Quiz: How Much Do You Know About North American Geography?
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The world's busiest airport is located in which North American city?
If you're in a rush to catch your plane, you probably don't want to be doing so at Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. That's the busiest airport in the world by a mile.
What is North America's largest desert?
The Great Basin Desert is the largest in North America, as well as the most northern. It covers much of Utah and Nevada, as well as pieces of other U.S. states.
What nationality were the first European people ever to set foot on North America?
Long before Columbus and his fellow Spaniards came a-calling, Norse explorers from Greenland made temporary settlements in Newfoundland. They came there in pursuit of fertile fishing grounds... and stayed long enough to become the first Europeans with a North American settlement.
What is the longest river in North America?
Where are North America’s highest tides?
North America's highest tides occurr in the Bay of Fundy.
Where was the oldest evidence of human habitation in North America found?
Studies of a 11,500 year-old skeleton found in Alaska have shown there were likely human settlements in the region as far back as 25,000 years ago.
What is the name of this famous North American landmark?
The Grand Canyon is worthy of its name: at it's deepest point, it reaches almost 800m down, and the entire thing extends almost 280 miles.
The tallest freestanding building in North America is in what country?
Toronto's CN Tower may have recently lost its title of 'Tallest Freestanding Building in the World' (Dubai's Burj Khalifa is now bigger) but it can still hold onto this piece of fame: it's the tallest freestanding building in the Western Hemisphere.
What is the name for the area, off the coast of North America, famous for the number of ships and planes which have gone missing there?
The Bermuda Triangle as a mysterious and creepy reputation. According to some, there simply must be a reason for the seemingly ridiculous number of disappearances and disasters which have occurred in that narrow part of the world. Scientists, though, seem to disagree. Some even argue that the number of mysterious events has been exaggerated by legend.
What is the name of the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic?
Haiti and Dominica share the island of Hispaniola.
True or False: Usain Bolt is from a North American nation.
True! As a native of Jamaica, in Central America, Usain Bolt is North American. That also makes him the fastest North American to ever live...
Which of these was NOT an indigenous North American people?
The Maori are an indigenous Polynesian people from New Zealand. They came to New Zealand from nearby islands in about the year 1250.
The Mexican capital, Mexico City, is built on the ruins of which ancient city?
Mexico City stands on the site of Tenochtitlan, the former capital city of the Aztec Empire. It's said that when Cortes and his Spanish invaders first came to the city, Tenochtitlan may have been the largest human settlement in the world.
How many countries are there in North America?
There are 23 self-governing nations in North America.
True or False: Greenland is part of North America.
That's an interesting one: whichever answers you chose, you're right! From a physical perspective, Greenland is very much a part of North America, as it's attached to the same tectonic plates as the rest of the continent. But culturally? Greenland has always had a much larger influence from mainland Europe... and as such, many consider it a part of that group.
Where is the lowest elevation in North America?
Death Valley, in Eastern California, is a notable place for a few reasons: it's among the hottest places on Earth in midsummer, it's the site of some truly spectacular fossilized dinosaur bones, and finally, it's the site of the Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America.
Which of these options is NOT a North American mountain range?
The Andes are a mountain range in South America. The rest are as North American as... Apple Pie?
In addition to the Pacific and Atlantic, which other ocean borders North America?
The Arctic Ocean borders North America to the North.
What is the smallest capital (provincial or state) in North America?
Montpelier, the State Capital of Vermont, is absolutely tiny: there's a permenent population of only about 7000 people.
What is the most Northern permanently-inhabited settlement in North America?
Alert is a fascinating place. Home to just 62 inhabitants, it serves as a research base for the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as a few other scientific endeavors. There's not much in the way of night-life, though... unless you feel like partying with some very confused seals.
What engineering marvel in North America connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans?
The basic idea of the Panama Canal was around for centuries. European explorers first proposed something along those lines in about 1500. It wasn't until the 19th century that the project became feasible, though... and it wasn't until 1913 that it was finally completed and opened. Few human constructions have had such a monumental impact on global economics and power structures.
What is the largest lake in North America?
Lake Superior is staggeringly big. All told, it contains more water than all four other Great Lakes... combined.
Quiz
North America is a pretty fascinating continent. At first glance, it might seem to be dominated by almost exclusively American culture. After all, as one of the world's only true super-powers, the United States does have a pretty sizable influence. But there's more to North America than the U.S. alone. So how much do you know about the lands and peoples of the world's third-largest continent? Time to find out. Good luck.
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