Islands in the Stream — Answers

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Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

See question three. Aerial view of the New York City metropolitan area.
Image Wikimedia Commons

The first question concerns an island and is linked to today’s date, April 5th. The other questions aren’t date-related but continue the island theme including a wee bonus at the end.

One

On 5 April 1946, Soviet military forces ended their year-long occupation of what island in the Baltic Sea?

Answer: Bornholm, Denmark.

On 9 May 1945, Soviet forces captured Bornholm after German commander Gerhard von Kamptz refused to surrender, preferring the Western Allies. Soviet air raids destroyed over 800 houses and killed 10 civilians. The Soviet Union occupied Bornholm for 11 months post-World War II, despite its location east of the agreed East-West dividing line. Initially seen as a bargaining chip for Soviet influence in Denmark, the occupation aimed to secure Western goodwill and focus resources on the war with Japan and Eastern Europe’s reconstruction. The Soviets withdrew on 5 April 1946, reinforcing Denmark’s alignment with the west.

Not date related anymore but continuing the island theme.

Two

Of what island nation is Antananarivo the capital city?

Answer: Madagascar.

Madagascar, the fourth largest island, is situated off the southeastern coast of Africa. Although close to Africa, its population, language, and culture are more akin to Indonesia, while its unique wildlife and vegetation differ significantly from the continent. As an island nation in the Indian Ocean, Madagascar is celebrated for its unique biodiversity due to its long isolation. It gained independence from France in 1960 but has since faced political instability, transitioning through four republics. Despite economic growth, Madagascar remains a least-developed country with notable income disparities and a low quality of life for many.

New York City’s Five Boroughs: 1. Manhattan; 2. Brooklyn; 3. Queens; 4. The Bronx and 5. Staten Island. JFK and La Guardia Airports are shown (brown) in lower and upper Queens.
Image Wikimedia Commons

Three

Brooklyn and Queens, two of New York’s five boroughs, are mainly located on what island?

Answer: Long Island.

Brooklyn and Queens are both at the western end of Long Island. The Bronx is the only borough mostly on the mainland. The remaining boroughs are Manhattan, chiefly on Manhattan Island, and Staten Island.

Four

What two distinct islands are home to the Althing and the Tynwald, the oldest legislatures in the world?

Answers: Iceland; Isle of Man.

Guinness World Records describe the Althing and the Tynwald thus…

The oldest recorded legislative body is the Icelandic Althing, founded in AD930. This body, which originally comprised 39 local chieftains at Thingvellir, was abolished in 1800 but restored by Denmark to a consultative status in 1843 and a legislative status in 1874. It is often cited as the oldest existing parliament. However, the legislative assembly with the oldest continuous history is the Isle of Man Tynwald, which may have its origins in the late ninth century and hence possibly pre-date the Althing.
— Guinness World Records

Sculptures cut from volcanic rock, Easter Island.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

Five

On what island are these sculptures located?

Answer: Easter Island.

Easter Island, a special territory of Chile in the eastern Pacific Ocean, is renowned for its nearly 1,000 moai statues created by the early Rapa Nui people. Originally called Rapa Nui, the island has a mixed population predominantly of Polynesian descent. In 1995, UNESCO named Easter Island a World Heritage Site, with much of the island protected within Rapa Nui National Park.