarly, the government of Zimbabwe, formerly known as the breadbasket of Africa, estimates that 70% of the soil is acidic. In the past, many African governments tried to improve soils by introducing chemical fertilizers; however, improper application led to a decrease in organic matter. The Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) recommended farmers test the pH of their soil and apply lime to offset excessive acidity. However, farmers argue that both of those tasks are expensive and scarce. An Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa’s representative suggested gradually eliminating chemical fertilizers. The estimated annual loss of soil nutrients in Sub-Saharan Africa as a result of acidic soil is as high as USD $4 billion.
This map depicts where the acidic soils are distributed in Kenya. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: What country is home to the Strait of the Dardanelles?
A: Turkey
The Dardanelles (Turkish: Çanakkale Boğazı, ‘Strait of Çanakkale’), also known as the Strait of Gallipoli (after the Gallipoli peninsula), is a narrow, natural strait and internationally significant waterway in northwestern Turkey that forms part of the continental boundary between Asia and Europe and separates Asian Turkey from European Turkey. Together with the Bosporus, the Dardanelles forms the Turkish Straits. One of the world’s narrowest straits used for international navigation, the Dardanelles connects the Sea of Marmara with the Aegean and Mediterranean seas while also allowing passage to the Black Sea by extension via the Bosporus.
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Q: What city is located at the junction of the Blue Nile and White Nile rivers?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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