| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| It's not in California, but Bridal Veil Falls, which forms the San Miguel River, is near Black Bear Pass in this town, which can also be accessed by Imogene Pass in the San Juan mountains. This town is serviced by the highest-elevation U.S. airport with regular passenger service, though it is also serviced by Montrose Airport to the north. This former mining town is overlooked by Palmyra Peak, part of a ski resort shared with the town of Mountain Village. A type of chemical ion shares its name with, for the point, what tourism destination in southwest Colorado? | Telluride [[tell-YUR-ride]] |
| An official language of this country has a “market” form known as Prasa, which is sometimes also known by the name of the national capital. Over one quarter of this country’s population speaks the indigenous languages Mambai and Makasae. The United Nations promoted Tetum to official status in this country in 1999, and it also reversed a 1975 ban on speaking Portuguese. For practical reasons, Indonesian is still a “working language” in, for the point, what Southeast Asian country that became fully independent in 2002? | East Timor (or Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste; or Repúblika Demokrátika Timór-Leste) |
| Divers in this island group can explore the World War Two wreck of the HMS Royal Oak, as well as German ships scuttled near its Scapa Flow naval base after the end of World War One. The Standing Stones of Stenness and Skara Brae are neolithic sites in this island group whose South Isles include Graemsay and Hoy. Kirkwall, on the island of Mainland, is the most populous town in, for the point, what island group off the north coast of Scotland? | Orkney Islands |
| One of these programs was one of the only original portions of Michael Bloomberg's PlaNYC [[“Plan YC”]] not be implemented, after it was not voted on by the State Legislature. London exempts electric vehicles from its form of these programs, which runs only between 7 AM and 6 PM. New York's proposal to fund subway expansion through a toll of at least $17 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street is a form of, for the point, what type of system that charges automobile users who enter high-traffic, high-density areas? | congestion charge (or congestion pricing; prompt on "toll (s)" or similar answers) |
| In 2022, members of this ethnic group were the target of a forced eviction campaign by the United Arab Emirates-funded company Otterlo Business Corporation, which seeks to build a big game reserve on their land. People of this ethnic group were relocated to an extinct volcanic crater by the British after the creation of Serengeti National Park. Prior to a 2009 law change, people of this ethnic group herded cattle across the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. For the point, name this ethnic group from northern Tanzania and southern Kenya. | Maasai |
| The largest and most populous island in this group is named Texel, which lies near Vlieland and Ameland. These islands are sometimes named for the body of water that separates them from the mainland, a branch of the North Sea called the Wadden Sea. This island group is home to the closest linguistic relative of Scots and English. For the point, name this coastal island chain along the North Sea coast of Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands. | Frisian Islands (accept Wadden Islands before “Wadden” is read) |
| A Political Essay on the Kingdom of New Spain was authored by this man, who lends his name to a type of science exemplified by a combination of precision and adherence to Romantic ideals. A Peruvian species of penguin is named after this author of the treatise Kosmos, and this man lends his name to a northbound, low-salinity movement along the west coast of South America. Along with his brother Wilhelm, this man provides the name of a Berlin University. For the point, identify this German geographer who names a cold-water Pacific Ocean current. | Alexander von Humboldt (accept Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von Humboldt) |
| This country's Sulfur Springs is known as the world's only "drive-in volcano." Gros Piton and Petit Piton are iconic peaks overlooking Jalousie Bay in this island's town of Soufrière. It’s not Jamaica, but Kwéyòl, a creole language also known as Patwa, is widely- spoken in this country, which has the highest number of Nobel laureates per capita, thanks to Arthur Lewis and Derek Walcott. For the point, name this Caribbean island country located between Martinique and Saint Vincent, governed from Castries. | Saint Lucia |
| Charles Darwin proposed a subsidence model for the creation of these structures. The antecedent model suggested these structures developed from underwater volcanoes, and, when sea levels fell, rain formed limestone karst, on which these structures grew. The world's largest of these landforms is located south of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. For the point, lagoons are often fully enclosed by what ring-shaped islands built atop coral reefs? | Atolls (prompt on "Coral Reef (s)" before mentioned) |
| Greater crested terns, brown fur seals, and the largest colony of little penguins can all be found on the Summerland Peninsula on this state's Phillip Island, on the edge of Westernport Bay. Great Otway National Park and Grampians National Park are in the west of this state, while the Australian Alps are in its east. Geelong is on Port Phillip Bay in this state, whose largest city lies just north of the Mornington Peninsula. Containing the second largest city in Australia, for the point, what is this state governed from Melbourne? | Victoria (accept “Summerland Peninsula” before mentioned; prompt on “Australia” before “state”) |
| This place contains Tsingoni Mosque, the oldest mosque in its country. This place, where Shimaore is widely spoken by locals, has remained a part of its colonizer, despite its neighboring country securing independence in a 1974 referendum. This place is nicknamed "seahorse island" and contains two seahorses on its seal. For the point, name this overseas department of France located in the Mozambique Channel between Madagascar and mainland Africa. | Mayotte (or Department of Mayotte; prompt on "France") |
| Romani venerating their patron Saint Sarah undertake pilgrimages to the town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in the delta of this river, which forms a region where cowboys known as “gardians” ride white Camargue horses. The Aletsch Glacier feeds this river via the Massa River in the Canton of Valais [[vah-LAY]], while its primary tributary is the Saône [[SOHN]], which it meets in Lyon. Arles, Avignon, and Geneva are on, for the point, what river of Switzerland and southern France? | Rhône River |
| This county contains the oldest and largest Little Saigon community of Vietnamese immigrants in the USA. This county’s town of Buena Park is home to Knott’s Berry Farm and the city of Yorba Linda in this county is the location of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library. This county’s beach towns include San Clemente, Laguna Beach, and Huntington Beach. Most of this county’s population lives in either Saddleback Valley or Santa Ana Valley. The site of Disneyland, for the point, what is this Los Angeles area suburban county home to Irvine and Anaheim? | Orange County, California |
| In 2022, an expedition was launched to determine if this archipelago’s Blenheim Reef was exposed to the surface at high tide to see if it was claimable territory. One island in this archipelago that has been seized for military purposes is home to the world’s largest atoll structure. This archipelago is the largest territory disputed between the United Kingdom and Mauritius. For the point, name this archipelago home to Diego Garcia Island, which is located south of the Maldives and is currently administered as the British Indian Ocean Territory. | Chagos Archipelago (accept British Indian Ocean Territory before read) |
| Historic indigenous names for this lake include Mayaca and Serrope. This lake takes its name from the Hitchiti words for “big water.” Flooding on this lake is controlled by the Herbert Hoover Dike. This lake names an artificial waterway that links Fort Myers to the Atlantic Ocean and this lake is itself connected to the Gulf of Mexico by the Saint Lucie Canal. Split between such counties as Glades and Palm Beach, for the point, what is this largest freshwater lake of Florida? | Lake Okeechobee |
| Municipalities in this city include Sarouja and Al-Midan. This city is enclosed by an oasis region called the Ghouta, and it sits in the shadow of Mount Qasioun. A Palestinian camp in this city is called Yarmouk, and this city's main river descends from a lake near Al-Zabadani. Sites in this city include the Umayyad Mosque, which contains a section of mosaics named for this city's Barada River. For the point, identify this ancient city, the capital of Syria. | Damascus (or Dimashq; prompt on "City of Jasmine" or "Madīnat al-Yāsmīn") |
| This state’s Kathiawar Peninsula is home to the Northwestern thorn scrub forests. This state is home to the southern portion of a massive salt marsh known as the Rann of Kutch. The Gir Forest in this state is the only remaining habitat for the Asiatic lion. The Maurya and Gupta empires built up ports in this state’s cities of Bharuch and Khambhat. This state is home to the ancient port of Lothal, considered one of the southernmost settlements of the Indus River Valley Civilization. For the point, name this western Indian state home to Ahmedabad. | Gujarat |
| This country’s divisions were once ruled by chief’s called nahnmwarki after the fall of the Saudeleur Dynasty. Massive limestone disks known as Rai stones were once used as currency in this country. The Yap, Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk islands make up this country’s four states, represented as white stars on its flag. For the point, name this oceanic country that includes the Caroline and Gilbert Islands and is governed from Palikir. | Federated States of Micronesia |
| This country’s Arli National Park was once home to its last remaining population of African wild dogs. A slim majority of this country’s population is made up of a Gur ethnic group named the Mossi. This country’s second largest city is Bobo-Dioulasso, whose name references its importance to the Bobo people. Although its official language is French, this country’s most widely spoken language is Mooré. This country takes its name from a phrase meaning “land of upright men.” For the point, name this country once known as Upper Volta and governed from Ouagadougou [[WAH-geh-DOO-goo]] | Burkina Faso |
| This city's La Corniche, a street that officially commemorates John F. Kennedy, runs along an uninterrupted beach from Les Catalans [[lay cat-uh-LAHN]] to the Plages [[PLAHZH]] du Prado. This city's Hotel Dieu, located in its Le Panier neighborhood, occupies the site of the 800-year-old Saint-Esprit [[sahn eh-SPREE]] hospital. The Massif des Calanques [[kah-LAHNK]] stretches to the east of this city, whose Frioul archipelago is home to the Château d'If [[SHAH-toh DEEF]]. Rascasse, sea robin, and conger are traditional fishes included in bouillabaisse [[BOO-yah-BEHZ]], a stew native to this city. For the point, name this port city in Provence, the second-most-populous city in France. | Marseille |
| The Ndogo, Nkomi, and Ngobe Lagoons all lie on the coast of this country's state of Ogooué [[oh-GOO-weh]]-Maritime, whose capital is Port-Gentil. "Surfing hippos" can be found at this country's Loango National Park, which has been called "Africa's last Eden." Crystal Mountains National Park is also in this country, whose northern border is formed in part by the Muni River. For the point, name this Central African country, located southeast of Equatorial Guinea, and led from Libreville. | Gabon (or Gabonese Republic) |
| One location with this name in Baltimore is built in the Beaux [[BOHZ]]-Arts style and is located between the Old Goucher and Mount Vernon neighborhoods. Another location with this name in Wilmington was renamed after then-vice president Joe Biden in 2011. The most famous location with this name is located under Madison Square Garden and is home to the Moynihan Train Hall. For the point, give this common name for depots and terminals built by a railroad company originally established in Philadelphia. | Pennsylvania Station |
| This island contains the longest airport terminal on Earth, which was designed by Renzo Piano. Since 2011, this island has been home to the tallest tower in the world, the Skytree. This island, which is bisected by its country's namesake Alps, is separated by the Inland Sea from Shikoku. Regions such as Kansai divide this island, where the Kanto Plain is home to the world's most populous city. For the point, name this Japanese Island that contains Tokyo. | Honshu |
| This country's Karavasta Lagoon is a common habitat of the Dalmatian Pelican, while a lake it shares with a country to its northeast, Lake Ohrid, has 200 endemic species. A 1997 civil war, caused by the collapse of several pyramid schemes in this country, led to the first practical use of over 170,000 concrete bunkers constructed by Enver Hoxha [[HOH-juh]]. A black double-eagle on a red background serves as the flag of this country, which shares its majority ethnicity with neighboring Kosovo. For the point, name this Balkan country governed from Tirana. | Republic of Albania |
| A city on this state’s northern border contains the southern end of Fort Campbell. This state’s cities of Bristol, Kingsport, and Johnson City make up the interstate Tri-Cities area. A city in this state is nicknamed Gig City in reference to its municipal internet service providing the United States’ first gigabit per second speeds. One city in this state is home to a particle accelerator at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The largest metro area in this state contains suburbs such as Franklin and Murfreesboro. For the point, name this state home to Clarksville, Chattanooga, and Nashville. | Tennessee |
| This island is home to Mount Marapi, a large volcano complex that overlooks the towns of Bukittinggi and Batusangkar. This island names a strike-slip fault that was at the center of the Mentawai earthquake. The western end of this island contains the Barisan Mountains, home to several active volcanoes. This island’s Lake Toba was the site of a supervolcanic eruption 74,000 years ago. For the point, name this island whose northern tip is home to Aceh [[AA-chay]] Province and which, along with Borneo, is home to wild orangutans. | Sumatra |
| People who climb all of the High Peaks of this range are able to join the Forty Sixers club. This range’s name comes from the Mohawk word for "eaters of trees," a slur for the neighboring Algonquian people. This mountain range contains the so-called Queen of American Lakes, Lake George, and mountains in this range include Whiteface and Mount Marcy. This range contains Lake Tear of the Clouds, the source of the Hudson River. For the point, name this mountain range where the 1980 Winter Olympics were held in Lake Placid, located in Upstate New York. | Adirondack Mountains |
| This archipelago’s Teide [[teh-EEH-theh]] National Park is centered around its highest mountain, which is also home to a major observatory. Prior to being wiped out in a colonial genocide, this archipelago’s native people were the Guanche [[GWAN-cheh]]. Shepherds on this archipelago developed a whistled form of Spanish called Silbo Gomero. This archipelago’s population is mostly divided between the two islands home to its joint capitals of Las Palmas and Santa Cruz. For the point, name this archipelago off the coast of northwest Africa whose largest island is Tenerife. | Canary Islands (accept the Canaries; or Canarias) |
| This country’s Gorski Kotar is a mountainous region near its city of Karlovac [[KARL- oh-vahts]]. This country is home to a city formerly known as Fiume [[fee-OO-may]], now known as Rijeka [[ree-YEH-kuh]], which is a gateway to its region of Istria. The historical region of Slavonia makes up this country's northeastern territory and is bordered by the Drava, Sava, and Danube rivers. The city of Dubrovnik lies on this country's Adriatic coast in the region of Dalmatia. For the point, name this European country governed from Zagreb. | Republic of Croatia (or Republika Hrvatska) |
| This body of water contains an area nicknamed "Dangerous Ground" because of its reefs. This waterway was once named for the seafaring kingdom of Champa. This waterway is home to a disputed archipelago known as the Paracel Islands, which lie southeast of the Gulf of Tonkin. This waterway's Dragon Hole is sometimes named after the Yongle [[YONG- LUH]] Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. For the point, identify this marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean that gets its name from the large Asian country it borders to its north. | South China Sea (accept Nan Hai) |
| This state contains the last remaining natural habitats of the golden lion tamarin, and this state's cities include Belford Roxo and the resort town of Cabo Frio. This state’s Maracanā stadium was the site of the 2014 FIFA World Cup final match. The cities of Niterói and Petrópolis are in this state, which merged with Guanabara in 1975. For the point, name this Brazilian state that shares its name with its largest city, which is home to landmarks such as Sugarloaf Mountain and Copacabana beach. | Rio de Janeiro |
| This state is home to an Emmet Sullivan-designed attraction consisting of giant concrete dinosaurs, named Dinosaur Park. This state is home to the Moorish Revival-style Corn Palace, a tourist attraction located in its town of Mitchell. An enormous statue of Crazy Horse was carved into a mountainside in this state to rival a monument made by Gutzon Borglum. This state’s Custer State Park is located in the Black Hills just outside of Rapid City. For the point, name this state governed from Pierre. | South Dakota |
| Mobicom Corporation is based in this city, whose Gandan Monastery contains a 26.5- meter-tall statue of the primary attendant of Amitabha Buddha. A total of 173 khoroos divide this city, which is found within Töv Province. The tallest equestrian statue on Earth can be found in this city's National Sports Stadium, which hosts Naadam festival competitions like horse racing and archery. For the point, what city, whose name means "Red Hero," is the capital of Mongolia? | Ulaanbaatar (accept Ulan Bator; accept Örgöö; accept Urga) |
| Nearly one fifth of this country is home to rainforest reserves, such as the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve and the Bosawás Biosphere Reserve. This country also boasts many high mountains in its Amerrisque mountain range, which separates the Great Lakes Xolotlán [[zoh-LOT-lan]] and Cocibolca [[koh-see-BOL-kuh]] from the Mosquito Coast. An eponymous lake in this country is home to a freshwater shark and flows into the Caribbean Sea via the San Juan River. For the point, name this Central American country known as the “Land of Lakes and Volcanoes”, governed from Managua. | Republic of Nicaragua |
| Architect Doğan Kuban first studied in this city, where he led the restoration of the Kalenderhane Mosque. Mimar Sinan designed many mosques in this city, whose Fatih district was named for Mehmed the Conqueror. This city lies at the Eastern end of a historical rail journey that begins in Paris and is known as the Orient Express. The Topkapi Palace can be found in, for the point, what city that also contains the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia? | Istanbul (accept Constantinople; accept Byzantium) |
| This state was home to Prairie Rapids Crossing, now known as Waterloo, located along the Cedar River. The western portion of the Quad Cities is located in this state, whose north central region is anchored by Fort Dodge. The largest city in this state’s mostly rural northwest is Sioux City. This state’s city of Council Bluffs was the eastern end of the Transcontinental Railroad. For the point, name this state whose major cities include Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, and Des Moines. | Iowa |