Fractured Countries of the World Quiz

Answer: New Zealand

New Zealand is a country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, i.e., Oceania, near Australia. The capital is Wellington, and the two main islands have a total population of over four and one half million people. Other major cities include Auckland and Christchurch. Peter Jackson filmed "Lord of the Rings" on the South Island. Based on "Stats NZ", New Zealanders continue to be outnumbered by sheep, but the current ratio is declining, i.e., about six sheep per person.

Answer: Zaire

The Republic of Zaire in Central Africa was founded in 1971. It lasted until 1997 when the name of the country was changed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Zaire got its name from the Kongo word 'nzere' which means "river that swallows all rivers". The population of Zaire before its dissolution was listed at over 46 million people. The capital of the country is Kinshasa.

Answer: Belize

Belize is a country on the east coast of Central America. South of Mexico, the capital is Belmopan and the largest city is Belize City. Bordered on the east by the Caribbean Sea, there is a rich marine life with extensive coral reefs. Guatemala borders the west and south of the Commonwealth of Belize which was previously known as British Honduras until June 1, 1973.

Answer: Argentina

The Argentine Republic is located in the southern part of South America. It is the eighth largest country in the world, and contains the Andes Mountains as well as the Pampas grassland. The capital is Buenos Aires and their official language is Spanish. Its neighbors include Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia. The name Argentina comes from the Latin word for silver.

Answer: Bahamas

The Bahamas is an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean between Florida and Cuba. The Bahamas consist of over 700 islands and cays (coral reefs). Some are uninhabited and others have resorts to cater to the tourist trade. As examples, Paradise Island and Grand Bahama are excellent for scuba diving and snorkeling in the beautiful, clear waters, with over 100,000 square miles of ocean.

The capital is Nassau.

Answer: Bosnia and Herzegovina

On the Balkan Peninsula you can find the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is one country with a long and confusing history, having once been a part of Yugoslavia from 1929 until 1992. Bosnia is in the northern, mountainous region, while Herzegovina is in the flat, southern region, with Sarajevo as the capital.

Inter-ethnic rule between the Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks is a continuing source of conflict.

Answer: Myanmar

In 1948, the Union of Burma gained its independence from great Britain, but chose not to become part of the British Commonwealth. In 1989, after thousands were killed in a political uprising, a military junta changed the name of the country from Burma to Myanmar. Myanmar is a nation in southeast Asia bordered by India, Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand.

The largest city is Yangon (formerly Rangoon) and the capital is Naypyidaw.

Answer: Australia

Australia is the only country which is also a continent. Located between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Australia was originally founded as a penal colony. Canberra is the capital and the currency is the Australian dollar. Other notable attractions are the Sydney Opera House and the Great Barrier Reef. Australia also possesses a vast wilderness called the Outback, as well as many unusual animal species like kangaroos, koalas and platypuses.

Answer: Ecuador

On the west coast of South America, on the equator, we find the appropriately named Republic of Ecuador. The diverse landscape includes the Amazon jungle, the Andean mountains and the Galapagos Islands (of Charles Darwin's "Origin of Species"). It is bordered by Columbia, Peru and the Pacific Ocean, and its capital is Quito.

In 2008, they were the first nation in the world to include the "Rights of Nature", i.e., ecosystem rights, in their constitution.

Answer: Liechtenstein

Located between Austria and Switzerland, Liechtenstein is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The official language of the principality is German, and their government is a constitutional monarchy headed by the Prince of Liechtenstein. It is the fourth smallest country in Europe, and the smallest country to border two countries.

They have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world (1.5%). The capital is Vaduz.

Answer: Qatar

With a shoreline on the Persian Gulf and a terrain which includes desert, dunes and beaches, the State of Qatar is an Arab nation in Western Asia. The Qatar Peninsula's only land border is Saudi Arabia. The official religion is Islam and the capital is Doha.

The country is distinguished by the fact that it has "the highest per capita income in the world", i.e., $124,927, per "worldatlas".

Answer: Ukraine

The Ukraine is a large country in Eastern Europe bordered by the Black Sea. In 1922, the Ukraine became one of the founding members of the Republics of the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R). In 1931 and 1932, there was a catastrophic famine in the area, and it is estimated that four to five million Ukrainians died.

The Ukraine reestablished its independence on August 24, 1991 with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Ukraine borders seven nations, and the capital is Kiev.

Answer: Malaysia

Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia with beaches, rainforests and a diversity of cultural influences. Its government is a federal constitutional monarchy, divided into thirteen states and three territories. It is separated from Borneo by the South China Sea, and its neighbors include Thailand and Singapore. Malaysia is the 44th most populous country in the world.

The capital is Kuala Lumpur, and the Petronas Twin Towers are located there.

Answer: Jordan

On the East Bank of the Jordan River, in Western Asia, lies the appropriately named Arab nation of Jordan. The country is located in the hotbed of the Middle East, surrounded by Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Israel and Palestine. Jordan possesses a strategic geographical location at the crossroads of Asia, Europe and Africa.

The government consists of a constitutional monarchy, with the king having executive and legislative power. The capital is Amman.

Answer: Mozambique

Lying on the Indian Ocean in Southeast Africa, we find the nation of Mozambique. It is also bordered by Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and South Africa. The capital and largest city is Maputo. The country was colonized by the Portuguese in 1505, finally gaining independence in 1975 when the People's Republic of Mozambique was established.

The official language of Mozambique is Portuguese, but common native languages like Swahili are prevalent.