Geography Runners-Up Quiz | Geography - Miscellany

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. At 4,132 miles, the Nile is the longest river not just in Africa but in the whole world. But which river, draining from the highlands and mountains of the East African Rift and splashing down spectacular Livingstone Falls before it meets the sea in the small town of Muanda, is Africa's second longest?

Answer: Congo

The Congo River, formerly known as the Zaire, stretches for 2,960 miles across West Central Africa. It is the most powerful river in Africa, discharging up to 50,000 cubic meters of water per second into the Atlantic Ocean. David Livingstone never visited the falls (which are really a series of cataracts) named in his honor; his buddy Henry Morton Stanley presumed to give them his name.

2. Mount Everest and many others of the world's highest peaks are located in the Himalaya mountain range. Which range is home to K2 and five more of the twenty tallest mountains in the world?

Answer: Karakoram

K2, also called "The Savage Mountain" for the deadly risk it poses to its would-be climbers, was not climbed successfully until 1954...and it wasn't summited again until 1977. Only about a tenth as many people have climbed K2 as have made it to the summit of Everest.

3. Greenland is the world's largest island, and New Guinea--Asia's largest--is the worldwide runner-up. Which island, shared by the countries of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, is Asia's second largest?

Answer: Borneo

The lush tropical island of Borneo has one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. According to the World Wildlife Fund, 417 previously unknown animal and plant species were identified there between 1995 and 2006. Over half of the island's territory belongs to Indonesia, with the northern region under the control of Malaysia. About one percent of its territory makes up the tiny nation of Brunei, the second wealthiest country in southeast Asia (after Singapore).

4. Siberia's Lake Baikal is the deepest freshwater lake in the world. Which African lake, bordered by Tanzania, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi, is the world's second deepest?

Answer: Lake Tanganyika

Lake Tanganyika's great depth, maxing out at 4,820 feet, and its location in the warm tropical latitudes combine to create a unique, low-oxygen underwater environment. In these chilly waters, a great diversity of unique fish has evolved, including 250 species of cichlids.

These unusual freshwater fish are popular among aquarium lovers, many of whom recreate their own "mini-Tanganyikas" in home aquariums.

5. Brazil is the largest country by area both in South America and in the entire Southern Hemisphere. Which country is South America's second largest?

Answer: Argentina

At just under 1.1 million square miles, Argentina is nearly as large as Venezuela, Colombia and Chile put together. By area, it's the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world.

6. Of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, only the Great Pyramid of Giza still survives. Which was the second most recently extant, destroyed after measuring among the world's tallest buildings for an estimated 16 centuries?

Answer: Lighthouse of Alexandria

The Lighthouse, or Pharos, is estimated to have stood between 400 and 450 feet tall. It guided sailors safely into Alexandria's harbor with a combination of fires and mirrors. Earthquakes damaged it over the years until it was no longer usable, and it was finally toppled by a series of great quakes in the early 14th century.

By the late 15th century, even its ruined stones had been carried off and used to construct other buildings. If you go diving off the coast of Alexandria today, you can see some of the Pharos' foundation stones still resting on the seabed. What a great opportunity to see ancient history close up!

7. The oldest college in the United States was founded, confusingly, under the name "New College". You know it today as Harvard University. Which modern school, founded by the Church of England in 1693, is the second oldest?

Answer: College of William and Mary

Three U.S. Presidents--Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe and John Tyler--were graduates of William and Mary. It's also the original home of academic honor society Phi Beta Kappa and the site of the Sir Christopher Wren building, the oldest college building in the United States.

8. The first modern Olympic Games staged by the International Olympic Committee took place in Athens in 1896. Four years later, which city hosted the second Games in tandem with the 1900 World's Fair?

Answer: Paris

The 1900 Summer Olympics were a mere sideshow to the World's Fair, taking place over five months instead of just a few weeks as is the modern practice. These Olympics saw some notable firsts, however. Women athletes participated for the first time, and tennis player Charlotte Cooper became the first female Olympic champion in history.

A few off-the-wall sports made their one and only appearance at these Games, including croquet, hot air ballooning and obstacle course swimming.

9. Little Rhode Island is the tiniest U.S. state, measuring just 1545 square miles in area. Which nearby state, popular with banks and corporations, is the second smallest?

Answer: Delaware

More than half of all publicly traded corporations in the US are incorporated in Delaware as a result of its easygoing business laws. The Delaware Memorial Bridge, connecting Delaware and New Jersey, is the longest twin span suspension bridge in the world. To many people, including this author, Delaware will always summon up that famous green-screen scene in "Wayne's World": "Imagine being magically whisked away to... Delaware... Hi. I'm in Delaware".

10. The highest temperature ever recorded prior to the 21st century was a sizzling 136 degrees Fahrenheit at Al-Aziziyah, Libya. Which of these morbidly-named places is the runner-up in this category, charting a high of 134 degrees in 1913?

Answer: Death Valley, California

The average summer temperatures in Death Valley are enough to roast your skin! A better time to visit is during the spring wildflower season in late March through early April. While you're there, keep an eye out for mysteriously moving stones. Racetrack Playa is littered with these "sliding rocks," which leave distinct tracks behind them as they meander--pushed by wind, ice or something else--across the valley's weathered clay floor. (And in case you're wondering, the other three choices are all real places too.)

Source: Author Quizissippi

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Pagiedamon before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Geography Runners-Up Trivia Quiz

You know the tallest mountain, the deepest ocean and all those other standout places. But these almost-superlative spots deserve their time in the spotlight too. One in a planned series of "Runners-Up" quizzes.

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>