Not a Capital Idea! [2] Trivia Quiz

Answer: Denpasar

Thriving on tourist dollars, Denpasar is a go-to destination for those seeking both enlightening travel and adventure; Bali is an ideal spot for surfing and relaxation in many forms. Quite the distance from the nation's capital on Java (it's Jakarta, as mentioned), Denpasar is a whole other experience known for its white-sand beaches, religious temples, and spas. Denpasar also happens to be an expected place to travel for travellers to any of the Lesser Sunda Islands in the southernmost reach of Indonesia, which means that if you're going to Lombok or Timor, you're probably connecting through it.

Despite its being known as a major destination, it doesn't even crack the top ten most populated cities in Indonesia.

Answer: New York City

New York City has five boroughs-- The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island-- and within those boroughs are noteworthy neighbourhoods, often built up over time to reflect the cultures and lives of their inhabitants. DUMBO stands for 'Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass' and is on the edge of the Hudson River; Chelsea is in Manhattan's West Side; Tribeca is the 'TRIangle BElow CAnal Street'; Astoria is in Queens. New York City, despite being the U.S.'s largest city, isn't its capital (that's Washington D.C.) and the capital of New York state is actually Albany.

Answer: Rotterdam

The second-largest city in The Netherlands, Rotterdam might be more important as a city of commerce and trade. Much like a huge portion of the country, Rotterdam is below sea level and survives in its spot due to the expansive system of dikes protecting the area.

It's an area that's been occupied, on the edge of the North Sea, since the thirteenth century. Rotterdam isn't the capital though-- that's Amsterdam.

Answer: Auckland

Auckland shares the North Island with New Zealand's actual capital city, Wellington, though they're on opposite sides; Wellington rests at the bottom and acts as a juncture point for ferries between the North and South Islands while Auckland is near the northern end. Home to one of the largest Polynesian and Maori populations in the world, Auckland has been considered one of the most livable cities around the globe.

Answer: Istanbul

It was formerly Byzantium, but it was also known as Constantinople. These days it's Istanbul, a city known for sitting on both the European and Asian continents, splitting Turkey between the two by taking each side of the Bosporus Strait. Definitely Turkey's largest and most important city for commerce and population, it's not a capital. For that, you'd need to travel due east to Ankara.

Its prime location at the edge of the Mediterranean (at the Aegean) and the Black Seas gives it a rich history, especially when you factor in its spot on the Silk Road.

Answer: Toronto

The City of Toronto, formerly York in its earliest days, is Canada's largest, and in a country as expansive as Canada, it's an interesting place to be. A mixing pot of cultures from around the world, it's considered one of the most multicultural places to live and its influences in architecture, cuisine, and activities reflect that. Toronto sits on the smallest of the Great Lakes-- Lake Ontario-- and is only a few hours away from the U.S. border. New York is right across the lake (the state, not the city)!

Answer: Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City was formerly known by the name 'Saigon', but it was changed in 1976 after the end of the Vietnam War to celebrate the first President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh. In modern times, it's the largest city in Vietnam while the capital sits in Hanoi in the north end of the nation.

Interestingly, despite the size of the country, you'd need to take a twenty-four hour train ride all the way from one end to the other if you wanted to get between the two cities by land; they're a couple hours away by air.

Answer: Geneva

Switzerland's capital city, Bern, is actually a fair bit further down the list since Zurich, Geneva, and Basel all contain more people. Geneva, down in the southwest of the country, sits on a beautiful lake (Lake Geneva, go figure) and contains numerous headquarters for multinational organizations (including the UN and Red Cross), but living there is expensive, so much so that people will often cross into France to buy the essentials. Geneva sits at the end of the Rhône River and the Jet D'eau, one of the world's most famous fountains, rises from its shore.

Answer: Busan

Busan is South Korea's second-largest city next to Seoul but, sitting at the southeast corner of the country on the coast, it serves a huge purpose in making South Korea a powerhouse for shipping and trade, acting as one of the world's largest hubs for these activities. Busan is more than that though. Promoting a rich ecosystem for arts and culture, Busan hosts film festivals, sporting events, and unique tourist experiences around its temples, hot springs, mountains, beaches, and fortresses.

Answer: Saint Petersburg

While it's a bit tough to pare such a major city for Russian history down to a few small clues, they're notable aspects of a city of landmarks. The Hermitage is, of course, the world-famous art museum, home to many masterpieces from Russia and beyond.

It shares the city with the likes of the Battleship Aurora, Catherine's Palace, Peter and Paul Fortress, and on and on. Formerly known by the name Leningrad, Saint Petersburg was established as a city in the early eighteenth century and continues to thrive as one of Russia's most important destinations.