Clustering Countries on their Characteristics Quiz

Answer: Countries on the Equator

The Equator is an imaginary line of approximately 24,901 miles (40,075 km), which circles planet Earth and divides it into two hemispheres: North and South.

Thirteen countries and three continents are on this line. The Equator passes through the land of 11 countries: Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Somalia, Sao Tome and Príncipe, Uganda, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Indonesia. The Equator also passes through the territorial waters of two island nations: Kiribati and Maldives.

Most of these countries have higher temperatures throughout the year than other countries. They are exposed to sunlight all year long and a high volume of rainfall. Most of the world's forest areas are in nations in this group: Congo, Brazil, and Indonesia. However, some places are quite surprising in terms of temperature. While some are humid and flat, others are mountainous, cold and dry, such as areas in the Andes.

Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country located in South America. Its capital is Quito and the largest city is Guayaquil. Ecuador lies between latitudes 2°N and 5°S. The country has four very distinct demographic regions: Coast, Sierra (the highlands), Amazonia, and the island region that comprises the Galapagos Islands.

Answer: Countries on the Equator

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the second-largest country in Africa. Its capital and largest city is Kinshasa. The country lies between latitudes 6°N and 14°S. In 2024 the DRC had a population of around 105 million inhabitants and is the most populous Francophone country in the world.

Answer: Countries on the Equator

Gabon, officially the Gabonese Republic is a country located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, in Central Africa. Its capital and largest city is Libreville. It is located on the Equator, latitudes 3°N and 4°S, and longitudes 8° and 15°E. Although per capita income is high, its distribution is very irregular.

Answer: Countries on the Equator

Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country located in Southeast Asia and Oceania, in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It lies between latitudes 11°S and 6°N and longitudes 95°E and 141°E. The country comprises around 17,000 islands, many of them uninhabited. Among the largest islands are Sumatra, Java, and Borneo.

Answer: Countries on the Equator

The Republic of São Tomé and Principe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Principe, consists of two archipelagos, with volcanic islands, organized around the islands São Tomé and Príncipe, 350 km off the west coast of Africa. The country's official language is Portuguese, the currency is the Dobra, and around 80% practice Catholicism.

Answer: Landlocked countries

A landlocked country is one whose borders do not touch the ocean or any waterway directly connected to an ocean. The number of countries in this condition varies over time, depending on wars, dissolution of countries, unilateral declaration of independence, etc. In 1990, 30 countries were considered landlocked. On April 1, 2024, with the dissolution of the Soviet and Czechoslovak Union, the breakup of Yugoslavia, and other procedures, there were 44 landlocked countries and three de facto landlocked states (still depending on the recognition of the international community as sovereign states). Generally, a landlocked country has economic and political problems that countries with access to the sea do not have. They have higher transport costs and economic disadvantages that can be alleviated or worsened depending on the degree of economic development, political stability, and infrastructure in their coastal neighbors. These factors make it difficult for these countries to integrate into global markets, turning them less attractive to foreign capital. Agreements with neighbors and actions by international bodies such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea tend to reduce disadvantages. It is important to remember that the European landlocked countries are affluent countries and most of the others are classified as Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs. The 44 landlocked countries are located in Africa (16), Europe (14), Asia (12), and Latin America (2).

Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country in Asia. Its capital and largest city is Kabul. Because it is located at the crossroads of Central and South Asia, the country is referred to as the "Heart of Asia". Afghanistan is bordered by Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China.

Answer: Landlocked countries

Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Its capital Vienna is the largest city and cultural, economic, and political center. It is bordered by Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Answer: Landlocked countries

Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in South America. Bolivia was not always a landlocked country. The country lost access to the sea to Chile in 1879. Bolivia is bordered by Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile and Peru.

Answer: Landlocked countries

Mali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked country located in Africa. Its capital and largest city is Bamako. Mali has 13 official languages, of which Bambara is the most spoken. It is bordered by Algeria, Niger, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea, and Senegal.

Answer: Landlocked countries

Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in Africa. The country lies between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. On the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, on the Zambezi River is Victoria Falls. Zimbabwe is bordered by: South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, and Mozambique.

Answer: Countries bordering two or more oceans

The definition and number of oceans varies according to the criteria adopted. One of the criteria considers that there are five oceans: the Pacific Ocean, which is the largest one, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean (Antarctic), and the Arctic Ocean. Oceans can be divided into regions called seas, bays, gulfs, etc. For example, the Caribbean Sea is considered part of the Atlantic Ocean.

About 20 countries, considering only sovereign states and dependencies (only countries and their contiguous areas), border two or more oceans.

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa, is located in the south of Africa. It has 2,798 km (1,739 km) of coastline along the Atlantic, Indian and Southern Oceans.

Answer: Countries bordering two or more oceans

The United States of America is a country primarily located in North America. It has 19,924 km (12,924 mi) of coastline along the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.

Answer: Countries bordering two or more oceans

Nicaragua, officially the Republic of Nicaragua, is the largest country in Central America. Managua is the capital and largest city. Nicaragua has a coastline along the Pacific Ocean and in the Caribbean Sea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. The country has three distinct geographic regions: The Mosquito Coast (Atlantic or Caribbean lowlands), the Amerrisque Mountains (highlands), and the Pacific lowlands.

Answer: Countries bordering two or more oceans

Panama is a country located in Central America. The country lies in the isthmus that connects South and Central America and is home to the Panama Canal built to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Answer: Countries bordering two or more oceans

Russia or the Russian Federation, the largest country in the world, is located between Europe and Asia, extending across 11 time zones. It has 35,653 km (22,154 mi) of coastline along the Pacific and Arctic. Some consider that Russia also has a coastline with the Atlantic Ocean, as it is on the shores of the Black Sea, which some sources define as " a marginal Mediterranean sea of the Atlantic Ocean."