21 Sep

Tanzania: Ferry Collapse

<!doctype html>




 

 
Tanzania
Ferry Collapse
A ferry capsized on Lake Victoria leaving at least 100 dead with many more missing. Some officials say there are over 200 people missing or drowned but official passengers number are unclear. The ferry was traveling from Bugorora to Ukara.  The ferry had a capacity of 100 passengers but it is believed that up to 400 people were on the boat which caused it to capsize. Tanzania has a history of vessels sinking; in 2012 a ferry with 800 passengers sank, and in 2011 about 200 passengers died after a ferry sank. This map depicts the ferry’s path from Bugorora to Ukara, where the ferry sank. Click on the map to learn more.

Further Reading: NPR, CNN, Fox News, USA Today TIME
Graphic Source: BBC
__________________________________________

 
Syria
Demilitarization Zone 
Turkey and Russia have reached an agreement on the borders for a demilitarized zone around the last rebel-held area in Idlib, Syria. The two countries will enforce a demilitarized zone in a 10-12 mile radius around the periphery of the region. The countries, which have been on opposing sides through the Syrian war, are hoping to avoid large-scale offensive moves by either side in an area that houses some 3 to 4 million people, most of whom are previously displaced Syrians. Though no offensive action will be taken by Russian or Turkish forces, there are still active rebel groups within the region of Idlib who have not expressed willingness to leave the area and still pose a threat to the safety of civilians in the region. This map depicts the proposed demilitarized zone around Idlib. Click on the map to learn more.

Graphic Source: Wall Street Journal
__________________________________________

 
Africa
Ivory Cartels
Scientists matched DNA fingerprint samples of elephant tusks from 38 large ivory shipments seized around the world between 2006 and 2014 to expose three major ivory export cartels operating in Africa. Some pairs of tusks that had been separated before they were shipped to different places were genetically matched, giving insight into the smuggling networks. The matched samples were found in shipments that originated from the Kenya port, Mombasa, that had passed through Uganda – two poaching hotspots in East Africa. Poachers are currently being prosecuted for single seizures, however, connecting individual traffickers to multiple larger seizures could elevate charges to major transnational crimes.This map depicts the observed trade routes for large-scale seizures of ivory. Click on the map to learn more.

Graphic Source:  BBC

Yesterday’s Answer

Q: What is the smallest desert in the world?

A: The Carcross Desert
The Carcross Desert in Yukon, Canada, is the smallest desert in the world and only spans a space of about one square mile. It was formed during the last glacial era, when the drying up process of glacial lakes created sand dunes.

Source

Today’s Question

 

Q:  NYC’s train system has the most subway stations in the world, how many stations does the network have?

Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in Monday’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 a daily digital communication created by AGS staff in our Headquarters for our community of Affiliates to digest on business days. Feel free to share and encourage others to become part of the community too!
Copyright © 2018 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.

Share

Tweet

Forward