Around The World in 15 Questions Quiz

Answer: Eel

The Sargasso Sea is roughly 1400000 square miles and is found in the mid Atlantic. It is surrounded by several ocean currents. It is home to a type of seaweed called Sargassum. Both European and American eels try to return to the area to lay their eggs. It is the only 'sea' which doesn't have a shore line.

Answer: Cape of Good Hope

Originally named The Cape of Storms by Bartolomeu Dias in 1488, it was renamed The Cape of Good Hope by John II of Portugal (1455 -1495) to reflect the optimism of the new sea route to the East and India. It is thought by most people to be the southernmost point of Africa where the Atlantic meets the Indian Ocean.

This distinction however is given to Cape Agulhas, roughly 100 miles to the east.

Answer: The Sunda Trench

The Sunda Trench, also called the Java Trench, stretches for approximately 2600km. It goes from the Lesser Sunda Islands, past the coast of Java, and on to the Andaman Islands. It forms part of the boundary between two tectonic plates, the Eurasian and the Indo-Australian. At its deepest point it is 7725m. It is part of the so called 'Ring of Fire'.

Answer: Zambia and Zimbabwe

The Kariba Dam is one of the largest dams in the world and is across the Zambezi River. Construction was started in 1955 and the first part went into operation four years later. Final construction and operation was not completed until 1977, due mainly to political issues. The hydroelectric power station provides power to both Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Answer: K2

K2 is the world's second highest peak reaching a height of 8611m, or 28,251 feet. It is known locally as Chogori, which is thought to come from two Balti words meaning 'big mountain'. However, this may be a similar story to the origins of the words Canada and kangaroo. On some maps and in some reference works it is also called Mount Goodwin-Austen, but the Royal Geographical Society has never formally adopted the name.

Answer: Coal

Kurri Kurri is known as the first 'planned' town in Australia. It was founded in 1902 as the coal industry shifted its attention away from the area surrounding the town of Newcastle to what proved to be the richest coal field in the southern hemisphere. Today Kurri Kurri is known as the 'Gateway to The Hunter Valley', a famous wine growing region.

Answer: Japan

The Amami Islands are part of an archipelago off the southern tip of the main islands. There is archeological evidence of occupation stretching back 6000 years.

Answer: Norway

The Ormeli waterfall is the world's fourth highest at 563m. Norway is also the home of the next highest waterfall, the Tysse, at 533m.

Answer: Florence

Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region of Italy and is renowned for its connections with the Renaissance period. Between 1865 and 1870 it was the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. The city center was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982.

Answer: Peru

Peru was 'discovered' by Europeans when a force of conquistadors, led by Francis Pizzaro, defeated the native Inca tribe in 1532. Spanish rule was imposed and then years later Peru was declared a Viceroyalty. Peruvian silver provided the Spanish crown with a substantial income for the following two centuries. Peru declared independence in 1821, but it wasn't recognised until 1879.

Answer: False

We have arrived in Brazil. The original inhabitants are thought to have travelled from the area we know as Siberia around 9000 BC. By the start of the 1500s, the population of modern-day Brazil was estimated at 3 million, split into approximately 2000 different nations and tribes.

Initially, Portugal, the colonising country, wasn't very interested in anything from its new colony except brazilwood and eventually sugar.

Answer: Manhattan

Manhattan Island is one of the boroughs of New York and is located at the mouth of the Hudson River. Manhattan is one of the world's major commercial, cultural and financial areas. Most of America's communication companies are based here. The island is also the home of the United Nations.

Answer: Alberta

Alberta stretches between the 49th and 60th parallels and is one of only two landlocked Canadian provinces or territories, Saskatchewan being the other. It was named in honour of Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, as was Lake Louise, Mount Alberta, and the village of Caroline. Alberta's main industries are petrochemicals and beef cattle.

Answer: Liverpool

Liverpool was founded, and reputedly designed, by King John in 1207. Growth was slow at first, and by the mid-16th century the population was still only 500. Liverpool began to grow after the English Civil War as trade opened up to the West Indies. By the start of the 19th century, Liverpool was handling 40% of the world's trade.

The town's growth was reflected in the first commercial rail link, with Manchester, and its 'city' status granted in 1880.

Answer: Greenland

As well has being one of the least densely populated countries, Greenland is also the largest island that isn't a continent. Long associated with Denmark, it became an independent country within the Kingdom of Denmark in 2008. Its geography marks it as part of North America, but politically it has been associated with Denmark since the 18th century.