Where In The World Are We?

What`s Your G.q.? (geography Quotient)

November 15, 1992|By Alfred Borcover, Chicago Tribune.

When the National Geographic Society introduced the seventh edition of its world atlas this month, it contained 20 more countries than the 1990 edition did, not to mention 14,000 place name changes in its 150,000-entry index.

The 1992 ``National Geographic Atlas of the World`` only emphasizes what a changing world we live in.

Although the Mississippi River remains the longest in the United States and Little Rock still is the capital of Arkansas, consider the challenge of identifying 15 new countries that were the Soviet Union. Consider also the reunification of Germany, the fragmentation of Yugoslavia and the scheduled splitting of Czechoslovakia on Jan. 1, 1993.

FOR THE RECORD - Additional material published Nov. 22, 1992:
Corrections and clarifications.
In the Nov. 15 Travel section, the Geographic Challenge III story featured a Page 1 photograph that mistakenly identified the Mexican Mayan ruin of Tulum as Chichen Itza. The mistake was due to a photo filing error at National Geographic Society, source of the photograph. The Tribune regrets the error.

``We had figured the 1990 atlas would have a shelf life of about five years,`` said John F. Shupe, chief cartographer of National Geographic. ``A year later we were shaking our heads, saying, `Wait a minute. The Baltic states have just become independent. The breakup of the Soviet Union is imminent.` You name it and it was happening. We decided we couldn`t have our primary general reference work that far out-of-date, so we began to plan an atlas for 1992.``

The publication of the atlas coincides with National Geography Awareness Week (Nov. 15-21), a program that brings into focus a neglected subject in U.S. schools.

And so does the Travel section`s third annual Geography Challenge. Our intent is to stimulate your thinking about Planet Earth.

The challenge starts on this page. We selected photographs of places around the world that attract travelers. After you`ve identified the 10 photos, turn to page xx, where our challenge continues.

A reminder: This is not a test, although you can score yourself when you`re ready to check the answers (page 18). The idea of our challenge is to heighten your own geography awareness.

Now that you`ve identified the 10 photographs of well-visited places on the cover, welcome to the remainder of our Geography Challenge.

The photographs of Planet Earth across the top of the page were taken from space on National Air and Space Administration missions. While the well- known locations may appear abstract, we think you`ll be able to identify them too. If not, you`ll appreciate how they appear from space when you learn what they are.

What you might find especially difficult, however, is our Animals of the World category, where we`ve thrown you a curve by including two kinds of bisons and two kinds of elephants that live on different continents. Match 1/ 3these--and the other six animals--to their native habitats.

Many of the questions on this page were culled from those asked of school children in the 1992 National Geography Bee. Others were contributed by our staff. And one category was contributed by fourth graders from a local school. If you feel stumped, don`t hesitate to grab an almanac, atlas or encyclopedia.

After you`ve finished our challenge, turn to the answers on page 18.

We wish you well on your exploration of Planet Earth.

For answers, turn to Page 18.

Write your answer in the spaces provided.

1. Lake Titicaca, the world`s highest navigable lake, is in what South American countries?

2. Bismarck, Omaha and St. Joseph are port cities along which tributary of the Mississippi River?

3. What is the name of Africa`s highest mountain, located in Tanzania?

4. What body of water do Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and the Northwest Territories all border?

5. Wisconsin`s Door Peninsula separates Green Bay from the waters of which lake?

6. The Gaza Strip, the West Bank and the Golan Heights are disputed areas currently occupied by what country?

7. If you were to fly from Chicago to Atlanta, over what states-besides Illinois and Georgia-would you pass?

8. The world`s longest and narrowest country is in South America. Name the country.

9. To what city would you travel to see Diamond Head, a dormant volcano?

10. What is the name of the Pennsylvania city located where the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers meet?

11. Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is on the country`s most populous island. Name the island.

12. California and only one other state in the contiguous United States have experienced major volcanic eruptions in the 20th Century. Name the other state.

13. To what state would you travel to visit Pueblo Bonito, an Anasazi ruin in Chaco Canyon?

14. What are the only two countries in South America not bordered by Brazil?

15. Lake Powell, Lake Mead and Lake Havasu are reservoirs along what U.S. river?

16. Voyageurs National Park, named for French-Canadian fur traders, spans the boundary between Ontario and which state?.

17. Mt. Vesuvius is an active volcano that is less than 10 miles from what major city in southern Italy?

18. The Tasman Sea separates what two countries?

19. What city, once the capital of imperial Russia, is the easternmost port on the Gulf of Finland?

20. What country is bordered by 8 of the world`s 10 highest mountain peaks?

21. What is Canada`s smallest province?