GeographyAges 12+15 questions

World Geography Quiz

Travel the planet in 15 questions: the great rivers, the highest peaks, the oceans and the countries in between. It starts with the ones most people know and finishes with a few that will test even a keen map-reader, and every answer comes with the fact behind it.

Read through the questions and answers here, or host the quiz live: put it on a big screen, let everyone join on their phones with a PIN, and watch the scores climb as the room answers each question against the clock.

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The questions

  1. 1.Which is the largest ocean on Earth by area?

    • AAtlantic Ocean
    • BIndian Ocean
    • CPacific Ocean
    • DArctic Ocean
    Show the answer

    Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Ocean covers about a third of the Earth's surface, more than all the land put together.

  2. 2.Which mountain has the highest peak above sea level?

    • AMount Everest
    • BK2
    • CKangchenjunga
    • DMont Blanc
    Show the answer

    Mount Everest. Mount Everest, on the border of Nepal and China, rises about 8,849 metres above sea level.

  3. 3.Which river flows through the city of Cairo?

    • AThe Congo
    • BThe Nile
    • CThe Niger
    • DThe Zambezi
    Show the answer

    The Nile. The Nile flows north through Egypt, passing through Cairo before reaching the Mediterranean Sea.

  4. 4.What is the largest country in the world by area?

    • ACanada
    • BChina
    • CUnited States
    • DRussia
    Show the answer

    Russia. Russia covers about 17 million square kilometres, spanning eastern Europe and northern Asia.

  5. 5.What is the capital city of Australia?

    • ASydney
    • BCanberra
    • CMelbourne
    • DPerth
    Show the answer

    Canberra. Canberra was purpose-built as the capital, partly as a compromise between rivals Sydney and Melbourne.

  6. 6.On which continent is the Sahara Desert?

    • AAfrica
    • BAsia
    • CSouth America
    • DAustralia
    Show the answer

    Africa. The Sahara stretches across North Africa and is the largest hot desert in the world.

  7. 7.The River Danube flows through Vienna.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. The Danube flows through four capital cities: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade.

  8. 8.The Andes mountains run along the western side of which continent?

    • ANorth America
    • BAfrica
    • CSouth America
    • DEurope
    Show the answer

    South America. The Andes are the longest continental mountain range in the world, running about 7,000 km down South America.

  9. 9.Which ocean lies between Africa and Australia?

    • AAtlantic Ocean
    • BPacific Ocean
    • CSouthern Ocean
    • DIndian Ocean
    Show the answer

    Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean is bordered by Africa to the west, Asia to the north and Australia to the east.

  10. 10.What is the smallest country in the world by area?

    • AMonaco
    • BVatican City
    • CSan Marino
    • DLiechtenstein
    Show the answer

    Vatican City. Vatican City, surrounded by Rome, covers less than half a square kilometre.

  11. 11.Greenland is a continent.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. Greenland is the world's largest island; geographically it is part of North America.

  12. 12.The Strait of Gibraltar separates Spain from which country?

    • AAlgeria
    • BPortugal
    • CMorocco
    • DTunisia
    Show the answer

    Morocco. At its narrowest the Strait of Gibraltar is about 14 km wide, separating Europe from Africa.

  13. 13.Which river flows through Baghdad?

    • AThe Tigris
    • BThe Euphrates
    • CThe Jordan
    • DThe Indus
    Show the answer

    The Tigris. Baghdad stands on the Tigris, one of the two great rivers of ancient Mesopotamia.

  14. 14.Which mountain range is traditionally used as part of the boundary between Europe and Asia?

    • AThe Alps
    • BThe Carpathians
    • CThe Pyrenees
    • DThe Ural Mountains
    Show the answer

    The Ural Mountains. The Urals run north to south through Russia and are the usual dividing line between Europe and Asia.

  15. 15.Which is the deepest lake in the world?

    • ALake Superior
    • BLake Baikal
    • CLake Victoria
    • DLake Tanganyika
    Show the answer

    Lake Baikal. Lake Baikal in Siberia is about 1,640 metres deep and holds roughly a fifth of the world's unfrozen fresh surface water.

Play it live, everyone on their phones

Put the questions on a big screen, share the PIN, and the leaderboard keeps score. Change any question first — it becomes your own quiz.