World Geography Quiz: Oceans, Mountains & Rivers
Explore physical geography in 10 free quiz questions about oceans, rivers, mountains and deserts. Check your answers and learn the geography behind them.
This world geography quiz focuses on physical features and the language we use to describe them. Its ten questions range from ocean basins and mountain summits to rivers, rainforests and lines of latitude. Read the comparisons carefully: the highest summit above sea level is a different measurement from a mountain's height above its base, just as the largest hot desert is not the largest desert of any kind. Each explanation adds a location or a useful distinction, helping you place a fact on a mental map rather than memorize an isolated name.
Which ocean is the largest by surface area?
Your question-by-question study guide
Prefer to read, or revisit what you learned? Explore every question below. Open an answer when you’re ready.
1. Which ocean is the largest by surface area?
- Arctic
- Pacific
- Atlantic
- Indian
Reveal answer and explanation
Pacific — The Pacific covers more surface area than any other ocean basin.
2. Which mountain has the highest summit above sea level?
- Mount Everest
- K2
- Kilimanjaro
- Denali
Reveal answer and explanation
Mount Everest — Everest rises about 8,849 meters above sea level in the Himalayas.
3. Which desert covers much of North Africa?
- Gobi
- Atacama
- Kalahari
- Sahara
Reveal answer and explanation
Sahara — The Sahara stretches across northern Africa and is the largest hot desert.
4. Which river flows through Baghdad?
- Rhine
- Mekong
- Tigris
- Danube
Reveal answer and explanation
Tigris — Baghdad was built along the Tigris, one of Mesopotamia's two great rivers.
5. Which continent contains the Andes?
- Europe
- South America
- Africa
- Asia
Reveal answer and explanation
South America — The Andes run along the western side of South America.
6. Which line divides Earth into northern and southern hemispheres?
- Equator
- Prime meridian
- Tropic of Cancer
- Arctic Circle
Reveal answer and explanation
Equator — The equator is the circle of latitude defined as zero degrees.
7. Which country contains most of the Amazon rainforest?
- Peru
- Colombia
- Bolivia
- Brazil
Reveal answer and explanation
Brazil — The Amazon spans several countries, but Brazil contains the largest share.
8. Which sea lies between Europe and northern Africa?
- Caribbean Sea
- Arabian Sea
- Mediterranean Sea
- Baltic Sea
Reveal answer and explanation
Mediterranean Sea — The Mediterranean connects to the Atlantic through the Strait of Gibraltar.
9. Which country is an archipelago in Southeast Asia?
- Laos
- Philippines
- Nepal
- Mongolia
Reveal answer and explanation
Philippines — The Philippines consists of thousands of islands in the western Pacific.
10. Which lake is the deepest in the world?
- Lake Baikal
- Lake Victoria
- Lake Erie
- Lake Chad
Reveal answer and explanation
Lake Baikal — Siberia's Lake Baikal reaches a depth of more than 1,600 meters.