Wonders of Nature Quiz
Instructions: Recall the world's most awe-inspiring natural wonders, from the Northern Lights to the Great Barrier Reef.
- 1.
The Grand Canyon in the United States was carved primarily by which river over millions of years?
AThe Mississippi RiverBThe Colorado RiverCThe Rio GrandeDThe Missouri River - 2.
The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system, lies off the coast of which country?
ANew ZealandBIndonesiaCAustraliaDPhilippines - 3.
The Northern Lights, also called Aurora Borealis, are caused by particles from the Sun colliding with what?
AOcean waterBEarth's atmosphereCMountain peaksDDesert sand - 4.
Victoria Falls, one of the world's largest waterfalls, sits on the border between which two African countries?
AKenya and TanzaniaBSouth Africa and MozambiqueCZambia and ZimbabweDEthiopia and Sudan - 5.
Old Faithful is a famous geyser located in which United States national park?
AGrand Teton National ParkBYellowstone National ParkCYosemite National ParkDCrater Lake National Park - 6.
Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain above sea level, is part of which mountain range?
AThe AndesBThe AlpsCThe RockiesDThe Himalayas - 7.
Paricutin in Mexico is remarkable because it is the only volcano in recorded history to have done what?
AErupted beneath the oceanBGrown from flat farmland within a person's lifetimeCFormed an island overnightDErupted for over 100 years without stopping - 8.
The harbor at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is famous for its dramatic scenery. What nickname is commonly given to this natural harbor?
AThe Golden GateBGuanabara BayCThe Silver HarborDBay of Angels - 9.
The Amazon River in South America carries more water than any other river on Earth. In which country does it empty into the Atlantic Ocean?
AColombiaBVenezuelaCPeruDBrazil - 10.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, home to one of the world's largest underground caves, is located in which U.S. state?
AArizonaBNew MexicoCKentuckyDTennessee - 11.
The Dead Sea, one of the world's most unique bodies of water, lies between Jordan and which other country?
AEgyptBLebanonCSyriaDIsrael - 12.
The Eye of the Sahara (Richat Structure) is a massive circular geological formation in Mauritania, Africa. What is its approximate diameter?
A5 milesB30 milesC100 milesD250 miles - 13.
Son Doong in Vietnam is believed to be the world's largest cave by volume. What does 'Son Doong' roughly translate to in English?
ARiver of MistBMountain River CaveCPalace of DarknessDDragon's Breath - 14.
The 'Fairy Chimneys' of Cappadocia — tall, cone-shaped rock formations — are found in which country?
AGreeceBIranCTurkeyDMorocco - 15.
The Waitomo Glowworm Caves, lit by thousands of tiny bioluminescent creatures that create a starry-sky effect on the cave ceiling, are found in which country?
AIcelandBNorwayCNew ZealandDCanada
Answer Key
The Colorado River carved the Grand Canyon over roughly 5 to 6 million years. The canyon is about 277 miles long and over a mile deep in places.
The Great Barrier Reef stretches over 1,400 miles along the northeastern coast of Australia and is so large it can be seen from space.
The colorful Northern Lights occur when charged particles from the Sun interact with gases in Earth's upper atmosphere. The result is a breathtaking display of greens, pinks, and purples.
Victoria Falls straddles the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe on the Zambezi River. Local people call it 'Mosi-oa-Tunya,' meaning 'the smoke that thunders.'
Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park erupts roughly every 60 to 110 minutes, shooting hot water up to 185 feet into the air. It was named in 1870 for its reliable eruptions.
Mount Everest stands at 29,032 feet in the Himalayan range on the border of Nepal and Tibet. It was first summited in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.
In 1943, farmer Dionisio Pulido watched a fissure open in his cornfield. Within a year, Paricutin had grown over 1,100 feet tall, making it one of geology's most remarkable events.
Guanabara Bay, flanked by Sugarloaf Mountain and the Corcovado, is considered one of the most beautiful natural harbors in the world and is listed among the Seven Natural Wonders.
The Amazon empties into the Atlantic Ocean in northeastern Brazil. It discharges about one-fifth of all the fresh water that flows into the world's oceans.
Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico contains the Big Room, one of the largest cave chambers in North America. The caverns are also home to hundreds of thousands of Brazilian free-tailed bats.
The Dead Sea borders Israel to the west and Jordan to the east. At about 1,412 feet below sea level, it is the lowest point on Earth's surface, and its extreme saltiness makes swimmers float effortlessly.
The Richat Structure is about 30 miles (50 km) across. So large it was once used as a landmark by astronauts, geologists now believe it formed from a dome of rock that slowly eroded over millions of years.
Son Doong translates to 'Mountain River Cave' in Vietnamese. Discovered in 1991 and fully explored in 2009, it is so enormous it contains its own weather system, jungle, and river.
The Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia, Turkey, were formed by volcanic ash that hardened and then eroded over centuries. Early Christians carved homes and churches directly into these formations.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves in New Zealand are lit by Arachnocampa luminosa, a glowworm species found only in New Zealand. Visitors glide through the caves by boat, looking up at a natural 'night sky' of glowing larvae.