The World’s Geo Quiz tests your knowledge of world geography, and introduces you to fascinating people and places around the globe. Produced by The World’s David Leveille.

 

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Geo Quiz


Restoring Urban India’s Riverbanks

This artificial pond now draws a range of birds, rarely seen together in such numbers in the city. (Photo: Rhitu Chatterjee)

A new biodiversity park along a stretch of the river is starting to restore some of the natural services the landscape used to provide.

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An Island that Isn’t All There

Sandy Island (Google Earth image)

We’re looking for the name of the sea that lies between Australia and New Caledonia and has been in the news recently for showing up as a curious black blob in the middle of the water.

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Pigeon Impossible

(Photo: iStock)

For today’s Geo Quiz we want you to identify where Britain’s code breaking operations were based during the Second World War, and the English county where a dead carrier pigeon was discovered with a coded message attached to its leg bone.

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New Town in Canada

Jumbo Pass (Photo: Danny Laroche/Flickr)

For the Geo Quiz, we’re looking for a town in Canada that’s billing itself as the future home of a super-sized ski resort, the only year-round ski resort in North America, in fact.

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A Train Made Entirely of Chocolate

Andrew Farrugia’s chocolate train (Photo: Brussel's Chocolate Week)

A locomotive train made entirely out of Belgian chocolate is the centerpiece of a European culinary event celebrating all things chocolate, Brussels Chocolate Week. Andrew Farrugia is the pastry chef and chocolate artist behind the 112 foot long chocolate ctrain carved out of more than a ton of chocolate.

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Andean Nation Does The Numbers

A view of La Paz (Photo: Wiki)

There’s no national emergency going on or violence breaking out in this South American nation, but everyone’s been ordered to stay at home. The National Institute of Statistics wants to carry out an accurate census of its more than 10 million citizens — so the government has imposed a curfew.

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Libya’s Pearl of the Desert

Ghadames panorama (Photo: Wiki Richard Bamier)

An ancient town at the borders dividing Tunisia, Algeria and Libya is nicknamed “the pearl of the desert.” This UNESCO World Heritage site was famous for its annual autumn festival celebrating, among other things, the local dates harvest and Tuareg culture.

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Adotta Una Guglia – Adopt a Spire

Duomo Cathedral in Milan (Photo: Wiki)

Milan, Italy’s 14th century cathedral is one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in Europe. But the cultural landmark is in need of some renovation and a major cleaning. Air pollution and foggy weather have taken a toll on the white marble. So cathedral authorities have come up with a clever way to hopefully raise thirty million dollars for the renovation. Adotta una guglia or “Adopt a spire.”

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Uruguay’s ‘Poor’ President

Uruguay's President Jose Mujica (Photo: BBC Mundo)

For our Geo Quiz Thursday we travel to the capital of Uruguay. BBC Mundo’s Vladimir Hernandez profiles Uruguay’s president Jose Mujica, who’s been called the world’s “poorest” president. He gives away most of his salary, and lives on a ramshackle farm just outside Uruguay’s capital instead of a presidential palace.

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Zimbabwe’s Capital on the Move

Harare at night (Photo: Tendai C/Wiki Commons)

The Geo Quiz wants you to name the capital of Zimbabwe – and if you’re really on top of your game, name the place where the Zimbabwean government wants to build a new capital.

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Bicycle Innovation on Display in Taiwan

(Photo: REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

Our Geo Quiz takes us to an international bicycle trade show going on in one of East Asia’s bike manufacturing hubs. The World checks in with Nicole Formosa who’s covering the event for Bicycle Retailer and Industry News to hear more about the innovative technology on exhibit including disc brakes, eBikes, and electronic cabling that’s generating a buzz.

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Copper Mining Threatens Afghan Buddhas

A gold-plated seated Buddha overlooks the MCC mine. (Photo: Brent E. Huffman)

A Chinese company is set to begin mining one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper deposits. Cash strapped Afghanistan could potentially reap billions of dollars in revenue from the deal. But there’s a hitch. There’s an ancient Buddhist monastery there and the site is full of old Buddha statues and artifacts.

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Dali’s Mad Tristan On View in Quebec

Mad Tristan by the Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dali (Photo:Finzi Pasca)

A spectacular surrealist painting called Mad Tristan by the Spanish artist Salvador Dali is being exhibited for the first time in more than six decades. Art historian Jennifer Whisper has seen “Mad Tristan” up close in the first public exhibit since Dali created it for New York’s Metropolitan Opera in 1944.

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New South African Currency Honors Mandela

South Africa's new Mandela bills (Photo:South Africa Reserve Bank)

South Africa has introduced some brand new banknotes. For the first time, the country is honoring former president Nelson Mandela by putting his picture on the currency. The Governor of the South African Reserve Bank spent some of crisp new Rand bills at a local market in the South African city where the national Reserve Bank is headquartered.

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NHL Lockout: Realtor and Amateur Goalie Sees Action in Toronto to Fill Shortage

Greg Partechenko protecting the goal. (Photo: Greg Partechenko Facebook)

The National Hockey League lockout has left some Toronto Maple Leaf pros with time to practice at local rinks. But there’s a shortage of goalies for all the practice sessions so some amateurs are stepping in to fill the void. Greg Partchenko is a 40-something, Toronto real estate agent, who’s had the chance to fill in as goalie for Toronto’s pros.

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