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Environment Current Affairs
Environment Current Affairs December 4th Week 2018
Category : Environment Current Affairs
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 1. Dal lake frozen

The famous dal lake in Srinagar is frozen. The city recently witnessed the lowest temperature ever in 11 years at minus 7.6 degree.
Also known as the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, dal lake, which is the second largest in the state, is integral to tourism and recreation in Kashmir and is named the “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir” or “Srinagar’s Jewel”. The lake is also an important source for commercial operations in fishing and water plant harvesting.
The lake is part of a natural wetland, including its floating gardens. The floating gardens, known as “Rad” in Kashmiri, blossom with lotus flowers during July and August.
The lake is located in the Zabarwan mountain valley, in the foothills of the Shankracharya hills, which surrounds it on three sides.
The lake has four main interconnected basins namely, Hazratbal, Bod dal, Gagribal and Nagin.
 
2. Philippines: 6.9 Magnitude earthquake strikes off Mindanao
 
A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.
The quake struck southeast of Davao City at a depth of 59 kilometres.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said, hazardous tsunami waves from this earthquake are possible along the coasts of Indonesia and the Philippines.  
 
3. 4.8-magnitude earthquake hits Sicily
 
A 4.8-magnitude earthquake has hit Sicily near Europe`s most active volcano, Mount Etna, injuring at least 28 people.
A part of a highway running along the Mediterranean sea has been closed. Some old buildings have also been damaged. 
The epicentre was located north of Catania. 
The quake is the strongest in the region after Mount Etna erupted on Monday, spewing ash and forcing the temporary closure of Sicilian airspace.
 
4. Strong quake rocks Venezuela, people flee buildings
 
A strong earthquake rocked Venezuela forcing residents in the capital Caracas to flee buildings. 
The 5.5 magnitude quake was centred near the town of San Diego, 165 kilometres west of Caracas. It had a depth of 10 kilometres and was felt across seven states.
Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said, there were no major damages or casualties. 
 
5. Norway to build wind farm amid concerns about reindeer
 
Norway has said it would build a wind park in an area used for reindeer grazing despite UN calls to suspend the project to study the impact on the indigenous herders’ livelihoods.
It would proceed with the 288 megawatt Storheia wind park, which is part of Europe’s largest onshore wind power project being developed by the Fosen Vind consortium.
The group, owned by TroenderEnergi, Statkraft and the Nordic Wind Power consortium, is building six wind farms with a combined capacity of 1,057 MW at a cost of $1.26 billion.
In a letter on December 10, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination asked Norway to suspend the project so that it could examine a complaint that the project would disturb reindeer herding, a traditional activity of the Sami people.
Reindeer herders have said the sight and sound of the turbines in the park, to be built in an area on Norway’s northwest coast used as pastures during winter months, could frighten the animals.
 
6. Eruption of the Krakatoa volcano
 
At least 168 people have been killed in a tsunami following a submarine volcanic eruption that hit the coast on Indonesia`s Sunda Strait. 
The Disaster Management Agency said that 745 people are injured and many are missing. The death toll is likely to increase. Hundreds of buildings have also been damaged. 
The deaths were reported mainly from Padenglang Regency, South Lampung and Serang, all less than 150 kilometers from Jakarta. 
The authorities said, the possible cause of the tsunami was undersea landslides following the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano.
In October, 2,000 people had died when an earthquake and a tsunami hit Sulawesi.
Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatau) is a new island that emerged in 1927 from Krakatoa volcano.