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Spain
Migrants Granted Legal Status
The government of Spain has finalized an amnesty plan for the over half-million unauthorized immigrants in the country. The program will grant legal status for migrants to live and work in Spain, provided that they entered the country before 2026 and have lived there for over five consecutive months at the time of their application. This provisional status will last for one year, after which immigrants can become more integrated into the country’s legal residence system. While the government estimates that there are around 500,000 undocumented immigrants living and working in Spain, regional think tanks place this number closer to 800,000 people. The move has drawn criticism from Spain’s conservative political groups, and immigration officers are threatening to strike. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his left-wing coalition government hope that the country’s trend of economic growth—which can be partially attributed to the arrival of foreign workers—will bring more supporters to the decree.
This map depicts the continents and countries of origin of migrants in Spain. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: El Mundo
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Africa
Pope Leo’s Africa Tour
Pope Leo XIV embarked Monday on an ambitious 10-day trip to Africa, with visits to Algeria, Angola, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, to urge global leaders to address the needs of the continent where more than a fifth of the world’s Catholics live. The trip began in Algeria, with the Pope visiting the Grand Mosque of Algiers and the ancient home of St. Augustine of Hippo. Before being elected Bishop of Rome, Leo led the religious order of St. Augustine, who was the bishop of the ancient city of Hippo, now known as Annaba, in Algeria. Africa is the continent where Catholicism is growing faster than anywhere else in the world. The African population is expected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, and according to the World Bank, within 25 years, one in three young people globally will be African. By going to Africa, the world’s poorest continent, the pope aims to focus on the most vulnerable members of the Church. In each country, the pope will meet political leaders; visit orphanages, nursing homes, and prisons; and conduct Mass in various venues.
This map depicts the stops on the Pope’s Africa tour, which includes Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. Click on the map to learn more.
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Colombia
Culling Escobar’s Invasive Hippos
On Monday, Colombian officials approved a plan to euthanize dozens of hippopotamuses, an invasive species, living in the wild. Four hippos, one male and three female, were imported to Colombia in the 1980s for notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar’s gigantic ranch in the Magdalena River valley. When Escobar was killed in 1993, the hippos were left behind. By 2022, Colombia’s National University estimated roughly 170 hippos were roaming freely throughout the country. With no natural predators, the population has grown unchecked and disrupted the local ecosystem. Some animals have been sterilized and options were explored to transfer the hippos to sanctuaries overseas, but costs ballooned to around $3.5 million. Instead, the approved plan allocates around $2 million for euthanasia. An initial 80 hippos are expected to be euthanized, although the exact timeframe has not been set.
This map depicts Colombian hippo routes and potential occupation area. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: The rare geomorphological phenomenon known as “sand pyramids” can be found in Colorado, Serbia, and Italy, but where is the only known place on Earth where one can find sand pyramids that are still growing?
A: Bosnia & Herzegovina
The ‘Sand Pyramids’ known as Pješčane Piramide, are unique monoliths in Daničići, Bosnia and Herzegovina, less than 6 miles (9 km) outside of Foča. This area has been referred to as “Bosnian Colorado.” While there are seven distinct locations where these pyramids can be found, only two are accessible to the public. Molded over hundreds of years, the pyramids were formed by the erosion of sandy clay by wind, rain, and snow. This process of erosion still continues today, and unlike the naturally formed hoodoos of Colorado, the Dolomites of Italy, or Devil Town, Serbia, the sand pyramids of Bosnia and Herzegovina are still growing and being shaped. The sandpit rises from its large foundation, narrowing towards the top, and can reach heights of up to 65 feet (20 m) tall. While those who see the wonder are often amazed by its beauty, access is made difficult by the lack of roads leading to the sites.
Source
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Q: An estuary is where freshwater rivers or streams meet the ocean. With its watershed spanning 64,000 sq miles (166,000 sq km), what is the largest estuary in North America?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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