Road Flooded Ahead Trivia Quiz

Answer: Song Loulou Reservoir

Cameroon is a country located on the western coast of Central Africa. Its relative political stability has allowed the development of agriculture, railways, roads, public buildings and other works to proceed without the threat of destruction by invading forces. The Sanaga River lies in the south of this country. Approximately 600 kilometres long, it is situated between two areas of high rainfall which has allowed the construction of the Song Loulou reservoir on the river. This creates the necessary force to drive the Song Loulou Power Station which provides power to almost 260,000 homes.

The photo clue - as in SONG Loulou Reservoir - is of a sheet of music featuring the first page of the lovely "Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert (1797-1828) whose music is so lovely that it can almost break your heart.

Answer: Koka Reservoir

The Koka Reservoir is located in the south of Ethiopia. Its catchment area covers some 180 square miles. Because it is located relatively close to the capital city, Addis Ababa, this reservoir is a popular site for tourists. Home to a variety of beautiful wild birds, the site also acts as a supply source for one of Ethiopia's fishing industries, yielding 625 tonnes of fish every year. Opened in 1960, the Koka Reservoir supplies water to a nearby hydroelectricity plant which generates some 110 GWh each year for Addis Ababa, with its large population of 3,400,000 residents.

The photo clue is of a nice steaming hot cup of cocoa, which is a play on the word KOKA.

Answer: Bongola Dam

Located on the Komani River near Queenstown on the Eastern Cape of South Africa, this huge dam's capacity is a staggering 247,700,000 cubic feet. Its wall, which was completed in 1908, was the thickest wall of any dam in Africa for many years. Its water supply is used for industrial and civic purpose for Queenstown and its entire surrounding district, an area encompassing a very large population in total. The name of the dam itself is a matter of some controversy because of the translation into English. The word, according to many, means donkey. What is wrong with that? While one agrees Donkey Dam isn't exactly inspiring, and even just a tiny bit comical, it is believed it was called such because of the large number of these little animals used by workers during its construction.

The photo clue - as in BONGOla Dam - is of a set of bongo drums. These percussion instruments can often be seen in many Latin American bands, providing a steady rhythm behind the lively music for which these bands are noted.

Answer: Mandraka Dam

The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located off the southeast tip of Africa. It consists of the large island itself and numerous smaller islands. This lovely land, which drifted away from India millennia ago during the breakup of the continents, is noted for its unique wildlife, ninety per cent of which can be found nowhere else in the world. The Mandraka Dam, which was constructed by a French company, was completed in 1956. It supplies a forceful flow of water to an hydroelectric plant which is located a mile below it in a valley.

The photo clue - as in MANDRAKa Dam - is that of the mandrake root, which is said to bear a resemblance to the human shape, and which has been used in the practice of magic for centuries. This plant is said to scream when it is uprooted, a snippet of information which is just a little bit creepy.

Answer: Mare aux Vacoas

The island of Mauritius is located in the Indian Ocean, approximately 1,200 miles off the southeast of Africa. A democracy, it is noted for its political freedom, its healthy economy and for being the home of the now extinct dodo bird. The Mare aux Vacoas reservoir is the largest of its kind in this country, providing water to a large area of the island's southwest population.

The photo clue - as in MARE aux Vacoas Reservoir - is of a mare, a lovely female horse, and her small foal. See how she's placed herself protectively between the camera and her baby? She's just so beautiful.

Answer: Plover Cove Reservoir

How amazing is that? To create a lake of drinkable water from an arm of the sea? Incredible. This reservoir, completed in 1968, and with its height increased further in 1973, now provides a capacity of 230 million cubic metres. It was created, brilliantly so, by disconnecting the large Plover Cove from its sea, then draining it and turning it into a fresh water lake. Such ingenuity. Plover Cove is the largest reservoir by area in lovely Hong Kong, and the second largest by volume.

The photo clue - as in PLOVER Cove Reservoir - is of the dainty little plover bird. There are 66 different members in the sub-family of this wading bird, and they can be found all over the world. These clever little creatures, in an endeavour to distract predators, often pretend to sit on imaginary nesting sites. Talk about ingenuity.

Answer: Krishna Raja Sagara

Krishna Raja Sagara is the name of the lake which has grown behind the dam as well of this dam itself. Located in Mysore, India, the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam was opened in 1932. It holds 49 billion cubic feet of water and is almost the sole supply of this precious fluid for both Mysore and Bangalore cities. These two centres contain a population of approximately 1,000,000 people. The Krishna Raja Sagara Dam is famous for the beautiful botanical park and gardens which have been developed at its base.

The photo clue is of Krishna - as in KRISHNA Raja Sagara Dam - the supreme and most popular god of Hinduism.

Answer: Baath Dam

Standing at a height of 46 feet, this dam was opened in 1986. It has a reservoir created behind it and a hydroelectric plant below. This creates 81 MW of power. This is one of the three dams built across the Syrian stretch of the Euphrates and there are plans to build yet another one downstream of the Euphrates. Before that can happen, however, precious archaeological sites in this area have to be excavated first.

The photo clue - as in BAATH (BATH) Dam - is of a very businesslike bathroom containing all the necessary facilities, except one would hate to sit down that low to use the toilet. Your feet would be stuck out in front of you.

Answer: Cow Green Reservoir

Completed in 1971, this reservoir not only supplies nearby industries, but it acts as emergency storage during dry weather, where its flow can augment the water supplies for those industries and homes much further downstream. It has met with a great deal of opposition from environmentalists, however, who are concerned on its impact on the rich flora and fauna in this area, particularly some of its rarer plants. By 2014, the Cow Green Reservoir was home for the largest reserves of wild brown trout in this area of the world.

The photo clue - as in COW Green Reservoir - is of a placid old dairy cow, comfortably chewing away on its endless cycle of moo, munch and milk.

Answer: Hoover Dam

This massive construction, opened in 1936, was built during the Great Depression. It created work for thousands of men, thereby helping to keep the wolf from the door in those hungry times. It stands at 726 tall, over 1,200 feet long, is 45 feet wide at the crest and an incredible 660 feet wide at its base. With a surface area of an enormous 247 square miles, the Hoover Dam's history makes engrossing viewing or reading if you're ever lucky enough to see or read same. It's a fascinating giant of the modern age.

The photo clue - as in HOOVER Dam - is of a vacuum cleaner, which, for years, went by the generic term of the Hoover.