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Philippines
Tension in the South China Sea
Philippine and Chinese diplomats are working to de-escalate tensions after the Philippines installed guards and ships to military outposts in the South China Sea to monitor suspected reclamation activity from China. Philippine presence at Second Thomas Shoal, in what was supposed to be a temporary arrangement in a de-escalation agreement, quickly angered China, which, at the same time, parked its largest coast guard ship at Sabina Shoal. Sabina Shoal is located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, and the Chinese seizure of Sabina Shoal would cut off routes to Second Thomas Shoal, Nanshan Island, and Flat Island and bring China closer to Palawan. Despite increasing rhetoric of non-violent resolution, recent events have seen an increased use of force, including China using lasers to briefly blind Philippine sailors, hitting vessels, and confiscating weapons.
This map depicts the occupied and unoccupied reefs and shoals in the South China Sea. Click on the map to learn more.
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Germany
Border Controls Rankle EU
Germany has approved a plan to temporarily impose more systemic land border checks for people arriving by vehicle from its EU neighbors Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, beginning on Monday. Similar controls were already in place at its borders with Austria, Czechia, Poland, and Switzerland. The full details of the plan’s implementation – including how it will comply with Schengen Zone rules and EU regulations supporting the rights of asylum seekers – are still unclear. The center-left German government has faced increasing criticism from the country’s right-wing parties over loose border protections and easy access for asylum-seekers, especially after a few high-profile cases of violence committed by asylum seekers.
This map depicts the country of Germany in magenta and the countries with which it had already imposed tighter border controls in light blue, as well as the countries with which it will impose new, stronger border controls in darker blue. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Bloomberg
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United States
Landslide Susceptibility Map
The U.S. Geological Survey has released a map showing that 44% of the U.S. is susceptible to landslides. The new assessment provides a highly detailed, county-by-county picture of where these damaging and potentially deadly geologic hazards are more likely. This interactive map allows for viewers to input their own address to understand how susceptible their own home is to landslide hazards. Previously, maps were created for smaller, high-risk areas. The team used an inventory of nearly 1 million previous landslides, high-resolution national elevation data from the USGS 3D Elevation Program, and advanced computing to build their comprehensive landslide susceptibility model. This map will support risk-reduction and land-use planning efforts by showing where potentially unstable areas are so planners and engineers can better prioritize and mitigate hazards in landslide-prone areas.
This map depicts the susceptibility of landslides around the U.S.. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: What country located between France and Spain is the largest of Europe’s microstates?
A: Andorra
Andorra is a small, landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees Mountain range and bordered by Spain and France. With an area of 180 square miles (468 km²), it is the sixth smallest country in Europe and also the largest of the European microstates. Andorra consists predominantly of rugged mountains, the highest being the Coma Pedrosa at 9,652 feet (2,942 m), and the average elevation of Andorra is 6,549 ft (1,996 m). Andorra has a cluster of mountain valleys whose streams unite to form the Valira River. Andorra has traditionally had a strong affinity with the region of Catalonia in northern Spain. Andorra’s official language is Catalan (Spanish and French are also spoken).
Source
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Q: What is the deepest point of the Caribbean Sea?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in Monday’s DailyGeo.
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