The Coastal Redwoods Trivia Quiz

Answer: Pacific Ocean

The Latin "mare pacificum" means "peaceful sea". At over 65 million square miles, it is larger in area than all the land area in the world.

Answer: Rhododendron

Rhododendrons are flowering trees and shrubs, sometimes called azaleas. Their Latin name means "rose tree", and they are available in almost any color imaginable. The parrot flower is native to Thailand and is so rare the government has banned its export. Lithops are native to South Africa and look like stones until they bloom. Rafflesia is the world's largest and heaviest flower and is found on Borneo Islands, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sumatra and southern Thailand.

They're all interesting flowers worth looking up.

Answer: "Moulin Rouge" (Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor)

"Moulin Rouge" was filmed entirely in Sydney, Australia. Other movies filmed in Northern California are "East of Eden", "The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming", "Humanoids from the Deep", and the television show "Murder, She Wrote".

Answer: Pull over in the next turnout to allow the other vehicle to pass you.

On most of the surrounding highways in the northern California coastal region, there are very few places where it is safe to pass without the cooperation of other drivers. Even one vehicle behind you is reason enough to pull out of the way, as a driver's familiarity with the road and the capabilities of his/her vehicle can make a big difference in determining a safe speed. NEVER drive faster than is comfortable.

Answer: Snow skiing

You'd have to go pretty far inland to find snowy mountains for skiing. Doable activities include camping, fishing, scuba diving, shopping, hiking, kayaking, sea-cave exploring, and the list goes on. Whales are usually seen migrating north in March, April and May to the Arctic feeding grounds.

They can be seen again in October and November, migrating south to their birthing lagoons in Mexico. In addition to many fabulous wineries, there are also many micro-breweries for beer lovers. Art galleries abound, and a premier woodworking program has been available at the College of the Redwoods.

Answer: The Emerald Triangle

Some say there is more marijuana grown in these three counties than in the rest of the U.S. combined, though it is tough to verify such allegations. The cultivation of medical marijuana for personal use in California was legalized in 2009.

Answer: True

During most of August, the beaches and seaside areas are commonly locked in a fog and are around 50 degrees F, while it might be around 80 degrees F fewer than three miles inland! In mid winter, it may again be 50 degrees F, while just 25 miles inland it's snowing.

Answer: wah-LAH-lah

Gualala comes from the Pomo Indian words that mean "where the water flows down" or "water flowing down place". The town was actually named for the Gualala River, which flows to the ocean through the middle of town.

Answer: Their original gas engines smelled bad

The self-powered passenger cars came into being in 1925 and were yellow. A local saying was, "You could smell 'em before you could see 'em". Visitors have continued to ride in vintage cars from Fort Bragg to Northspur for decades.

Answer: franklin trees

Also known as "the lost camellia", the franklin tree was discovered in Georgia in 1765, and had disappeared completely from the wild by 1803. Cypress trees, often growing close to the bluffs, are bent by the constant winds into remarkable shapes. Fir trees grow among the redwoods, and alders are usually found along streams and rivers.