Silly/Funny Worldwide City/Place Names Multiple Choice Quiz | Geography

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. City name: Climax Usually one reaches the climax of a film or book at, or near the conclusion of a story. For purposes of this quiz however, we are going to the little town of Climax as the first stop on our journey. It is located in a Midwest American state, famous for being the home of "the cereal city" of Battle Creek. In which of the lower 48 might one find Climax?

Answer: Michigan

Climax, MI, is located about a dozen miles west of Battle Creek (home of the Kellogg Cereal Co. since 1906), on Michigan's Lower Peninsula. When you arrive in the little village, don't blink or you may miss it, as Climax is a mere 1.06 square miles in area. European immigrants and American transplants started to settle there in 1838, and in 1899, Climax was officially incorporated.
You can find a few more towns named Climax, including one in Georgia, USA and another in Canada.

2. City name: Sexi Nestled at an altitude of over 8,100 feet in the Andes Mountain, Sexi sits in the province of Santa Clara, in the Cajamarca region, which is in the northern part of one of South America's most beautiful countries. Ah, but can you name which one, amigo? Hint: think "beans"

Answer: Peru

El pais-"the country"-is Peru, (capital city: Lima). Sexi covers an area of 74.5 square miles. The city was founded in 1942, and the most popular sight for Sexi tourists to see is the nearby petrified forest, known as El Bosque Petrificado Chamana. Local guides are available to help visitors as they view fossils which date back over 30-50 million years, from the Eocene epoch throughout El Bosque.

3. City name: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.(Really). When translated into English, the name of the city means "St. Mary's Church in the Hollow of the White Hazel Near to the Rapid Whirlpool of the Church of St. Tysilio of the Red Cave". Personally, I would have stopped at St. Mary's, but then again I wasn't one of the burghers who decided to think up a name that would give them bragging rights for having the longest name on any railroad stop in the U.K. In which part of the United Kingdom is it located? Hint: think "mammal".

Answer: Wales

Situated on the Island of Anglesey, the original name of the city (until the 1860s), was Llanfair Pyllgwyngyll, and as a matter of survival, the locals now refer to it simply as Llanfair. Though not supported by documentation, rumor has it that the all time favorite song of the villagers is a song from the film "Mary Poppins" (1964), titled "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious". In addition to the eye-catching RR station sign, there is another site of interest for visitors. Standing at a height of 89 feet is a monument to one of the heroes of The Battle of Waterloo (1815), Henry Paget, who suffered the amputation of a leg after gallantly leading his men on a ferocious charge against the enemy.
The economy hums along mainly as the result of agriculture and the fishing industry, plus a bit of tourism. Each year several cases of carpel tunnel syndrome are reported among the residents who swap Christmas cards.
It could be worse if you had friends who lived in Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu, New Zealand.
The latter was certified as the longest word ever to have been used in a crossword puzzle by the 'Guinness World Records', in 1979.

4. City name: French Lick The only reason most people have even heard of French Lick, is because it is the hometown of the former Boston Celtic great, Larry Bird. He played for "The Celts" in the National Basketball Association for his entire N.B.A. career, (1979-1992). The town was originally named Salt Spring when it was settled by French traders in 1857. Tell me, monsieur or madame, where in the American heartland can you find French Lick?

Answer: Indiana

Sitting in the very south/central part of Indiana, French Lick occupies a mere 1.77 square miles, and sits just a foot shy of 500 feet in elevation. Much of the town's business revolves around the copious number of gambling casinos, which over the years have hosted guests including Joe Louis, Al Capone and Irving Berlin. Mining in French Lick for its rich minerals is another source of income, and the many sulphur springs bring in tourist money, year after year.

Larry Bird, known affectionately by the sobriquet, "The Hick from French Lick", was born in the neighboring town of West Baden but moved to French Lick, where he attended Springs Valley H.S. As a senior, he put French Lick on the map, as he averaged 31 points per game (ppg), and upon graduation, "Larry Legend" was the school's all time leading scorer.

5. City name: Dead Chinaman That sounds like a pleasant place to live, don't you think? There's not a heck of a lot to say about the place, but I thought you might get a chuckle out of its moniker. You'll find the Dead Chinaman in the world's largest ocean, south of Asia. Which country does the Dead Chinaman call home? Hint: think "pig".

Answer: New Guinea

Dead Chinaman can be found in Papua New Guinea, in the Pacific's "Oceania" region. It sits more than 1,800 feet above sea level, and its main industries are agriculture, fishing and mining.

In case you wanted to give the Dead Chinaman a buzz, the dialing code is +675.
By the way there is a Chinaman's Hat in Hawaii. You'll find it on the island of Oahu, also home of the somewhat better known volcanic cone, "Diamond Head".

6. City name: Blowhard It's probably true that given the option most people would prefer not to live next to a bloviating blabbermouth. Most likely they wouldn't choose to reside in a town called Blowhard, either. However, some folks did settle down there, when Blowhard was established in 1997. On which continent would you find this windy sounding city, mate?

Answer: Australia

Blowhard is located in the state of Victoria, in the southeastern portion of the Australian continent. It's a mere 96km northwest of Melbourne, however if you prefer the feel of little towns more than the hustle and bustle of the big city, you won't have to travel far to get to a couple.

For example Bald Hills is just 4.4km away, and Sulky Gully is within easy reach, a mere 7km from Blowhard.

7. City name: Truth or Consequences Until 1950, "Truth or Consequences ("T or C")," was named Hot Springs, and was the county seat of Sierra County in one of America's contiguous 48 states. It has its own "T. or C." Municipal Airport and encompasses an area of almost 13 sq. mi. In which southwestern state, famous for its Roadrunner bird, would you find Truth or Consequences?

Answer: New Mexico

People come to the quaintly named town in southern New Mexico (located on the Rio Grande river), to enjoy the hot springs, do a little fishin' & hikin' and to play a round of golf. Visitors can also travel up the road a piece to take a dip in Elephant Butte Lake.

Here's why Hot Springs became "T. or C.": There was a popular TV game show called "Truth or Consequences", which aired from 1940-1957. On the 10th anniversary of the show, the programs host, Ralph Edwards invited any town in the country to change its name to that of the show. Ultimately, Hot Springs was the chosen one, and for the next fifty years, Ralph and his wife visited the town during Truth or Consequence's Fiesta. Various stars who have provided entertainment at the festival over the years include Richard Dawson, Jeanie C. Riley, Jamie Farr, Amanda Blake and Jayne Mansfield.
And that's the truth!

8. City name: Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu If you got a kick out of the name of the town in question three, (Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch), you will probably get a chuckle from this mouthful. It is actually a local, tribal name for a hill which stands just over 1,000 feet tall. On which landmass, known for its kiwis, in the southwestern portion of the Pacific ocean does it stand?

Answer: New Zealand

The translation from the Maori comes out like this: "The summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the climber of mountains, the land-swallower who travelled about, played his nose flute to his loved one". Now, isn't that just lovely?

You can find the hill near its two neighboring towns, neither of which is particularly easy to pronounce either, Waipukurau and Porangahau, in the region of Hawke's Bay on the North Island.

Considering the difficulty in remembering, much less pronouncing it, you wouldn't think Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu would be a likely candidate for a marketing jingle. Truth be told, however, it actually was used in an advert for Mountain Dew beverages! Even more hard to believe is that when the U.K. band, "Quantum Leap", recorded, "The Lone Ranger", back in the late 1970s, they somehow found a way to work it into the lyrics. I can't begin to imagine what it rhymed with in the tune. :-)
I tried pronouncing it six times, and the only time I came close was when I had a mouthful of peanut butter!

9. City name: Middelfart In the 13th century, the name of the burg was Maethelfar, but the name was changed to its current one in 1496. The picturesque city has been a source of livelihood for fishermen and whale hunters for over 700 years, as it sits smack dab in the Atlantic Ocean. Many Middelfartians refer to their home town simply as Melfar. (Could you blame them)? Where in Scandinavia can you find Middelfart? Hint: think "pastry".

Answer: Denmark

When Middelfart is translated into English, it becomes "central passage". It is located in the center of the most southerly of the Scandinavian countries, on the island of Funen, and takes up a portion of the E. Jutland Metro area. Entertainment can be found in the local movie theatre, library or restaurants. If you're so inclined, you can watch the Middelfart G & BK football squad play its home games at the local stadium which can seat over 4,000 spectators.

There is also a natural animal park in the neighboring town of Hindsgval which is quite popular among visitors. Oskarshamm, Sweden, proudly(?) serves as Middelfart's sister city.

10. City name: Beer Bottle Crossing You'll find this town with the thirst-quenching name in the western portion of one of America's western-most states, bordering Oregon. It sits in the two million acre Payette National Forest in Adams county. Nearby (13 miles to the southeast) is the town of Council, which is the county seat of Adams, and its largest city. OK, work like a beaver...what is the name of the state in which you'll locate Beer Bottle Crossing?

Answer: Idaho

Oregon's nickname is The Beaver State.
Originally settled for its logging industry, Beer Bottle Crossing now provides summer activities such as swimming, fishing, kayaking, sailing, golf, and mountain biking. When winter sets in, folks come to enjoy the hunting, snowmobiling, skiing, and ice fishing which abound in the beautiful habitat.
It's probably safe to say that regardless of the season, folks there will always enjoy a bottle of beer or two.

Source: Author paulmallon

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

Silly/Funny Worldwide City/Place Names Quiz

You're from where?! Seriously, these ten cities will have you scratching your head when you try to imagine what the folks who named them were thinking when they stuck them with their monikers. Don't expect to guess too many, just have fun.

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