I Left My Spleen In Aberdeen Trivia Quiz

Answer: County Londonderry

Coleraine is home to the Causeway Coast, with the Giant's Causeway not far off - Led Zeppelin fans will recognise it from the cover of 'Houses Of The Holy'. It was also one of the earliest places to be settled in Ireland; the Mount Sandel Mesolithic site is over nine thousand years old.

Random Coleraine factoid: its name means 'nook of the ferns' in Irish Gaelic.

Answer: Dodoma

Although Dar es Salaam is no longer the main capital of Tanzania, it is still the administrative capital and several government offices are based there. In the 19th century, it was a commercial centre for the German East Africa Company, and is a popular tourist spot today with attractions such as the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve and safari tours.

Random Dar es Salaam factoid: it has a burgeoning hip-hop scene. Tanzanian hip-hop is known as 'bongo flava', blending American styles with traditional Tanzanian music and lyrics in Swahili or English.

Answer: Pohnpei

The Federated States of Micronesia are made up of four states: Yap, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Chuuk. Pohnpei State consists of two states, Pohnpei - the most populous island, where Palikir is located - and Pingelap. Pohnpei is one of the wettest places in the world (in some of its more mountainous areas, over 300 inches of rain has been recorded).

Random Pohnpei factoid: on the eastern shore of the island is the ruined city of Nan Madol, a place made up of over a hundred artificial islands. According to local folklore, it was built by two magical brothers, Olisihpa and Olosohpa, with the help of a dragon.

Answer: Mohawk River

The Mohawk River is named for the Mohawk Nation, who discovered the original Cohoes Falls. A dam was built across the river in order to harness power for the turbines of the local cotton mills - Cohoes was a major producer of cotton in the nineteenth century, hence its nickname of the 'Spindle City'.

Random Cohoes factoid: Bobby Leach, a British daredevil and the second person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel, used the Cohoes Falls as practice.

Answer: The Silk Road

Founded in 700 BC, Samarkand is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, and the second largest city in Uzbekistan. The Silk Road itself was a network of several routes starting in China and ending in Rome and what is now Somalia, and the Soghdian merchants of Samarkand were instrumental in transporting silk and other goods westward. Imported Chinese silk became a popular fashion item in the Roman Empire.

Random Samarkand factoid: it's also home to several examples of Islamic architecture, such as the Ulugh Beg Observatory, a place of study and observation for budding astronomers in the fifteenth century, and the Registan public square with its mosaic-covered madrassahs (Islamic schools).

Answer: Berlin

The Spree runs through Berlin into the Czech Republic, and is a popular place for boat tours of the city. The Reichstag building, where the German parliament meets, is situated on its banks, and you can take night-time tours to the roof of the building. Other attractions include the Badeschiff, a floating swimming pool moored in the river, and the Museumsinsel, an island that houses five museums.

Random Berlin factoid: around the city, you can see fibreglass bear statues in all manner of wacky outfits and colours. They are Buddy Bear, the city's mascot, inspired by the black bear on the Berlin flag.

Answer: New South Wales

Mention Sydney and the first thing that springs to mind will probably be the Opera House. It's not the only eyecatching work of architecture there; there's also 1 Bligh Street, a cylindrical, ecologically sustainable skyscraper, the grand Queen Victoria Building with its Great Australian Clock, and the towering Great Synagogue. It's also home to several farmers' markets selling crafts and food.

Random Sydney factoid: the 2013 film adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby' was filmed in Sydney. Its director, Baz Luhrmann, is an alumnus of its National Institute of Dramatic Art.

Answer: Bourgogne

Bourgogne (or Burgundy, in English) is mostly famous for wine production; famous wine products include Beaujolais and Chablis. As for Auxerre itself, it is at the northern end of Bourgogne, and sits on the bank of the Yonne River. It is home to several medieval buildings, including the Saint Etienne Cathedral and Saint-Germain Abbey.

Random Auxerre factoid: according to local legend, a pack of starving wolves invaded the city during the Second World War after getting drunk off grapes they had stolen from local vineyards. Fortunately for the locals, the wolves were too drunk to put up much of a fight, and they were easily slaughtered.

Answer: The Inca

Lima, the capital of Peru, was originally established as 'Ciudad de los Reyes' (the City of Kings). Today, it is a metropolis surrounded by shanty towns on the outskirts - home to immigrants looking for work in the city - and home to a mishmash of different styles of architecture from different periods. Huacas - protected local historical sites from the Inca period - sit alongside colonial buildings.

Random Lima factoid: there is a type of Chinese cooking specific to Peru known as 'chifa', in which local ingredients were used by Chinese immigrants to replace traditional Chinese ingredients. It originated in Lima, where the first Chinese restaurants in Peru were opened. Dishes include arroz chaufa (fried rice, served with meat or vegetables), and tipa cuy (deep fried guinea pig with sweet and sour sauce).

Answer: The Granite City

As well as the Granite City, Aberdeen is also known as the Silver City and the Shining City, due to its many buildings that are built out of local granite. The high mica content of the granite makes it sparkle like silver. It also gained a reputation for oil production in the '70s. Nearby Balmoral is home to the British Royal Family's holiday residence, Balmoral Castle.

Random Aberdeen factoid: on the subject of castles, one of the many castles that the trademark Disney fairytale castle - the one with all the towers - is said to have been based on is an Aberdonian castle, Castle Craigievar. Originally pink in colour, it was built over a sixteenth century castle in the seventeenth century, and was given a new paint job in 2009.