1.
Built for the 1889 World's Fair, which Parisian iron tower was initially criticized by artists as an eyesore?
AnswerEiffel Tower
NoteIt was meant to be dismantled after 20 years but was kept as a radio transmission tower.
Host sheet World Landmarks QuizFamous landmarks and natural wonders from every continent — how well do you know the world? Round 1 Landmarks of Europe2. Gladiatorial contests once drew tens of thousands to which amphitheater in the heart of Rome? AnswerColosseum 3. Still under construction after over a century, what Barcelona basilica was designed by Antoni Gaudí? AnswerSagrada Família 4. Crowned by the Parthenon, which hilltop citadel overlooks the Greek capital? AnswerAcropolis of Athens 5. Commissioned by Bavaria's 'Mad King' Ludwig II, which fantasy-style castle is said to have inspired Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle? AnswerNeuschwanstein Castle 6. Aligned with the solstice sunrise, what prehistoric stone circle stands on Salisbury Plain in England? AnswerStonehenge 7. A construction flaw left which Italian bell tower tilting for centuries before it became a global tourist icon? AnswerLeaning Tower of Pisa 8. Once stranded in no-man's-land between East and West, which Berlin monument became a symbol of German reunification in 1989? AnswerBrandenburg Gate 9. Lined with baroque statues, what 14th-century stone bridge crosses the Vltava River in Prague? AnswerCharles Bridge 10. Perched on a rocky tidal island in Normandy, which fortified abbey seems to float during high tide? AnswerMont Saint-Michel 11. Legend says tossing a coin backward over your shoulder into which Roman fountain guarantees a return trip to the city? AnswerTrevi Fountain 12. Overlooking Granada, what Moorish palace and fortress complex showcases intricate Islamic art and gardens? AnswerAlhambra Round 2 Landmarks of Asia & Africa13. Built as a tomb for Pharaoh Khufu, which is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing? AnswerGreat Pyramid of Giza 14. Which white marble mausoleum in Agra was commissioned by Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal? AnswerTaj Mahal 15. Stretching thousands of kilometers across northern China, what ancient fortification was built to defend against nomadic invasions? AnswerGreat Wall of China 16. Carved directly into rose-colored sandstone cliffs, which ancient Jordanian city was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom? AnswerPetra 17. Originally built as a Hindu temple before becoming Buddhist, what massive Cambodian complex appears on that country's national flag? AnswerAngkor Wat 18. Rising near the Kenya-Tanzania border, what is Africa's tallest mountain and the world's highest free-standing peak? AnswerMount Kilimanjaro 19. Known locally as 'The Smoke That Thunders,' which massive waterfall sits on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border? AnswerVictoria Falls 20. Standing over 828 meters tall in Dubai, what building held the record as the world's tallest since 2010? AnswerBurj Khalifa 21. Home to Chinese emperors for nearly 500 years, what vast palace complex sits at the heart of Beijing? AnswerForbidden City 22. According to tradition, Moses received the Ten Commandments atop which mountain in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula? AnswerMount Sinai 23. Overlooking Cape Town and often capped by a cloud called the 'tablecloth,' what flat-topped landmark is one of South Africa's most photographed sights? AnswerTable Mountain 24. Frequently depicted in Japanese art including Hokusai's famous woodblock prints, what is Japan's tallest and most iconic volcano? AnswerMount Fuji Round 3 Landmarks of the Americas25. Overlooking Rio de Janeiro from atop Corcovado mountain, what Art Deco statue has its arms outstretched over the city? AnswerChrist the Redeemer NoteIt was struck by lightning during a 2014 storm, chipping a finger and part of the head. 26. Perched high in the Peruvian Andes, what 15th-century Inca citadel was brought to wide attention by Hiram Bingham in 1911? AnswerMachu Picchu 27. On Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, which Mayan step-pyramid site is dominated by the temple known as El Castillo? AnswerChichen Itza 28. Straddling the border of Ontario and New York, what famous waterfall system includes the Horseshoe Falls? AnswerNiagara Falls 29. Painted in a shade called 'International Orange,' what suspension bridge spans the entrance to San Francisco Bay? AnswerGolden Gate Bridge 30. Named after aviator Jimmie Angel, what Venezuelan waterfall is the tallest uninterrupted drop in the world? AnswerAngel Falls NoteIt drops from the Auyán-tepui plateau in Canaima National Park. 31. Toronto's skyline is defined by which concrete communications tower that held the record for world's tallest freestanding structure for over 30 years? AnswerCN Tower 32. Near Mexico City, which ancient city is home to the massive Pyramid of the Sun along its Avenue of the Dead? AnswerTeotihuacan 33. Carved into a South Dakota mountainside, whose four presidential faces include Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln? AnswerMount Rushmore 34. Turning into a giant mirror during the rainy season, what Bolivian salt flat is the largest in the world? AnswerSalar de Uyuni 35. A gift from France in 1886, what copper statue stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor? AnswerStatue of Liberty Round 4 Natural Wonders36. Carved by the Colorado River over millions of years, what Arizona chasm is famed for its layered red rock strata? AnswerGrand Canyon NoteThe canyon is up to 18 miles wide and over a mile deep in places. 37. Stretching over 2,300 kilometers off Australia's coast, what is the world's largest coral reef system? AnswerGreat Barrier Reef 38. Straddling the border of Nepal and Tibet, what peak is recognized as Earth's highest point above sea level? AnswerMount Everest 39. Caused by charged solar particles colliding with the atmosphere, what shimmering light display is commonly called the Northern Lights? AnswerAurora Borealis 40. Home to an estimated 10% of all known species on Earth, what South American rainforest is often called the 'lungs of the planet'? AnswerAmazon Rainforest 41. Covering much of North Africa, what is the world's largest hot desert?  AnswerSahara Desert 42. Which Mexican volcano famously sprouted from a farmer's cornfield in 1943, growing rapidly before an audience of scientists? AnswerParicutín NoteIt is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and the only volcano whose entire life cycle was documented from birth. 43. Dotted with thousands of limestone karsts and islets, what UNESCO-listed bay lies in northern Vietnam? AnswerHa Long Bay 44. Bigger than Niagara and spanning the border of Argentina and Brazil, which waterfall system features the dramatic 'Devil's Throat'? AnswerIguazu Falls 45. Formed by ancient volcanic activity, what Northern Irish coastal site consists of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns? AnswerGiant's Causeway NoteLegend attributes the causeway to the giant Finn MacCool building a path to Scotland. |