Europe
Why in the News?
- Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, making it the fastest-warming continent according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.
- The continent is facing record-breaking heat waves, severe wildfires, and mass evacuations, with temperatures soaring above 40°C in several countries.
- Last year was Europe’s hottest on record, intensifying the frequency and severity of wildfires and heat-related emergencies.
About Europe
- Continent Location – Europe is located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere, bordered by the Arctic Ocean (north), Atlantic Ocean (west), Mediterranean Sea (south), and Asia (east).
- Area and Rank – Europe covers 18 million square km, making it the second smallest continent by area but third largest by population.
- Population – Home to over 740 million people, Europe accounts for around 10% of the world’s population.
- Number of Countries – Europe consists of 44 countries, with Russia being the largest and Vatican City the smallest by area.
- Climate – Mostly temperate climate, but recent climate change has caused frequent heat waves, droughts, and wildfires, especially in southern regions.
- Major Rivers & Mountains – Key rivers include Danube, Volga, and Rhine, and major mountains are the Alps, Pyrenees, and Carpathians.
- Economy – Europe is one of the world’s most economically developed regions, hosting the European Union (EU), a major political and economic union of 27 member states.
- Environmental Challenges – Facing accelerated global warming, melting glaciers, biodiversity loss, and increasing natural disasters like wildfires and floods.
Aravallis
Why in the News?
- The Haryana government is planning to develop Asia’s largest jungle safari in the Aravalli region, spanning Gurgaon and Nuh districts, covering about 10,000 acres.
- The project aims to boost tourism, generate employment, and conserve the fragile Aravalli ecosystem, while being developed in four phases with international-level facilities.
- The plan faces environmental concerns and financial questions, with experts warning about possible threats to groundwater levels and biodiversity in this eco-sensitive zone.
About the Aravalli Range
- Oldest Mountain Range: The Aravalli range is one of the oldest fold mountains in the world, dating back to the Precambrian era.
- Location: Stretches across Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and Delhi, acting as a natural barrier against desertification from the Thar Desert.
- Length: Approximately 700 km long, running from Delhi and Haryana in the northeast to Gujarat in the southwest.
- Ecological Importance: Plays a critical role in recharging groundwater, regulating climate, and preventing desert spread.
- Biodiversity: Home to leopards, hyenas, jackals, nilgai, and a variety of flora and fauna, making it an important wildlife habitat.
- Environmental Challenges: Faces mining activities, deforestation, urbanization, and groundwater depletion, leading to severe ecological stress.
- Historical & Cultural Significance: Contains ancient hill forts and temples, including UNESCO sites like those in Rajasthan (Kumbhalgarh Fort).
- Legal Protection: Declared as an eco-sensitive zone under various environmental laws, with strict regulations on construction and mining.
