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World
Global School Closures
One year after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, a report from Al Jazeera provided a look at the worldwide changes caused by the virus and humanity’s efforts to combat its spread. An estimated two-thirds of the global population has experienced lockdown measures. These measures have caused a sharp reduction in economic activity, resulting in the global economy shrinking 4.3 percent in 2020, further exacerbating economic inequality across the globe. That effect may be further compounded by the damage done to educational progress caused by school closures, currently still affecting 900 million students, including 500 million excluded from remote learning by lack of technology or policies. Al Jazeera’s report also includes a look at decreased travel, and that reductions in greenhouse gas emissions were only short-lived.
This map depicts the percentage of schooling missed over the last year by country. Click on the map to learn more.
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Iceland
Volcanic Eruption
Streams of red lava flowed out of a fissure in a valley in Geldingadalur, close to Mount Fagradalsfjall on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwestern Iceland from a volcano awakening for the first time in 6,000 years. The “eruptive fissure” measured approximately 1,640 to 2,300 feet (500 to 700 m). The eruption took place in the Krysuvik volcanic system, which does not have a central volcano. The Krysuvik system has been inactive for the past 900 years, with the last eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula dating back almost 800 years and lasted about 30 years, from 1210 to 1240. Scientists warned this eruption may be imminent after a recent “swarm” of tens of thousands of small magnitude earthquakes began in late February.
This map depicts the region of the volcanic explosion close to Mt. Fagradalsfjall on the Reykjanes peninsula. Click on map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Phys.org
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Australia
Record Flooding
Flooding in Sydney, Australia has caused over 18,000 residents to evacuate their homes. The record rains arrived early this morning, local time, and have caused several rivers in New South Wales to rise to their highest levels in over 30 years. Some areas received months worth of rain in only a few hours, destroying homes and belongings. More rain is expected throughout the day which means flood levels are still rising and more damage is likely to occur. Authorities have advised residents to work from home today and closed more than 200 schools across the area. No fatalities or injuries have been reported at this time.
This map depicts the rainfall totals in eastern Australia. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: Reaching 1,800 feet (548 m) deep, where is the world’s largest salt mine?
A: Sifto Canada’s Goderich Salt Mine, Goderich, Ontario, Canada
The study of geography includes a look at the lengths to which people will go to obtain the resources they need. While not as precious or rare as it was in centuries past, salt still requires remarkable human endeavor to acquire. At 1,800 feet (548 m) deep, the Goderich salt mine is not only almost as deep as fellow Ontario icon the CN Tower is tall, but also reaches that depth beneath the waters of Lake Huron. Drawn from an ancient seabed, the salt obtained from the Goderich mine is mostly turned to rock salt to keep the roads of the snowy Great Lakes region safe. Sifto Canada’s parent company, Compass Minerals, predicts that the Goderich mine can continue to be mined for another century.
Source
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Q: Considered one of the world’s most dangerous roads, this passage takes drivers through 29 hairpin turns in which mountain chain?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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