|
|
United Kingdom
A New Proposal
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has sent a new Brexit proposal to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. The new proposal calls for removing the Irish backstop (designed to avoid physical border infrastructure) and replacing it with an “all island regulatory zone” to cover goods and customs regulations. This plan would involve creating an exclusive trade zone on the island of Ireland that eliminates regulatory checks on goods traded between Ireland (part of the EU) and Northern Ireland (part of the UK). The proposal is meant to solve the ongoing border question that has been a major hindrance to a completed Brexit. Thousands of workers and goods cross the 300-mile border everyday- an economic detail that would be deeply affected in a no-deal Brexit that may potentially leave the two nations without a mutual trade agreement.
This map depicts Ireland and Northern Ireland’s potential trade agreement under Boris Johnson’s new Brexit proposal. Click on the map to learn more.
Register for Geography 2050: Borders and a Borderless World to explore more border topics!
|
|
|
|
United States
Shooting Settlement Reached
MGM Resorts International (MGM), who owns the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, reached a multi-million dollar settlement with the victims and the families of victims killed in the October 2017 mass shooting. Eglet Adams, the Las Vegas-based law firm that represents about 2,500 plaintiffs made the announcement on Thursday stating that MGM will pay between $735 million and $800 million. On October 1, 2017, a gunman fired more than 1,100 rounds from the hotel’s 32nd-floor into a crowded music festival, killing 58 and wounding hundreds more before killing himself. Both the law firm and MGM said an independent administrator would be responsible for making the payments to the victims and their families which is expected to be completed by next year.
This map depicts the hometowns for some of the Las Vegas mass shooting victims. Click on the map to expand.
|
|
|
Pacific Ocean
First Successful Plastic Cleanup
The Ocean Cleanup, a nonprofit organization dedicated to removing plastics from the world’s oceans, has announced that their newest system, System 001/B, is successfully capturing and collecting plastics from the Pacific Ocean. This news comes after a year of testing on System 001/B. The system is entirely self contained and uses only the natural powers of the waves and wind to propel it, collecting large plastics, and even micro-plastics as it moves. The U-shaped vessel is meant to capture plastics and hold them until a ship can collect them. It skims the surface, collecting visible plastics as well as ghost nets, old line and nets left over from commercial fishing. The Ocean Cleanup aims to removed 50% of the plastics in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch using a fleet of these systems over the next five years.
This map depicts the location of System 001/B in the Pacific Ocean. Click on the map to expand.
|
|
|
|
Scotland is a country known for its expansive rolling hills, its historic castles, and, of course, bagpipes. However, nothing can be more iconic– and loved worldwide– than Scottish whisky. Renown for its meticulous and true-to-tradition distilling methods, Scotland distilleries incorporate the same pure spring water that has been used for centuries, aging the whisky in casks from the finest wood to ensure a rich and flavorful product that makes the process an absolute art form.
VisitScotland’s Land of Whisky is an interactive map displaying the five proud regions of whisky as a visitor’s guide to the country. Every section offers a delightful history of the region, covering Campbeltown, Lowland, Islay, Highland, and Speyside. “No two are the same; each has its own proud heritage, unique setting and its own way of doing things that have evolved and been refined over time,” the site states. The map shares a historical overview of each region’s distilleries, describing the geographical features that lend to the unique intricacies of every product. In addition, a list of every distillery is detailed, while local activities and attractions are included on the map.
Scotland’s whisky industry has been left worried after an announcement the U.S. will be place a 25% tax on the spirit for the first time in 25 years. These newly announced tariffs on European imports to the United States have shaken many producers, however, sharing the history and geography of this globally enjoyed drink helps raise awareness to it’s multi-faceted manufacturing!
|
|
|
 |
Q: With a land area of approximately 7,215 square kilometers (2,786 square miles), the glaciated Kerguelen Islands are located in which ocean?
A: Southern Indian Ocean
The Kerguelen Islands are a territory of France, though they are quite far from Europe. Their proximate location to Antarctica have given them the name “Desolation Islands.” The Cook Ice Cap sits on the largest of the islands and has been shrinking for the past 50 years.
Source
|
|
|
|
|
Q: Because of its basaltic surface, scientists use which lake to study craters that occur on places like Mars?
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 for the geography community. Feel free to share and encourage others to become part of the community too!
Copyright © 2019 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. |
|
|
|
|
