Asia Geography Quiz
Tokyo, the Mekong, the Gobi, Lake Baikal: 15 questions on the biggest continent on Earth.
What is the capital of Japan?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Tokyo
Tokyo has been Japan's capital since 1868, when the emperor moved from Kyoto to the city then called Edo and renamed it Tokyo, meaning 'eastern capital'.
Kyoto served as the imperial capital for more than 1,000 years, from 794 to 1868, which is why it has so many temples and palaces.
What is the capital of India?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
New Delhi
New Delhi was formally inaugurated as the capital in 1931 after the British announced in 1911 that the seat of government would move from Calcutta, now Kolkata.
New Delhi was laid out by the British architect Edwin Lutyens, whose grand avenues and government buildings are still known as Lutyens' Delhi.
What is the capital of Thailand?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Bangkok
Bangkok became the capital of Siam in 1782, when King Rama I moved the royal seat across the Chao Phraya River and founded the Grand Palace.
Bangkok's full ceremonial name in Thai runs to more than 160 letters and is listed as the longest place name in the world.
Which country is the world's largest archipelago, with more than 17,000 islands?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Indonesia
Indonesia stretches more than 5,000 km (3,100 miles) along the equator with over 17,000 islands, around 6,000 of them inhabited, including Java, Sumatra and Borneo's southern part.
Java alone has more than 150 million people, which makes it the most populous island on Earth.
What is the capital of Vietnam?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Hanoi
Hanoi, in northern Vietnam, became the capital of the reunified country in 1976. Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is the largest city but not the capital.
Hanoi celebrated its 1,000th anniversary in 2010, dating itself from the founding of Thang Long by Emperor Lý Thái Tổ in 1010.
Which sea separates Saudi Arabia from Egypt and Sudan?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Red Sea
The Red Sea lies between the Arabian Peninsula and northeast Africa, connecting to the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal and to the Indian Ocean through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait.
The Red Sea is one of the saltiest and warmest seas in the world and is slowly widening as Africa and Arabia drift apart.
Which body of water on the border of Jordan and Israel has the lowest shoreline on land anywhere in the world?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Dead Sea
The Dead Sea's shore sits more than 430 m (1,410 ft) below sea level, and its water is nearly ten times saltier than the ocean, which lets swimmers float effortlessly.
The Dead Sea is shrinking by about a meter a year because the Jordan River that feeds it is heavily diverted for farming and drinking water.
Which inland body of water, bordered by Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, is the largest in the world?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea covers about 371,000 square km (143,000 square miles), more than the area of Japan, and is classed as the world's largest lake despite its name and salty water.
The Caspian is the source of most of the world's wild caviar, harvested from beluga and other sturgeon.
Which river flows through Laos and Cambodia before reaching the sea in southern Vietnam?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Mekong
The Mekong rises on the Tibetan Plateau and runs about 4,900 km (3,000 miles) through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, where it forms a huge delta.
Tonlé Sap in Cambodia, fed by the Mekong, reverses its flow each monsoon and swells to around five times its dry season size.
What is the capital of Pakistan?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Islamabad
Islamabad was purpose built in the 1960s to replace Karachi as the capital, chosen for its cooler climate and central position near the army headquarters at Rawalpindi.
Islamabad's Faisal Mosque, shaped like a desert tent, was one of the largest mosques in the world when it opened in 1986.
Which desert spans southern Mongolia and northern China?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Gobi
The Gobi is a cold desert covering about 1.3 million square km (500,000 square miles) of Mongolia and China, where winter temperatures can drop below minus 40 degrees.
The Gobi is one of the world's richest sources of dinosaur fossils, including the first dinosaur eggs ever found, in 1923.
Which Siberian lake is the deepest and oldest lake in the world?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal plunges to about 1,642 m (5,387 ft) and is around 25 million years old, holding roughly 20 percent of the world's unfrozen fresh surface water.
Baikal is home to the nerpa, the only seal species in the world that lives entirely in fresh water.
What is the capital of the Philippines?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines, a status restored by presidential decree in 1976 after Quezon City had officially held the title from 1948 to 1976.
Manila was founded by the Spanish in 1571 and for 250 years was the Asian end of the galleon trade route to Acapulco in Mexico.
Which strait, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, separates Peninsular Malaysia from the island of Sumatra?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Strait of Malacca
The Strait of Malacca runs about 800 km (500 miles) between Malaysia and the Indonesian island of Sumatra, linking the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea.
Singapore sits at the southern end of the strait, which is a big reason it became one of the world's busiest ports.
What is the capital of Uzbekistan?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Tashkent
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and the largest city in Central Asia. Bishkek, Dushanbe and Ashgabat are the capitals of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
Uzbekistan is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world, meaning every neighboring country is also landlocked. Liechtenstein is the other.
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All Geography quizzes →About the Asia Geography Quiz
Asia is home to more than half of all people on Earth, the deepest lake, the lowest point on land and an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands. The Caspian Sea, the largest inland body of water in the world, is bordered by five Asian countries alone.
These 15 questions cover the capitals of Japan, India, Thailand and Vietnam, the great seas and straits, the Mekong, the Gobi Desert and a few deeper cuts into Central Asia for players who know their Tashkent from their Bishkek. It suits students, backpackers, map lovers and quiz fans who want more than the usual Everest and Great Wall questions.
You will find 15 multiple choice questions here, each with four options. Difficulty: Medium. Most people finish in about 6 minutes, and every answer comes with a short explanation and one extra fact worth keeping.
How to play
Read the question and pick one of the four answers. The correct answer is revealed straight away with a short explanation, then press Next question to keep going. At the end you get your score out of 15 and a full review of your round. Play again any time and the questions arrive in a fresh order. There is no timer and no account.
Good to know before you play
What is the largest lake in Asia?
The Caspian Sea, bordered by Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan, is the largest inland body of water in the world at about 371,000 square km.
What is the lowest point on land in the world?
The shore of the Dead Sea, on the border of Jordan and Israel, lies more than 430 m (1,410 ft) below sea level.
What is the capital of Vietnam?
Hanoi, in the north, is the capital. Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, in the south is the largest city but not the capital.
Answer key: all 15 questions with explanations
- What is the capital of Japan?
Tokyo Tokyo has been Japan's capital since 1868, when the emperor moved from Kyoto to the city then called Edo and renamed it Tokyo, meaning 'eastern capital'. Kyoto served as the imperial capital for more than 1,000 years, from 794 to 1868, which is why it has so many temples and palaces. - What is the capital of India?
New Delhi New Delhi was formally inaugurated as the capital in 1931 after the British announced in 1911 that the seat of government would move from Calcutta, now Kolkata. New Delhi was laid out by the British architect Edwin Lutyens, whose grand avenues and government buildings are still known as Lutyens' Delhi. - What is the capital of Thailand?
Bangkok Bangkok became the capital of Siam in 1782, when King Rama I moved the royal seat across the Chao Phraya River and founded the Grand Palace. Bangkok's full ceremonial name in Thai runs to more than 160 letters and is listed as the longest place name in the world. - Which country is the world's largest archipelago, with more than 17,000 islands?
Indonesia Indonesia stretches more than 5,000 km (3,100 miles) along the equator with over 17,000 islands, around 6,000 of them inhabited, including Java, Sumatra and Borneo's southern part. Java alone has more than 150 million people, which makes it the most populous island on Earth. - What is the capital of Vietnam?
Hanoi Hanoi, in northern Vietnam, became the capital of the reunified country in 1976. Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is the largest city but not the capital. Hanoi celebrated its 1,000th anniversary in 2010, dating itself from the founding of Thang Long by Emperor Lý Thái Tổ in 1010. - Which sea separates Saudi Arabia from Egypt and Sudan?
Red Sea The Red Sea lies between the Arabian Peninsula and northeast Africa, connecting to the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal and to the Indian Ocean through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. The Red Sea is one of the saltiest and warmest seas in the world and is slowly widening as Africa and Arabia drift apart. - Which body of water on the border of Jordan and Israel has the lowest shoreline on land anywhere in the world?
Dead Sea The Dead Sea's shore sits more than 430 m (1,410 ft) below sea level, and its water is nearly ten times saltier than the ocean, which lets swimmers float effortlessly. The Dead Sea is shrinking by about a meter a year because the Jordan River that feeds it is heavily diverted for farming and drinking water. - Which inland body of water, bordered by Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, is the largest in the world?
Caspian Sea The Caspian Sea covers about 371,000 square km (143,000 square miles), more than the area of Japan, and is classed as the world's largest lake despite its name and salty water. The Caspian is the source of most of the world's wild caviar, harvested from beluga and other sturgeon. - Which river flows through Laos and Cambodia before reaching the sea in southern Vietnam?
Mekong The Mekong rises on the Tibetan Plateau and runs about 4,900 km (3,000 miles) through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, where it forms a huge delta. Tonlé Sap in Cambodia, fed by the Mekong, reverses its flow each monsoon and swells to around five times its dry season size. - What is the capital of Pakistan?
Islamabad Islamabad was purpose built in the 1960s to replace Karachi as the capital, chosen for its cooler climate and central position near the army headquarters at Rawalpindi. Islamabad's Faisal Mosque, shaped like a desert tent, was one of the largest mosques in the world when it opened in 1986. - Which desert spans southern Mongolia and northern China?
Gobi The Gobi is a cold desert covering about 1.3 million square km (500,000 square miles) of Mongolia and China, where winter temperatures can drop below minus 40 degrees. The Gobi is one of the world's richest sources of dinosaur fossils, including the first dinosaur eggs ever found, in 1923. - Which Siberian lake is the deepest and oldest lake in the world?
Lake Baikal Lake Baikal plunges to about 1,642 m (5,387 ft) and is around 25 million years old, holding roughly 20 percent of the world's unfrozen fresh surface water. Baikal is home to the nerpa, the only seal species in the world that lives entirely in fresh water. - What is the capital of the Philippines?
Manila Manila is the capital of the Philippines, a status restored by presidential decree in 1976 after Quezon City had officially held the title from 1948 to 1976. Manila was founded by the Spanish in 1571 and for 250 years was the Asian end of the galleon trade route to Acapulco in Mexico. - Which strait, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, separates Peninsular Malaysia from the island of Sumatra?
Strait of Malacca The Strait of Malacca runs about 800 km (500 miles) between Malaysia and the Indonesian island of Sumatra, linking the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea. Singapore sits at the southern end of the strait, which is a big reason it became one of the world's busiest ports. - What is the capital of Uzbekistan?
Tashkent Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and the largest city in Central Asia. Bishkek, Dushanbe and Ashgabat are the capitals of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Uzbekistan is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world, meaning every neighboring country is also landlocked. Liechtenstein is the other.
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