Which Country Are We Looking For? Quiz

Answer: Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein, or officially the Principality of Liechtenstein, is an old microstate located between Austria and Switzerland in the Alps. Its capital is Vaduz, the official language is German and it has one of the highest per-capita incomes in the world. It is a semi-constitutional monarchy, headed by the Prince of Liechtenstein and an elected parliament.

There are several curiosities about Liechtenstein. It is one of the two doubly landlocked countries in the world, the other being Uzbekistan. On July 1, 1984, it was the last European country to grant women the right to vote, approved in a referendum, in which only men voted. Additionally, Liechtenstein follows the Salic law, which means no female can succeed to the throne.

Answer: Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan became independent in 1991, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It is a landlocked country, with a population of 6.5 million and an area of 491,210 km2 (189,660 sq mi), bordering the Caspian Sea. Its official language is Turkmen, 93% of the inhabitants are Muslims and the largest ethnic group is Turkmen, a people of nomadic and equestrian tradition. It is a unitary presidential republic, that in reality is a dictatorship. The Human Rights Watch considers Turkmenistan one of the world's most repressive countries.

The country is basically composed of deserts and oases and has large reserves of natural gas and oil. The oases are responsible for the supply of water, fertile and cultivated lands, and industrial activity. The capital Ashgabat is located in the Kopet-Dag oasis. They are famous for their knotted Turkmen carpets (whose patterns can be seen on the country's flag) and a traditional house, the round portable tent named "yurt".

The Darvaza gas crater, also known as the "Gateway to Hell", a gas field that collapsed into a cavern near Darvaza and has been burning since 1971, has become a tourist attraction. In January 2022, the country's president declared that they are researching ways to extinguish the fire, for environmental and health reasons.

Answer: Philippines

There are ten countries whose name contains 11 letters, located in Africa, Europe, and Oceania. In this question we are referring to the most populous of them, the Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, an archipelago country, with about 7,641 islands, located in Southeast Asia, in the Pacific Ocean. These islands characterize three main geographic regions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The capital city Manila, and the largest city Quezon, are located on the island of Luzon. The country has great ethnic and cultural diversity.

The Philippines was named in honor of King Philip II, king of Spain during the Spanish colonization in the 16th century. The country spent 333 years under Spanish rule and around 50 years under the United States. The official languages are Filipino and English. It is a presidential republic whose economy is based on agriculture, forestry, and fishing and is turning to services and industry. Tourism accounts for about 11% of the gross domestic product and many areas of the country are becoming popular retirement destinations for foreigners, because of the climate and low cost of living.

Answer: Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, formerly a constituent republic of the USSR, which on August 31, 1991, became independent. Kyrgyz, derives from the Turkic word "we are forty" (referring to the 40 clans of Maras, a legendary hero), and - stan, a Persian suffix meaning "place of".

It is a unitary multiparty republic with a legislative house, with about 6.7 million inhabitants, mostly of Kyrgyz ethnicity. Its capital and the largest and most important city is Bishkek. It is a mountainous country, home to the Tien Shan and Pamir-Alai mountains range and about 90% of its area lies 1500 meters (4921 ft) above sea level.

The most popular tourist destination is Lake Issyk-Kul, which means "warm lake", an endorheic lake (without outflow), whose clear deep water is fed by melting snow. It is located 1607 meters (5272ft) above sea level, subject to extreme cold but not freezing, as it is the second largest saline lake in the world after the Caspian Sea. Kyrgyzstan is farther from the sea than any other country.

Answer: Argentina

Argentina, officially Argentine Republic, is a country located in the southern half of South America, with about 45.5 million inhabitants. It is a federal presidential republic, with Spanish as the official language. It is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, with immense plains, deserts, forests, rivers, mountains, and thousands of kilometers of shorelines.

Argentina claims a portion of Antarctica, and several islands located in the South Atlantic, among them the Falkland Islands, for which it has fought against the UK. It is the world's largest producer of yerba mate and is also a producer of soy, wheat, lemon, pear, and wine. The highest and lowest points in South America are located in Argentina: Aconcagua (6959 m or 22831 ft) and the Cool Lagoon (105m or 344 ft below sea level).

In 1978, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice released the musical "Evita", based on the life of Argentine political leader Eva Perón, the second wife of Argentine President Juan Perón. In 1996, with a script based on this musical, director Alan Parker released the film "Evita", with Madonna as the main star, who among other songs performed the song "Don't Cry for me Argentina".

Answer: Kiribati

Kiribati, officially the Republic of Kiribati, is the first country where the sunshine of a new day appears and, consequently, the first country to celebrate the New Year. It is the furthest country from Greenwich, and is roughly halfway between Hawaii and Australia, in the Central Pacific. Kiribati is made up of 32 atolls and a remote coral island, Banaba, which was a major producer of phosphate. Kiribati is the only country in the world to be situated in all four cardinal hemispheres.

The area, which was named the Gilbert Islands, was a British colony and became a sovereign state in 1979 under the name Kiribati. It has a population of around 120,000, more than half of whom live in Tarawa atoll, where the capital South Tarawa is located. For many years the country lived from the export of phosphates, which today practically does not exist on the islands. Currently, the income comes from agricultural and pisciculture exploration, remittances, and donations from other countries. The largest atoll is Kiritimati, which covers about 50% of the country's area, that was used in the 1960s by the UK and the USA for nuclear weapons testing.

With the exception of Banaba Island, which reaches 87 meters (285 feet) above sea level, the rest of the atolls rise no higher than 8 meters (26 ft) making them vulnerable to changes in sea levels. It is therefore a country in a very vulnerable situation whose survival will depend a lot on how other countries manage climate change.

Answer: Ecuador

The Republic of Ecuador, located in northwestern South America, is bordered by Colombia, Peru, and the Pacific Ocean. Ecuador has a population of about 18 million inhabitants, and an area of 283,560 km2 (109,483 sq mi) including the Galapagos Islands which are more than 1000 km (621 mi) from the coast, and were visited by Charles Darwin in 1835. Its capital (and largest city) is Quito. South of Quito is Cotopaxi, one of the highest and most active volcanoes in the world. It is a developing country, with an economy based on oil and agriculture.

From 1884 to early 2000, the Ecuadorian currency was the Sucre. Serious economic problems in the late 1990s caused the Sucre to collapse. President Gustavo Noboa with congressional approval passed a law replacing the Sucre with the US Dollar; on March 13, 2000, the US dollar became the official currency of Ecuador and the use of Sucre banknotes was no longer legal by September 2000. The country issues its own cent coins while dollar bills are bought from the United States.

Answer: France

France, officially French Republic, is a semi-presidential republic, located in Western Europe, spanning overseas regions and territories. It has a total area of 643,801 km2 (248,573 sq mi) and a population of 68 million people. Paris is the capital and the most important cultural, commercial, and touristic center in the country.

From 1901 until 2022, the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to 119 individuals and France has the highest number of laureates: 16. The first laureate was the French Sully Prudhomme (1901) and French writer Annie Ernaux received the latest one at the time of this quiz being written, in 2022.

The King Francis I of France, a patron of the arts, invited Leonardo da Vinci and other artists to work for the French monarchy. In 1515, Leonardo went to France, taking with him the "Mona Lisa", which had been acquired by the king. The artist took up residence in the Chateau du Clos Lucé, near the king's residence at the royal Château d'Amboise, where he stayed until his death on May 2, 1519.

Answer: Italy

Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is located in the Mediterranean Sea in Southern Europe. It is a unitary parliamentary republic that has Rome as its capital and largest city. Italy has an area of 301,230 km2 (116,310sq mi) and over 60 million inhabitants. Italy houses two landlocked countries (enclaves): Vatican City and San Marino.

The Vatican City State is an enclave within the city of Rome and is a sacerdotal-monarchical state ruled by the Pope, head of the Catholic Church. The Vatican has an area of 42 ha (121 acres) and a population of around 453 people; it is the smallest country in the world by area and population. The Republic of San Marino covers an area of 61 km2 (24 sq mi) and has a population of 33,562. The capital city, San Marino, is located atop Monte Titano, near the city of Rimini. The legislature is democratically elected, and the Grand and General Council elects every six months two captain regents who serve simultaneously.

Answer: Peru

The Republic of Peru, located on the central western coast of South America, is bordered by Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and the Pacific Ocean. Peru has an estimated population of 33 million, and an area of 1,285 million km2 (800,460 mi). Its capital and largest city are Lima, its official language is Spanish and its currency is the Nuevo Sol (PEN). The Andes mountain range runs parallel to the Pacific coast defining the country's geographical regions: the coast, the highlands, and the selva.

It is a country with numerous tourist attractions. The first place to visit is Lima, founded in the 1500s, which is home to the National University of San Marcos (1551), the oldest continuously operating university in the Americas. In the Historic Center of Lima the heart is the Plaza de Armas where the Cathedral, the Government Palace, etc. deserves a visit. Another tourist attraction in Peru are the mysterious Nazca Lines, discovered in the 1920s. Theories say they were created by Paracas and Nazca cultures, between 900 BC and 600 AD. There are two options for viewing the lines: to climb the nearby observation tower or take a flight, that is the best one. It is possible to see different plant and animal designs and hundreds of geometric lines. There are impressive figures such as the condor with a 130-meter wingspan.