1. Roopkund Lake

Ø News:   Roopkund Lake, popularly known as Skeleton Lake, has drawn renewed attention due to the hundreds of human skeletons found around its icy waters.

Ø Nature of the Lake:

o  Roopkund Lake is a glacial lake located in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.

o  It is widely known by the nickname lake of skeletons because of the numerous human skeletal remains discovered around it.

o  It lies at the base of Mount Trishul in the Garhwal Himalayas.

2.      Devon Island

Ø News:    Scientists from NASA use Devon Island as a testing ground for Mars exploration because its barren and freezing polar desert environment allows researchers to test next-generation rovers and other technologies intended for missions to Mars.

Ø  Location:

o  Devon Island is situated in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.

o  The island lies within the region classified as the High Arctic.

Ø Global Status:

o  Devon Island is recognised as the largest uninhabited island in the world.

Ø Surrounding Geographic Features:

o  Ellesmere Island is located to the north of Devon Island.

o  Baffin Bay lies to the east of the island.

Ø Haughton Impact Crater:

o  Devon Island contains the Haughton Crater, which is approximately 14 miles wide.

o  The crater was formed when a meteorite struck the region millions of years ago.

o  The resulting terrain strongly resembles the surface conditions found on Mars.

UPSC GS 2

3.      Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

Ø News:   A Parliamentary Committee has recommended that the Ministry of Railways should regularly assess passenger satisfaction and conduct post-redevelopment impact evaluations for stations modernized under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.

Ø Definition: The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is a programme aimed at the development and modernization of railway stations across the Indian Railways network.

Ø Year of Launch: The scheme was launched in the year 2022.

Ø Vision of the Programme: The initiative focuses on the redevelopment and improvement of railway stations with a long-term strategic perspective.

Ø Planning Approach:

o  The policy framework is based on comprehensive master planning for each station.

o  Implementation of redevelopment measures is carried out according to the specific needs and demand of individual stations.

Ø Long-term Development Goals:

o  The scheme envisions the preparation of detailed master plans for station development.

o  It also promotes improved multimodal connectivity and enhanced accessibility for passengers.

Ø Overall Objective: The programme seeks to transform railway stations into spaces that are cleaner, more comfortable, and more convenient for passengers to use.

Ø Key Features:

Ø Passenger Amenities:

o  The scheme includes improvements such as well-designed entry and exit points.

o  Facilities like waiting halls, toilets, platforms, and platform roofing are upgraded or newly constructed.

o  Infrastructure such as lifts, escalators, and free Wi-Fi is introduced wherever necessary.

Ø Passenger Information Systems:

o  Enhanced signage and improved passenger information systems are provided to assist travellers.

o  Some redeveloped stations may include executive lounges and designated areas for business meetings.

Ø Support for Local Economy:

o  Local products are promoted through kiosks under the One Station One Product initiative.

o  The redevelopment plan also includes efforts to create greener and more visually appealing station environments.

UPSC GS 3

4.      Bascule Bridge

Ø News:  The Union Government has recently approved a project worth Rs 117.54 crore for the renovation of the Bascule Bridge located at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata.

Ø Basic Concept:

o  A bascule bridge is a movable bridge that can be raised to allow ships and other vessels to pass through the waterway.

o  It is commonly referred to as a lifting bridge or a drawbridge.

Ø Working Principle: The bridge operates using a counterweight system that balances the bridge span or leaf as it moves upward.

Ø Counterweight Mechanism:

o  The counterweight generally weighs more than the bridge leaf itself.

o  This design makes it easier to raise the bridge and reduces the amount of energy required for operation.

Ø Traffic-Based Adjustment:

o  In some systems, the balance of the counterweight may be adjusted depending on how frequently waterway traffic passes beneath the bridge.

Ø Bridge Span Structure:

o  The bridge span may consist of a single leaf or two leaves.

o  In rare situations, bascule bridges may even have three or four movable leaves.

Ø Pulley System:

o  A pulley mechanism is used to raise and lower the movable section of the bridge.

Ø Cable and Chain Mechanism:

o  Cables or chains connected to the counterweight pass through pulleys and are attached to the bridge leaf.

Ø Mechanical Advantage:

o  This mechanical arrangement reduces the force required to lift the bridge by providing what is known as mechanical advantage.

Ø Origin of the Term:

o  The word bascule originates from the French language.

o  It loosely means a seesaw or a balancing mechanical device.

Ø Historical Development:

o  Bascule bridges are believed to have first appeared in medieval Europe.

o  During that time, they were commonly used for defensive purposes in fortified towns and castles.

Ø Notable Example:

o  The Broadway Bridge located in Portland, Oregon, United States, is recognised as the longest double-leaf bascule bridge in the world.

5.      Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary

Ø News:   The Karnataka High Court has recently directed the state government that no on-ground activities should be carried out within the Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary and its Eco-Sensitive Zone.

Ø Location: The Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary is situated in the state of Karnataka.

Ø Global Significance: The sanctuary forms part of the Western Ghats, which has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ø Formation of the Sanctuary:

o  The protected area was created by merging several existing forest and conservation regions.

o  These include the Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.

o  It also incorporates the Aghanashini Lion-Tailed Macaque Conservation Reserve.

o  Additional adjoining reserve forest blocks were included in the sanctuary area.

Ø Boundary:

o  The southwestern boundary of the sanctuary is shared with the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary.

Ø Terrain:

o  The terrain of the sanctuary is highly undulating in nature.

o  The altitude across the region ranges from about 94 metres to 1102 metres above sea level.

Ø Vegetation:

o  The sanctuary is dominated by tropical evergreen forests.

o  Semi-evergreen forest types are also widely present.

o  Other vegetation types include moist deciduous forests, grasslands, and savanna landscapes.

Ø Flora:

o  The area is rich in plant diversity and contains species such as Dhoopa, Gulmavu, Surahonne, Mavu, and Nandi.

Ø Faunal Diversity:

o  The sanctuary provides habitat to several wildlife species.

o  Notable species include the endangered lion-tailed macaque, scientifically known as Macaca silenus.

o  Other animals found in the sanctuary include tiger, leopard, wild dog, jackal, sloth bear, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, and mouse deer.