Chicago! Popeye's Magical Pizza City of Champions Quiz

Answer: Lake Michigan

Chicago hugs the southern shores of Lake Michigan, the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the fifth largest lake in the world. Often called "the third coast" because of its extensive shores and beaches, tourists can sail, choose from a host of cruises, tour the city architecture from the water, and even fish, kayak or speedboat.

There has been increasingly extreme and unpredictable weather on the lake due to global warming, and unfortunately in 2014 certain international companies were found to be dumping or spilling large amounts of pollutants into the water. There are, however, still plenty of safe and exciting things to do in Chicago's extensive waters.

Answer: Waterway transportation

Chicago's location at Lake Michigan allowed command of both inland and water transportation, so that abundant fur trade, coastal real estate speculation, an active shipping port, and ability to transport manufactured goods through the seaways and across the Great Lakes made Chicago a boom-town. Add to that a strong railroad, highway and air transportation business, with a heavy influx of immigrants by 1870, and Chicago fast became one of the largest cities in the world.

It has exceled not only in industry and transportation, but in broadcasting, finance, higher education, medical training, culture and music.

Answer: Second City

The recovery from the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 earned Chicago the nickname "Second City", because it rose again. Some argue it means "second to New York City". Chicago is also known as the "windy city", though the reason is unclear, as Chicago is no more breezy than many places. Early Cincinnati rivals may have named Chicago windy, as in, "full of hot air", or prone to bragging.

Other nicknames come from Carl Sandburg's "City of the Big Shoulders", Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle", and American cartoonist Elzie Segar who created Popeye. It is the City of Champions for sports fans, and well known for its delicious deep-dish pizza. President Barack Obama made his home there. President Ronald Reagan was born in a small village not so distant.

Answer: Aquarium

With over two million visitors a year, the (John G.) Shedd Aquarium is among the largest indoor aquariums in the world, exhibiting more than 8000 animals of 1,500 species in 80 habitats. The Abbott Oceanarium houses beluga whales, penguins and dolphins, and there is an impressive tank of Caribbean Reef sea life. You can walk through a recreation of the Amazon River, interact with a diver, or touch a stingray.

In 1930, twenty railroad tank cars brought ocean water from Florida to fill the marine habitats. Sadly, John G.

Shedd did not live to see the place open that year, but his daughters continued to foster his dream. Its unique design and architecture earned the aquarium the National Historic Landmark designation, as well as other awards.

Answer: Burr oak tree

Found in the Lincoln Park Zoo, the huge burr oak (Quercus macrocarpa) dates to 1830, before Chicago was founded. These native trees may live up to 400 years, grow over 100 ft (40 m) tall and be 10 ft (3 m) thick. It has a rugged bark, and is fire-resistant.

Opened in 1868, the zoo is free, open 365 days, and covers 35 acres (14 ha). It exhibits some 200 species, including big cats, polar bears, primates, reptiles, and penguins. In 2010, the zoo stopped housing elephants, to display endangered black rhinoceroses instead. Chicago's Brookfield Zoo is focused on conservation. The Barking Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes fletcheri), speaking of bark, is found in Australia.

Answer: 360 Chicago

360 Chicago is an observation attraction on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Center skyscraper. An elevator takes you up about 1,000 feet (305 meters) in 40 seconds. There you find an 80-foot (24 m) wall of Chicago history, a multimedia tour, touchscreen information, and a magnificent view of downtown Chicago, the lakefront, and four adjoining states. 360 Chicago was voted "Best View in America" by "Travel and Leisure Magazine".

The Space Needle and Top of the Rock are observation decks in other cities. Skydeck is another amazing observation deck in Chicago, from the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower.

Answer: Sears Tower

The Willis Tower, aka the Sears Tower, is a skyscraper of 108 floors. Sears, Roebuck and Company hired it built in 1970. From 1973 until 1996 it was the tallest building in the world. It is 1,450 feet (442 meters), and taller still when the antenna spire is counted. In 2009, the Willis Group (a global risk and insurance broker) bought the building and acquired rights to a new name.

On the 103rd floor is the famous observation Skydeck, 1,353 feet (412.4 m) above street level. From there you can see Chicago, and several surrounding states. In June of 2014 a camera captured the seconds when three of Chicago's tallest buildings were simultaneously hit by lightning during a severe storm.

Answer: Museum of Science and Industry

The Museum of Science and Industry was long the largest science center in the Western Hemisphere, and claims it was first to allow visitors to touch and interact with exhibits. You can open a river drawbridge for a model train, make a giant heart beat in time with yours, or show your moves on the basketball court under the watchful eye of a virtual instructor.

Answer: Shops and rides

Built in 1916, Chicago's Navy Pier is 50 plus acres (20 hectares) of shops and rides off Lake Michigan's shore front. It features restaurants, parks, museums, gardens and a giant Ferris wheel. Twice a week in the summer there are fireworks displays.

High waves off Lake Michigan sometimes swamp the pier, due to global warming, so check conditions before you go. In 1941, the US Navy closed the pier to the public and used it for training, but the "Navy" pier was constructed for citizen enjoyment, though it can dock large freighters and passenger steamers. Lincoln's Tomb is found in the Illinois capital city, Springfield, three hours south of Chicago.

Answer: Tyrannosaurus rex

Sue, a massive Tyrannosaurus rex magnificently preserved, greets tourists at the door of Chicago's Stanley Field Hall. T.rex was a mighty beast, with a jaw four feet long, thick teeth and, they say, an ability to eat 500 lbs of flesh (230 kilograms) in one bite. Sue's skull alone weighed 600 pounds. The Field Museum also features an Evolving Planet exhibit going back in time over four billion years, the Hall of Gems, mummies, ancient America, underground, Ice Age, and many revolving exhibits about the history of creatures from all over the world.

Berlin displayed the tallest dinosaur, a Brachiosaurus. Charles Lindbergh flew the monoplane "Spirit of St. Louis", displayed in St. Louis.