Historical mapmakers, map projections, compass rose trivia, and longitude.
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
On a topographic map, what does tight spacing between contour lines indicate?
Tightly packed lines mean the land rises fast, so hikers read them as steep climbs.
Which African desert does the Tropic of Cancer cross?
Dry, sinking air near the Tropic of Cancer helps create the Sahara's desert climate.
The Antarctic Circle passes through which ocean?
The Southern Ocean links the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans in a continuous ring around Antarctica.
Which of these countries is crossed by the Tropic of Capricorn?
The line crosses the Australian outback, passing just north of Alice Springs.
Which part of Antarctica reaches north beyond the Antarctic Circle toward South America?
The Drake Passage separates the peninsula from South America's Tierra del Fuego.
Which island off mainland China does the Tropic of Cancer cross?
The line crosses southern Taiwan, while the capital, Taipei, lies north of the tropics.
Which desert is crossed by the Tropic of Capricorn?
The cold Humboldt Current helps keep the Atacama's coast dry despite the nearby Pacific Ocean.
The Tropic of Cancer passes through which North American country?
The line crosses both mainland Mexico and the Baja California peninsula.
Which Pacific country straddles both the Equator and the 180th meridian?
The International Date Line bends east around Kiribati so its island groups stay on the same side of the date boundary.
The Tropic of Cancer crosses which country between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal?
The line cuts across central India, leaving New Delhi to the north and Mumbai to the south.