United States
Genocide Recognized
The United States House of Representatives voted in favor of recognizing the mass killing of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks as a genocide. The House voted 405 to 11 in favor of recognizing the genocide. The killings took place during WWI and killed an estimated 1.5 million Armenians. The Ottoman Empire was located in modern-day Turkey, whose president, Tayyip Erdogan, condemned the decision by the U.S. House citing it as a “grave mistake” and “a meaningless political step.” To become official U.S. policy, the resolution would have to be passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the President, though no such vote is currently scheduled in the Senate.
This map depicts the extent of the Armenian Genocide. Click on the map to expand.
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Graphic Source: AFP
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World
New Estimates of Sea Level Rise
A recent study suggests that rising sea levels could affect three times as many people as previously thought. Research published in the journal Nature Communications, projects that by 2050, land currently home to 300 million people will be below the elevation of annual floods, while by 2100, areas inhabited by 200 million people will fall below the high tide line. Particularly at risk are highly-populated coastal Asian cities such as Shanghai, Mumbai, and Bangkok. The Climate Central researchers who authored the report developed a method to correct overestimates of land elevation in coastal areas, resulting in a more accurate prediction of sea level rise. These may still be conservative estimates, as the study assumes that countries will make progress on reducing emissions in line with The Paris Agreement, and does not account for future population growth or coastal erosion.
This map depicts countries around the world that are projected to be at risk for annual flooding by 2050. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: The Guardian
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Asia
Himalayan Peaks
Nirmal Purja Magar, nicknamed Nims, has climbed and summited the world’s highest 14 peaks in a little under 7 months. The peaks stand at or above 8,000 meters, a realm known as the death zone, and have remained the gold standard of high altitude hiking goals. Most attempts have taken decades, and the latest record holder finished the feat in 7 years. Nims started at Annapurna in Nepal on April 23rd, 2019, and finished his “Project Possible” at the summit of Shishapangma at 8:58am local time, in China. His series of ascents came amid many challenges including avalanches, rescue missions, inclement weather, and visa struggles in China.
This map depicts the world’s 14 highest peaks. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: The parliament of which African nation voted in January 2019 to move the country’s capital from Bujumbura to Gitega?
A: Burundi
Gitega previously served as the capital of the Kingdom of Burundi until the abolishment of the country’s monarchy in 1966. Bujumbura would remain the country’s economic capital but Gitega would serve as the political capital with all branches of government expected to be moved there by 2021.
Source
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Q: In which US state is the largest percentage of land owned by the federal government?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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