Category Social Sciences

Which is the smallest island nation?

The world’s smallest republic as well as the smallest island nation is Nauru. Located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, this island is about 1,300 km to the northeast of the Solomon Islands. Its closest neighbour is the island of Banaba in Kiribati, which is about 300 km to the east. Nauru does not have an official capital, but its government offices are located in the district of Yaren.

People from Micronesia settled here around 1000 BCE, and Nauru was made a colony by the German Empire in the late 19th century. After World War I, the League of Nations authorised Australia, New Zealand, and the Kingdom to jointly administer Nauru. Later, during the Second World War, it was occupied by Japanese troops. After the war came to an end, the country became a part of the United Nations trusteeship and gained its independence in 1968. It became a member of the Pacific Community (PC) in 1969.

Nauru’s constitution offers fundamental rights and freedoms for individuals. The country has a government that combines parliamentary and presidential systems. Its parliament has members elected by Nauruan citizens aged 20 and older, and it serves a tenure of three years unless dissolved by a vote of no confidence. This parliament elects the president, who acts as the head of both the state and the government. Nauru accepts aid from Australia and is sometimes called a client state of Australia.

Picture Credit : Google 

Is Australia the smallest continent?

Australia is the smallest continent in the world and includes mainland Australia, Tasmania, the island of New Guinea (Papua New Guinea and portions of Indonesia), the Aru Islands, Ash-more and Cartier Islands, most of the Coral Sea Islands, and some other offshore continental islands. The country of Australia is however a single landmass and encompasses most of the continent. The Australian continent is sometimes referred to as an island continent as it is surrounded by oceans.

Papua New Guinea, which is a country within the Australian continent, is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse countries. It is also mostly rural, as only 18 per cent of its people live in urban areas. It is estimated that West Papua, a province of Indonesia, has over 44 uncontacted tribal groups. Australia, which forms the largest landmass in the continent, is an urbanised region that is also the world’s 14th-largest economy with the second-highest human development index globally. Canberra is Australia’s capital and is located in the southeast between Sydney and Melbourne, which are the more significant economic and cultural centres of Australia.

Australia’s ecosystem is unusual due to its remote location and is home to many animal species that occur nowhere else in the world. This list includes the platypus, kangaroo, echidna, and koala. Australia has 516 national parks, which protect its rare plants and animals.

Picture Credit : Google 

Play of geometry and layers

The intricate mola panels of Panama are created by the indigenous people of Kuna, using the reverse applique technique.

There was a time when the indigenous Kuna people of Panama wore little clothing and covered their bodies instead with elaborate and colourful body art. With the passage of time, when they began wearing clothes, they transferred the workmanship to their textiles, giving rise to the handmade textile art of mola.

Mola panels are made using the reverse applique technique. Layers of different-coloured cotton cloth (up to seven layers) are sewn together. Then each layer is cut out in a pattern, revealing the cloth underneath. The largest pattern is cut out from the topmost layer, with progressively small designs being cut out from the lower layers. The edges of each layer are folded and sewn down with fine, almost invisible stitches. The beauty of the mola lies in the intricacy of the design and the finesse of the sewing.

Molas are characterised by vibrant colours and complex geometric patterns. They are often hailed as ‘living history books’ as the designs reflect the Kuna symbols of nature and their culture. The traditional costume of the Kuna woman includes a blouse adorned with mola panels.

FACT FILE

*Molas are characterised by vibrant colours and complex geometric patterns.

*They are often hailed as ‘living history books’ as the designs reflect the Kuna symbols of nature and their culture.

Picture Credit : Google 

Which is the deepest lake?

The world’s deepest freshwater lake is Lake Baikal located in Siberia. It holds more than 20 per cent of the unfrozen fresh water on the surface of the Earth and is the oldest freshwater lake in the world – it is estimated that the lake has been here for about 20 million to 25 million years. This magnificent natural water body is known as the ‘Galapagos of Russia.’ Its age and isolation have led to the existence of some of the most unusual and exceptional freshwater fauna of the world, making it a hotspot for evolutionary science.

Baikal is home to a great variety of animal and plant species that cannot be found anywhere else on the planet. Of the rare species here, the Baikal seal (also called the nerpa) is the only species of seal in the world to exist in a freshwater habitat. Since the lake lies hundreds of kilometres inland, it remains a mystery as to how the ancestors of these seals arrived in Lake Baikal. More than 330 rivers and streams enter Lake Baikal- the largest of which include the Selenga, Barguzin, Upper Angara, Chikoy, and Uda. There are a number of industries along the shores of Baikal. Mining (mica and marble), cellulose and paper manufacturing, ship building, fisheries, and timber are some of the prominent ones.

Picture Credit :Google

Why is the Statue of Unity considered to be one of its kinds?

With a height of 182 metres, the Statue of Unity is the world’s tallest statue. It is located in the Kevadiya colony along the Narmada River in Gujarat. Facing the Sardar Sarovar Dam 100 kilometres southeast of the city of Vadodara, this statue depicts freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. An adherent of Mahatma Gandhi, Patel was the first deputy prime minister and home minister of independent India. He was an eminent leader who united 562 princely states of the pre-independence India to form the single Union of India.

This project was first announced in 2010 but its construction began only in October 2013. The statue was designed by sculptor Ram V. Sutar, and it was built at a total cost of Rs. 2,700 crores. On 31 October 2018, the 143rd anniversary of Patel’s birth, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated it.

The Statue of Unity is divided into 5 zones, but only 3 among them are accessible to the general public.

Picture Credit :Google

What makes the Burj Khalifa, of the UAE special?

The world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, is located in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. It is a mixed-use skyscraper with 162 floors and a height 828 metres. During its construction, it was known as Burj Dubai, but later it was officially named to honour Sheikh Khalifa ibn Zayed Al Nahyan, the leader of the neighbouring emirate Abu Dhabi. The tower was formally opened on 4 January 2010, but the entirety of its interior was not complete by then. Designed by the Chicago-based architectural firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, it has a number of commercial, residential, and hospitality ventures. Adrian Smith was its architect, while William F. Baker served as structural engineer.

Another interesting aspect of Burj Khalifa is the water fountain outside it. Designed by WET Enterprises, this fountain system cost a total of US$217 million. This massive structure is lit by 6,600 lights and 50 coloured projectors. It is 270 metres long and shoots water to a height of 150 m into the air, which is accompanied by a range of classical and contemporary Arabic and other music. It is the world’s largest choreographed fountain.

Picture Credit :Google