The End of the Earth Trivia Quiz

Answer: Cape Spear

Cape Spear is part of the City of St. John's. It has been designated a National Historic Site in Canada because at the time of the designation, it was the oldest lighthouse in the country. The lighthouse became operational in 1839. The site for the lighthouse was chosen because it sits on the rocky shore, close to St. John's Harbour, and was the easternmost point in the country.

Answer: It is on an Air Force base.

The point of land that lies at the southwesternmost spot in the contiguous United States is actually unnamed. The land sits on Vandenberg Air Force Base which is located near Lompoc, California. It is off-limits to members of the public because of the fact that it is an Air Force Base. One more step west, and you'd be in the Pacific Ocean.

Answer: Russia also laid claim to the island.

There is a group of three islands off Japan's northern coast known as the Kurile Islands, the ownership of which is disputed in the early 21st century. Itrup is the northernmost of the three islands. Cape Kamoiwakka is the most northerly point on the island. One more step north and you'd be in the Sea of Okhotsk.

The most northerly point in Japan that is undisputed is Benten-jima, a small deserted island off the island of Hokkaido.

Answer: Indira Point

Indira Point is named in honour of Indira Gandhi. The point lies on one of the Nicobar Islands south of the main continent. The southernmost point of the main continent is Kanyakumari. One more step south from either of those locations, and you'd be in the Indian Ocean.

Answer: Cape Blanc

Ras ben Sakka is a small cape located almost one kilometer west of Cape Blanc. Although Cape Blanc is often declared to be the most northerly, Ras Ben Sakka is actually about 30 metres (approximately 100 feet) further north. Ras ben Sakka is located in the country of Tunisia. One step further north and you'd be in the Mediterranean Sea!

Answer: It is the southernmost point in Europe.

Cape Trypiti sits at 34° 48′ 02″ N latitude. This means that it is as far south as you can go and still say that you are in Europe. One more step south, and you'd be in the Mediterranean Sea.

Answer: Cabo da Roca, Portugal

Cabo da Roca lies at longitude 9º 30´ W in the Parque Nacional de Sintra-Cascais in an area known as the Portuguese Riviera. The lighthouse there is pretty old. It dates back to the 1700s! One more step westward, and you'd be in the Atlantic Ocean.

Answer: Iceland

Kolbeinsey, Eyjafjörður in Iceland is a point on an islet that is considered the northernmost point in Iceland. Kolbeinsey is also known as Kolbeinn's Isle, Seagull Rock, Mevenklint, Mevenklip, and Meeuw Steen. The tiny, uninhabited spot is located above the Arctic Circle, about 105 kilometres (65 miles) from the northern coast of Iceland.

The body of water to the north of Greenland is the Lincoln Sea (the Greenland Sea lies to the east of Greenland). Taking that one step further north in Iceland would be a chilling experience!

Answer: Antarctica

Antarctica bumps up against the southernmost sea that we have in the world. The edge of the Ross Sea is at the foot of the Horlick Mountains, approximately 320 kilometres (200 miles) from the Geographic South Pole. If you stepped off of the land at that point, you wouldn't get wet, though. That spot is covered by the Ross Ice Shelf.

The southernmost open sea is also part of the Ross Sea at the Bay of Whales, but that is technically not where the land ends in Antarctica. Either way, you would be chilly wherever you were experiencing the Ross Sea. Brrrr. . . .!

Answer: Punta Pariñas, Peru

Punta Pariñas is also known as Punta Balcones. It is located at 81°19′35″ W longitude. There's not much there besides a lighthouse and a lovely beach that is accessible to visitors who gather to watch the seals who populate the area. If you step off the land at that point, you would be stepping into the Pacific Ocean.

The westernmost point of South America, when all islands are considered is not definite. Darwin Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador are at 92°00′33″ W, while Easter Island's westernmost point is Motu Nui at 109°27′18″ W.

The true westernmost point of South America is disputed by some who do not include those locations as part of South America, so the islands weren't included in this question. The other spots listed as answers are the northernmost (Colombia), easternmost (Brazil), and southernmost (Chile) points of mainland South America.