|
|
|
South Sudan
Government Officials Arrested
South Sudanese forces have arrested the petroleum minister and several senior military officials allied with Vice President Riek Machar, jeopardizing a peace deal that ended a five-year civil war. Civil war broke out in South Sudan in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir sacked Machar, resulting in an estimated 400,000 deaths, driving more than 2.5 million people from their homes, and leaving half of the 11 million total population facing starvation. A peace deal put an end to the worst of the fighting in 2018, but the agreement has still not been fully implemented. The recent arrests follow reports that the White Army militia, which has a history of association with Machar’s Nuer ethnic group, had seized a strategic town close to the Ethiopian border after clashes with government troops largely of the Dinka ethnic group. Machar’s allies have been accused of supporting the rebels.
This map depicts sites of political violence in South Sudan between May 2018 and May 2023. Click on the map to learn more.
|
|
|
|
Graphic Source: Global Witness
__________________________________________
|
|
|
|
Mexico
Missing Student Bodies Found
The bodies of nine students who disappeared in southern Mexico last week were discovered in the village of San Jose Miahuatlan. The students, originally from Tlaxcala and apparently on their way to vacation in Oaxaca, were reported missing on February 28. On Sunday, the bodies of all nine were found mutilated in and around a car left along the busy Cuacnopalan-Oaxaca highway. Police have not identified suspects or given a motive behind the killing, but at least one Mexican news outlet has alleged that the victims were associated with a criminal organization whose leader was shot dead the same day their bodies were discovered. Competing drug cartels have wracked Mexico with violence. The year 2023 was the most violent year in decades, though murders declined in 2024 to their lowest levels since 2016.
This map depicts the territories and conflict zones of the major Mexican drug cartels, whose brutal tactics are believed to be illustrated by the murders and dismemberment of nine students found dead on Sunday. Click on the map to learn more.
|
|
|
|
Graphic Source: Daily Mail
__________________________________________
|
|
|
|
Tanzania
Oldest Bone Tools Uncovered
In northern Tanzania’s Olduvai Gorge, archaeologists have uncovered a collection of bone tools that was crafted by early hominids approximately 1.5 million years ago, indicating that human ancestors were making bone tools at least 1 million years earlier than previously thought. While stone tools dating back at least 2.5 million years have been found before, the oldest known bone tools prior to this discovery were no more than 500,000 years old. The newly uncovered tools include 27 sharpened fragments of limb bones from hippopotamuses and elephants, and some are nearly 15 inches (38 cm) in length. The tools appear to have been systematically produced in the same style. Stone tools found at the site imply these early hominids applied their knowledge of stoneworking techniques to create these bone tools, providing insights into their complex cognitive abilities.
This map depicts the location of the archaeological site at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania where a 1.5 million year-old collection of bone tools was found. Click on the map to learn more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Q: What is the name for the global epicenter of marine biodiversity, home to 30% of the world’s coral reefs?
A: The Coral Triangle
The Coral Triangle is one of the greatest centers of biodiversity on Earth. This region has more species of corals, fish, mangroves, seagrasses, and many other taxa than any other marine area on the planet. It is now generally agreed that six countries form the core of the Coral Triangle; it comprises parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and Timor Leste. The Coral Triangle occupies just 1.5% of the world’s total area but represents 30% of the world’s coral reefs. The area, covering over 50,193 square miles (130,000 sq km), has nearly 600 species of reef-building corals – 75% of the world’s coral species, and is home to six of the world’s seven marine turtle species and more than 2,000 species of reef fish. The Coral Triangle is generally more resilient against the climate crisis because of the complexity in the region.
Source
|
|
|
|
|
Q: What European city’s name translates to “Bay of Smokes” from its natural hot springs?
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.
|
|
|
|
DailyGeo is an outreach effort of the American Geographical Society (AGS) to highlight the importance of geography and geospatial understanding in our day-to-day lives and the pressing issues of the day. AGS intiatives advance geographical education for everyone from high school students to seasoned professionals in the geospatial world, and that work is made possible from the financial support of people like you. If you enjoy DailyGeo and want to help AGS advance geographical learning for future generations, please consider making a donation.
|
|
|
|
DailyGeo is a daily digital communication created by the American Geographical Society (AGS) for the geography community. If you are receiving this email, it is because you are an affiliate of AGS or a participant in one of our programs. Feel free to share and encourage others to become part of the community too!
Copyright © 2025 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.
|
|
|
|
|
