China’s Mega-Dam Project
✅Capacity: 60 GW (14th Five-Year Plan, for 2021–2025); Three times the capacity of China’s current Three Gorges Dam;
✅ China aims to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
🔸 Cost: About $137 Bn.
🔸 Location: At the Great Bend, where the Brahmaputra river takes a U-turn, in the Medog county of the Tibetan Autonomous Region.
✅ China has previously constructed significant dams like the Three Gorges Dam (Yangtze) and Zangmu Dam (Yarlung Zangbo).
📍Yarlung Tsangpo (Zangbo) River
✅ It originates in Tibet, and enters Arunachal Pradesh, where it is known as the Siang.
✅ In Assam, it is joined by tributaries such as Dibang and Lohit, and is called the Brahmaputra.
✅ The river then enters Bangladesh, and makes its way to the Bay of Bengal.
🔸 The main river does not flow through Bhutan, but 96% of the country’s area is within the basin.
#River_Series
#Places_in_news
Join @Mapping_prelims_mains
✅Capacity: 60 GW (14th Five-Year Plan, for 2021–2025); Three times the capacity of China’s current Three Gorges Dam;
✅ China aims to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
🔸 Cost: About $137 Bn.
🔸 Location: At the Great Bend, where the Brahmaputra river takes a U-turn, in the Medog county of the Tibetan Autonomous Region.
✅ China has previously constructed significant dams like the Three Gorges Dam (Yangtze) and Zangmu Dam (Yarlung Zangbo).
📍Yarlung Tsangpo (Zangbo) River
✅ It originates in Tibet, and enters Arunachal Pradesh, where it is known as the Siang.
✅ In Assam, it is joined by tributaries such as Dibang and Lohit, and is called the Brahmaputra.
✅ The river then enters Bangladesh, and makes its way to the Bay of Bengal.
🔸 The main river does not flow through Bhutan, but 96% of the country’s area is within the basin.
#River_Series
#Places_in_news
Join @Mapping_prelims_mains
🛑UPSC mindmap charts
Quick prelims Revision notes
✅Mnemonics
✅UPSC Flow Charts
✅Mains Diagrams
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
Quick prelims Revision notes
✅Mnemonics
✅UPSC Flow Charts
✅Mains Diagrams
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
🔆 Key Locations in News
📍 Vadhvan Port (Maharashtra)
✅ PM laid the foundation for one of India’s largest deep-water ports under the Landlord Port Model with private sector involvement.
📍 Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (Uttar Pradesh)
✅ Located in the Himalayan foothills along the India-Nepal border, facing poaching threats.
✅ River Gomti originates here, along with Sharda, Chuka, and Mala Khannot catchments.
📍 Uri-I Hydroelectric Project (Jammu & Kashmir)
✅ Stage-II clearance deferred by EAC; located on Jhelum River, near LoC.
📍 Galathea Bay (Andaman & Nicobar Islands)
✅ Declared a Major Port to develop India’s 2nd deep-water transshipment terminal.
📍 Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)
✅ India’s first 'teal carbon' study conducted here.
✅ UNESCO World Heritage Site crucial for migratory birds & climate resilience.
📍 Gopalpur Port (Odisha)
✅ APSEZ received approval for a 95% stake in the deep-sea port, boosting marine trade. 🚢
#Places_in_news
Join @Mapping_prelims_mains
📍 Vadhvan Port (Maharashtra)
✅ PM laid the foundation for one of India’s largest deep-water ports under the Landlord Port Model with private sector involvement.
📍 Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (Uttar Pradesh)
✅ Located in the Himalayan foothills along the India-Nepal border, facing poaching threats.
✅ River Gomti originates here, along with Sharda, Chuka, and Mala Khannot catchments.
📍 Uri-I Hydroelectric Project (Jammu & Kashmir)
✅ Stage-II clearance deferred by EAC; located on Jhelum River, near LoC.
📍 Galathea Bay (Andaman & Nicobar Islands)
✅ Declared a Major Port to develop India’s 2nd deep-water transshipment terminal.
📍 Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)
✅ India’s first 'teal carbon' study conducted here.
✅ UNESCO World Heritage Site crucial for migratory birds & climate resilience.
📍 Gopalpur Port (Odisha)
✅ APSEZ received approval for a 95% stake in the deep-sea port, boosting marine trade. 🚢
#Places_in_news
Join @Mapping_prelims_mains
🔆 Global Events
📍 Namibia
✅ Facing its worst drought in a century, worsened by El Niño.
✅ Located in Southwest Africa, bordering Angola, Zambia, South Africa, and Botswana.
📍 Sudan
✅ Ongoing war continues to devastate the country.
✅ Located in Northeast Africa, bordering Egypt, Chad, Central African Republic, Libya, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.
📍 Brunei
✅ India’s first bilateral visit to Brunei Darussalam.
✅ A small Southeast Asian nation on Borneo Island, bordered by Malaysia’s Sarawak state and the South China Sea.
✅ Part of the Commonwealth & ASEAN.
📍 Vietnam
✅ Typhoon Yagi has killed 143 people in northern Vietnam.
✅ Located in Southeast Asia, sharing borders with China, Laos, Cambodia, and maritime borders in the South China Sea.
📍 Mexico
✅ Reformed its judicial system, becoming the first country to elect judges at all levels.
✅ Located in North America, bordering U.S., Guatemala, Belize, and has coastlines along the Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea.
📍 Gulf of Mexico
✅ Hurricane Francine disrupted 42% of crude oil and 53% of natural gas production in the U.S.
✅ Large ocean basin, bordered by U.S., Mexico, and Cuba, draining the Mississippi and Rio Grande rivers.
📍 Amazon River
✅ Experiencing unprecedented drought, with historic low water levels.
✅ Originates in the Peruvian Andes, the largest river by water volume, draining into the Atlantic Ocean.
#Places_in_news
Join @Mapping_prelims_mains
📍 Namibia
✅ Facing its worst drought in a century, worsened by El Niño.
✅ Located in Southwest Africa, bordering Angola, Zambia, South Africa, and Botswana.
📍 Sudan
✅ Ongoing war continues to devastate the country.
✅ Located in Northeast Africa, bordering Egypt, Chad, Central African Republic, Libya, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.
📍 Brunei
✅ India’s first bilateral visit to Brunei Darussalam.
✅ A small Southeast Asian nation on Borneo Island, bordered by Malaysia’s Sarawak state and the South China Sea.
✅ Part of the Commonwealth & ASEAN.
📍 Vietnam
✅ Typhoon Yagi has killed 143 people in northern Vietnam.
✅ Located in Southeast Asia, sharing borders with China, Laos, Cambodia, and maritime borders in the South China Sea.
📍 Mexico
✅ Reformed its judicial system, becoming the first country to elect judges at all levels.
✅ Located in North America, bordering U.S., Guatemala, Belize, and has coastlines along the Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea.
📍 Gulf of Mexico
✅ Hurricane Francine disrupted 42% of crude oil and 53% of natural gas production in the U.S.
✅ Large ocean basin, bordered by U.S., Mexico, and Cuba, draining the Mississippi and Rio Grande rivers.
📍 Amazon River
✅ Experiencing unprecedented drought, with historic low water levels.
✅ Originates in the Peruvian Andes, the largest river by water volume, draining into the Atlantic Ocean.
#Places_in_news
Join @Mapping_prelims_mains
🔆 Bordoibam-Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary
📍 Context
✅ Avian diversity in Bordoibam-Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary, Assam, has declined by over 70%.
📍 Location
✅ Situated between Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts in Assam.
✅ Once part of the Subansiri River.
📍 Climate & Ecology
✅ Experiences a moist tropical climate.
✅ Receives approximately 2000 mm of rainfall annually.
#mapping
📍 Context
✅ Avian diversity in Bordoibam-Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary, Assam, has declined by over 70%.
📍 Location
✅ Situated between Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts in Assam.
✅ Once part of the Subansiri River.
📍 Climate & Ecology
✅ Experiences a moist tropical climate.
✅ Receives approximately 2000 mm of rainfall annually.
#mapping
🔆 World’s Busiest Ports: Key Global Trade Hubs 🚢🌍
📍 Top Asian Ports
✅ Port of Shanghai, China 🇨🇳 – World’s busiest port (43M+ TEUs), Yangtze River Delta.
✅ Port of Singapore 🇸🇬 – Handles 20% of global transshipment, top transshipment hub.
✅ Port of Shenzhen, China 🇨🇳 – Key network in Guangdong, linked to Hong Kong.
✅ Port of Busan, South Korea 🇰🇷 – South Korea’s largest port, at Nakdong River’s mouth.
✅ Port of Hong Kong, China 🇨🇳 – Crucial deepwater seaport in the South China Sea.
✅ Port of Jebel Ali, UAE 🇦🇪 – Largest in the Middle East, world’s biggest man-made harbor.
📍 Major Western Ports
✅ Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands 🇳🇱 – Europe’s largest seaport in the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta.
✅ Port of Los Angeles, USA 🇺🇸 – “America’s Port,” busiest in the U.S., located in California.
✅ Port of Antwerp, Belgium 🇧🇪 – Europe’s second-largest seaport, handling diverse cargo.
#Places_in_news
#Port_series
📍 Top Asian Ports
✅ Port of Shanghai, China 🇨🇳 – World’s busiest port (43M+ TEUs), Yangtze River Delta.
✅ Port of Singapore 🇸🇬 – Handles 20% of global transshipment, top transshipment hub.
✅ Port of Shenzhen, China 🇨🇳 – Key network in Guangdong, linked to Hong Kong.
✅ Port of Busan, South Korea 🇰🇷 – South Korea’s largest port, at Nakdong River’s mouth.
✅ Port of Hong Kong, China 🇨🇳 – Crucial deepwater seaport in the South China Sea.
✅ Port of Jebel Ali, UAE 🇦🇪 – Largest in the Middle East, world’s biggest man-made harbor.
📍 Major Western Ports
✅ Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands 🇳🇱 – Europe’s largest seaport in the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta.
✅ Port of Los Angeles, USA 🇺🇸 – “America’s Port,” busiest in the U.S., located in California.
✅ Port of Antwerp, Belgium 🇧🇪 – Europe’s second-largest seaport, handling diverse cargo.
#Places_in_news
#Port_series
Key Geographical Events 🌍🌋
📍 Mount Ruang (Indonesia) 🌋
✅ Recently erupted stratovolcano in Sulawesi Islands.
✅ Part of Indonesia’s active volcanic belt.
✅ Other notable volcanoes: Krakatau, Merapi, Semeru.
📍 Hopen Island (Svalbard Archipelago) ❄️
✅ First recorded case of walrus death due to bird flu.
✅ Discovered in 1596, located in the Arctic region.
#Places_in_news
Join @Mapping_prelims_mains
📍 Mount Ruang (Indonesia) 🌋
✅ Recently erupted stratovolcano in Sulawesi Islands.
✅ Part of Indonesia’s active volcanic belt.
✅ Other notable volcanoes: Krakatau, Merapi, Semeru.
📍 Hopen Island (Svalbard Archipelago) ❄️
✅ First recorded case of walrus death due to bird flu.
✅ Discovered in 1596, located in the Arctic region.
#Places_in_news
Join @Mapping_prelims_mains
Upsc prelims Mapping + geography
▪️ World Mapping
▪️ India Mapping
▪️ Places in news ( geo + IR + env)
▪️ Map based pyq's
▪️ Indian geography
▪️ Physical geography
CLICK HERE TO JOIN
▪️ World Mapping
▪️ India Mapping
▪️ Places in news ( geo + IR + env)
▪️ Map based pyq's
▪️ Indian geography
▪️ Physical geography
CLICK HERE TO JOIN
Gulf of Tonkin:
✅It is referred as “Beibu Gulf”in Chinese and “Bac Bo Gulf” in Vietnamese.
✅It is a crescent-shaped, shallow, semi-enclosed water body situated off South China and Northern Vietnam coasts in the South China Sea’s northwestern portion.
✅Bordering regions: It is bordered by the northern coastline of Vietnam in the west and northwest; by China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the north; and by the Leizhou Peninsula and Hainan Island in the east.
✅It is connected with the South China Sea via the gulf’s mouth in the south and the Hainan Strait in the northeast.
✅Many rivers empty into the Gulf of Tonkin, with the Red River supplying the major riverine discharge along with some smaller rivers along the northern and western coastal areas.
✅Major Ports: In Northern Vietnam, the gulf’s main ports include Haiphong and Ben Thuy, whereas, in China, its major port is Beihai (Pakhoi).
#Places_in_news
#Sea_series
Join @Mapping_prelims_mains
✅It is referred as “Beibu Gulf”in Chinese and “Bac Bo Gulf” in Vietnamese.
✅It is a crescent-shaped, shallow, semi-enclosed water body situated off South China and Northern Vietnam coasts in the South China Sea’s northwestern portion.
✅Bordering regions: It is bordered by the northern coastline of Vietnam in the west and northwest; by China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the north; and by the Leizhou Peninsula and Hainan Island in the east.
✅It is connected with the South China Sea via the gulf’s mouth in the south and the Hainan Strait in the northeast.
✅Many rivers empty into the Gulf of Tonkin, with the Red River supplying the major riverine discharge along with some smaller rivers along the northern and western coastal areas.
✅Major Ports: In Northern Vietnam, the gulf’s main ports include Haiphong and Ben Thuy, whereas, in China, its major port is Beihai (Pakhoi).
#Places_in_news
#Sea_series
Join @Mapping_prelims_mains
🔆 Mercury Island & Nord Stream Pipeline
📍 Mercury Island
✅ "My Mercury" Documentary explores the life of Yves Chesselet, a conservationist working to reclaim Mercury Island (off Namibia’s coast) for endangered seabirds.
📍 Nord Stream Pipeline Leak
✅ 2022 explosions on the Nord Stream pipeline released thousands of tonnes of methane into the Baltic Sea.
✅ Raises concerns about marine life, carbon cycles, and environmental impact.
#Places_in_news
Join @Mapping_prelims_mains
📍 Mercury Island
✅ "My Mercury" Documentary explores the life of Yves Chesselet, a conservationist working to reclaim Mercury Island (off Namibia’s coast) for endangered seabirds.
📍 Nord Stream Pipeline Leak
✅ 2022 explosions on the Nord Stream pipeline released thousands of tonnes of methane into the Baltic Sea.
✅ Raises concerns about marine life, carbon cycles, and environmental impact.
#Places_in_news
Join @Mapping_prelims_mains
🔆 Techo Funan Canal
✅ Cambodia will begin construction of the Chinese-backed Techo Funan Canal.
✅ The canal will connect the Mekong River basin to the Cambodian coast.
🔆 Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb Islands Dispute
✅ Iran summoned China’s ambassador to protest a China-UAE statement on the sovereignty of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb islands.
✅ The islands are claimed by the UAE but have been held by Iran since 1971.
#Places_in_news
Join @Mapping_prelims_mains
✅ Cambodia will begin construction of the Chinese-backed Techo Funan Canal.
✅ The canal will connect the Mekong River basin to the Cambodian coast.
🔆 Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb Islands Dispute
✅ Iran summoned China’s ambassador to protest a China-UAE statement on the sovereignty of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb islands.
✅ The islands are claimed by the UAE but have been held by Iran since 1971.
#Places_in_news
Join @Mapping_prelims_mains
🔆 Key Global Updates
📍 Namaqualand, Africa
✅ Scientists discovered 34,000-year-old termite mounds along the Buffels River, making them the world’s oldest inhabited termite structures.
📍 Denmark
✅ First country to impose a livestock CO₂ tax starting in 2030, aiming to reduce agricultural emissions.
#Places_in_news
Join @Mapping_prelims_mains
📍 Namaqualand, Africa
✅ Scientists discovered 34,000-year-old termite mounds along the Buffels River, making them the world’s oldest inhabited termite structures.
📍 Denmark
✅ First country to impose a livestock CO₂ tax starting in 2030, aiming to reduce agricultural emissions.
#Places_in_news
Join @Mapping_prelims_mains
🔆 Key Global Updates
📍 Lake Natron, Tanzania
✅ Climate change is affecting Lake Natron, a crucial habitat for flamingos and biodiversity.
📍 Chilakgava Mountain Range, Malawi
✅ Malawi’s Vice President died in a plane crash in the Chilakgava Mountain Range.
#Places_in_news
Join @Mapping_prelims_mains
📍 Lake Natron, Tanzania
✅ Climate change is affecting Lake Natron, a crucial habitat for flamingos and biodiversity.
📍 Chilakgava Mountain Range, Malawi
✅ Malawi’s Vice President died in a plane crash in the Chilakgava Mountain Range.
#Places_in_news
Join @Mapping_prelims_mains
🔆 Major Industrial Regions of the World 🌍🏭
✅ Eastern North America – Includes the Great Lakes region (Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh), North-Eastern states (New York, Boston), and Southern states (Texas, Louisiana). It is known for iron & steel, automobiles, chemicals, aerospace industries, and major financial & tech hubs like New York, Chicago, and Toronto.
✅ Western & Central Europe – Includes Germany, France, UK, Benelux. Renowned for engineering, machinery, chemicals, and high-tech industries. The Rhine-Ruhr region is a major industrial hub.
✅ Eastern Europe – Includes Russia, Ukraine, Poland. Strong in heavy industries like steel, machinery, and mining. Katowice (Poland) is known as the “industrial heart” due to coal mining and heavy industries. Budapest specializes in pharmaceuticals, electronics, and machinery.
✅ Eastern Asia – Includes China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan. Known for rapid industrialization, electronics, textiles, shipbuilding. Shanghai is a global financial & commercial hub and Nagoya is a key center for automobile and machinery production.
✅ Other Notable Industrial Regions
• Brazil – Emerging industrial power with strengths in agriculture, mining, and manufacturing.
• India – Rapidly industrializing, excelling in IT, pharmaceuticals, and automobiles.
• South Africa – Rich in mineral resources, with a focus on mining and related industries.
✅ Eastern North America – Includes the Great Lakes region (Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh), North-Eastern states (New York, Boston), and Southern states (Texas, Louisiana). It is known for iron & steel, automobiles, chemicals, aerospace industries, and major financial & tech hubs like New York, Chicago, and Toronto.
✅ Western & Central Europe – Includes Germany, France, UK, Benelux. Renowned for engineering, machinery, chemicals, and high-tech industries. The Rhine-Ruhr region is a major industrial hub.
✅ Eastern Europe – Includes Russia, Ukraine, Poland. Strong in heavy industries like steel, machinery, and mining. Katowice (Poland) is known as the “industrial heart” due to coal mining and heavy industries. Budapest specializes in pharmaceuticals, electronics, and machinery.
✅ Eastern Asia – Includes China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan. Known for rapid industrialization, electronics, textiles, shipbuilding. Shanghai is a global financial & commercial hub and Nagoya is a key center for automobile and machinery production.
✅ Other Notable Industrial Regions
• Brazil – Emerging industrial power with strengths in agriculture, mining, and manufacturing.
• India – Rapidly industrializing, excelling in IT, pharmaceuticals, and automobiles.
• South Africa – Rich in mineral resources, with a focus on mining and related industries.
🔆 Geographical Highlights
📍 Minami-Torishima Island (Japan)
✅ Researchers discovered 230 million tons of minerals, including cobalt and nickel, off a remote island 1,200 miles from Tokyo, Japan.
📍 Mackenzie River (Canada)
✅ Canada’s longest river, spanning 1,738 km from Great Slave Lake, is experiencing historically low water levels.
#Geography
📍 Minami-Torishima Island (Japan)
✅ Researchers discovered 230 million tons of minerals, including cobalt and nickel, off a remote island 1,200 miles from Tokyo, Japan.
📍 Mackenzie River (Canada)
✅ Canada’s longest river, spanning 1,738 km from Great Slave Lake, is experiencing historically low water levels.
#Geography
📌 Key Facts: New Caledonia & Spain’s Cartagena Port 🚢
🌍 New Caledonia
✅ French overseas territory in the South West Pacific Ocean.
✅ Part of the EU’s Overseas Countries & Territories (OCTs) but not in the EU, Eurozone, or Schengen Area.
✅ Lagoon & coral reef ecosystem designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
⚓️ Spain’s Cartagena – Port of Call
✅ Spain denied access to an Israel-bound ship carrying arms at Cartagena Port.
✅ A port of call is a designated stop for ships during their journey.
🌍 New Caledonia
✅ French overseas territory in the South West Pacific Ocean.
✅ Part of the EU’s Overseas Countries & Territories (OCTs) but not in the EU, Eurozone, or Schengen Area.
✅ Lagoon & coral reef ecosystem designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
⚓️ Spain’s Cartagena – Port of Call
✅ Spain denied access to an Israel-bound ship carrying arms at Cartagena Port.
✅ A port of call is a designated stop for ships during their journey.
🌍 Lake Natron & Climate Change: A Silent Crisis
🔥 Tanzania’s Lake Natron—a unique, alkaline lake vital for flamingo breeding—is under threat! Rising temperatures, reduced rainfall, and human activities are altering its delicate ecosystem.
🦩 Why It Matters?
Home to 75% of the world’s lesser flamingo population.
Climate change is increasing water evaporation, making the lake even more saline.
Industrial projects pose a risk to biodiversity and local communities.
🔥 Tanzania’s Lake Natron—a unique, alkaline lake vital for flamingo breeding—is under threat! Rising temperatures, reduced rainfall, and human activities are altering its delicate ecosystem.
🦩 Why It Matters?
Home to 75% of the world’s lesser flamingo population.
Climate change is increasing water evaporation, making the lake even more saline.
Industrial projects pose a risk to biodiversity and local communities.
🔆Anamudi Shola National Park:
✅It is located in the Western Ghats region of the Kerala.
✅It is surrounded by Eravikulam National park, Pampadum Shola National park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary and Mathikettan Shola Park.
✅Its tallest peak is Anamudi.
📍Vegetation:
✅It consists of southern subtropical hill forests, southern montane wet temperate forests and moist deciduous forests.
✅The unique thing in the dense shola woods that houses a dense patch of stunted trees will be the luxurious presence of lichen, mosses, and climbers.
✅Flora:The place is home to around 174 species of herbs and shrubs, 62 species of trees and around 40 species of climbers of which quite a few of them are endemic..
✅Fauna: It is home to Leopards, civet cats, wolves, Indian bison, wild boars, elephants, tigers, Panther, and sloth bears etc.
#National_park_series
#Tiger_Reserve_series
#Places_in_news
Join @mapping_prelims_mains
@upsc_4_environment
✅It is located in the Western Ghats region of the Kerala.
✅It is surrounded by Eravikulam National park, Pampadum Shola National park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary and Mathikettan Shola Park.
✅Its tallest peak is Anamudi.
📍Vegetation:
✅It consists of southern subtropical hill forests, southern montane wet temperate forests and moist deciduous forests.
✅The unique thing in the dense shola woods that houses a dense patch of stunted trees will be the luxurious presence of lichen, mosses, and climbers.
✅Flora:The place is home to around 174 species of herbs and shrubs, 62 species of trees and around 40 species of climbers of which quite a few of them are endemic..
✅Fauna: It is home to Leopards, civet cats, wolves, Indian bison, wild boars, elephants, tigers, Panther, and sloth bears etc.
#National_park_series
#Tiger_Reserve_series
#Places_in_news
Join @mapping_prelims_mains
@upsc_4_environment