Calexico and Other Border Towns Quiz

Answer: New South Wales

Coolangatta shares the state border and its airport runway with the New South Wales town of Tweed Heads. The airport was originally known as Coolangatta Airport and passenger flights began here in 1936, with international flights, to New Zealand commencing in 1990 and the name change to Gold Coast Airport happening in 1999.

Interestingly, Daylight Saving Time (DST) is observed in New South Wales but not in Queensland, meaning that during the summer there is an hour time difference between each end of the runway. Luckily the airport avoids confusion by operating on Queensland time all year round.

Answer: England

The border of England and Wales splits the village of Rhydycroesau, meaning that until 1951, when it was sold, the rectory was in England, whilst the church was in Wales. When the Anglican Church in Wales was disestablished in 1920, a vote was held to decide whether the Rhydycroesau church remained with the Church in Wales or became a part of the Church of England. Church of England won the vote meaning that Rhydycroesau is one of the few Welsh churches which falls under the remit of Church of England. The old rectory became a very fine hotel, the Pen-y-Dyffryn which means "Head of the Valley" in Welsh.

A quick recap, to avoid any confusion. The village is in England and Wales, the church is in Wales but is part of Church of England and the rectory/hotel has a Welsh name but is in England. I'm glad we cleared that up.

Answer: Sava

The Sava river is the correct answer and the one which all of the other possible answers drain into before the Sava drains into the river Danube. Zupanja is home to the Stjepan Gruber museum which opened in 1954 and contains many fascinating historical artefacts of Croatian life.

Answer: Chirundu

With only the Zambezi separating the two places, why shouldn't they share a name, especially when Chirundu means "people following one another in a line", so is quite possibly a reference to the bridge crossing. There are only five road or rail bridges crossing the mighty Zambezi river and two of these can be found at Chirundu.

Answer: Derby Line, Vermont

Haskell Free Library & Opera House is a unique building as its entrance and most of the opera seats are in USA while the stage and the library are in Canada, meaning it is often used in quizzes as the answer to questions such as "which is the only library in the U.S.A. with no books or which is the only opera house in the U.S.A. with no stage".

The building also has two mailing addresses - one for each country but thankfully Canadian opera goers are permitted to enter the building without having to pass through a customs checkpoint, providing they return to Canada as soon as they leave the building.

Answer: France and Switzerland

Hotel Arbez was built in 1863, originally as a grocery store on the Swiss side and a pub on the French side, before being converted into a hotel in 1921. Apart from the famous cross border honeymoon bed, there is another room with the bathroom in France, while the rest of the suite is in Switzerland and although the lower half of the stairs are in France, the upper half are in Switzerland, meaning that during the German occupation of France in WWII, due to Swiss neutrality, Germans were not permitted to access any of the upper rooms, allowing them to become a refuge for refugees and French Resistance members.

Answer: Bering Strait

Little Diomede Island, populated by Inupiat Inuit peoples was a part of the sale of Alaska by Russia to USA in 1867, however, the neighbouring Big Diomede Island was retained by Russia and its entire population was relocated to mainland Russia. Although just 2.4 miles (3.8 km) apart, the international date line runs between the two islands, meaning there is a 21 hour (20 in summer) time difference between them, leading to the nicknames "Tomorrow Island" and "Yesterday Isle". Diomede village contains a store, a post office and a school and in winter it is possible to walk across to the uninhabited Big Diomede Island, but not advisable as it is used for training by the Russian military, not to mention the fact that it is illegal.

Answer: Morocco

Ceuta is an autonomous Spanish city on the north coast of Africa, separated from mainland Spain by the Strait of Gibraltar. Due to its geographical position, Ceuta is a favoured target for migrants hoping to claim asylum and enter Europe, so much so, that a 20 foot (six metre) fence has been constructed around the city by Spain. Ceuta is one of only two land borders between the European Union and an African country, the other being the similarly autonomous Spanish city of Melilla, which also borders Morocco.

Answer: Lloydminster

Lloydminster straddles the border of Alberta and Saskatchewan and proudly proclaims itself "Canada's border city". The four 100 foot (30.5 metres) tall border markers, standing on the boundary on the third and fourth meridian were erected in 1994 and each represents the history of the city, being themed for the Barr Colonists, who came from England and originally settled in the area, First Nations & Métis who were the first inhabitants of the area, the oil and gas industries and agriculture, both of which have provided employment for many years and allowed the continued growth of the city.

Answer: Mexicali

Mexicali in Baja California, Mexico is a huge sprawling city, about 15 times larger than its American sister. Although Calexico boasts the Border Friendship Park, with benches and a water fountain, Mexicali offers much more for tourists, including Museo Sol del Nino (Sun Children's Museum), the arts centre, Centro Estatal de las Artes and a small city zoo.