Rollin' on the River Trivia Quiz

Answer: Po

The Po is the longest river in Italy and flows through many of its important cities including Turin, Ferrara, and Piacenza. The Po carries a considerable amount of sediment and some of the ancient Italian port cities are now many miles inland due to sediment deposition. Prone to flooding, there have been numerous dams, dikes, and canals built in order to control the problem.

Answer: Horseshoe Bend

Noted for its beautiful panorama, Arizona's Horseshoe Bend is part of the Colorado River. The steep cliffs, some over 1,000 ft. high, allow for an amazing view of this natural phenomena. Rising in the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado River is the primary river of the Southwestern area of the U.S. It meanders through seven U.S. states before emptying into the Gulf of California.

Answer: The Potomac River

On January 13, 1982, Air Florida flight 90 crashed into the Potomac River in Washington D.C. Of the 79 people aboard the plane, only five survived the crash into the frozen waters of this river. The Potomac runs through West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. Once known as one of the most polluted rivers in the U.S., the Potomac is a fine example of pollution control and recovery.

While it will probably never return to its original, pristine condition, it is on its way to recovery.

Answer: Black River

The Rio Negro, or Black River, is the largest left tributary of the powerful Amazon River. When viewed from a distance, the waters of this river appear black but are actually the color of weak coffee. The origins of this river lie in Colombia and it joins the Amazon in Brazil. Prone to flooding, this river derives its name from the high levels of humic acid it contains.

These acids are formed from the incomplete breakdown of some types of vegetation. The Rio Negro is famous for its large fish populations and its numerous turtle beaches.

Answer: Ganges River

The Ganges River is worshiped in the Hindu faith as the goddess Ganga. It is the National River of India and runs over 1,560 miles (2,560 km). It has long been one of the most powerful life-giving forces in the area. Sadly, it is one of the most polluted rivers in the world.

Although humans and animals bathe in it regularly, as well as use it as a potable source of water, it is a threat to many forms of indigenous life. Attempts have been undertaken to clean up the river, but poor planning, corruption, and the lack of support from religious authorities have combined to make these attempts merely acts of utter futility.

Answer: The Dead Sea

The origin of the Jordan River lies on the slopes of Mount Hermon on the Syrian-Lebanese border. It flows for 251 km (156 mi.), before emptying into the Dead Sea. The Jordan is a holy river that has an important history in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

The existence of thermal springs and high levels of gypsum leave the Jordan River with a relatively high level of salinity which can leave a salt residue when used for irrigation. It also has lowest elevation of any river on the planet.

Answer: True

Flowing through the city of Cleveland, Ohio, the Cuyahoga River is famous, or possibly infamous, for catching fire numerous times in 20th century. This claim to fame is due to the high levels of pollution which poured into the river. While most of the pollutants are industrial waste, raw sewage was regularly pumped in for decades. Between 1868 and 1969 the river caught fire at least five times.

The sad state of this river helped lead to the Clean Water Act of 1972 which has helped clean up many of the U.S. waterways and led to heavy fines against business that did not follow protocols.

Answer: False

The Puerto Princesa River, located in Palawan, Philippines, is one of the most unusual rivers in the world, but not because it is cold. This beautiful river is the longest navigable, subterranean river on the planet. Known to be at least fifteen miles long, this unusual river is home to many unique creatures found nowhere else.

In 2012, this pristine river was confirmed to be one of the "New7Wonders of Nature".

Answer: It is one of the highest rivers in the world.

The Yarlung Zangbo River, located in Tibet, is usually listed as the highest river in the world. The name of this crystal clear river means "Mother River of Tibet. Despite the fact that river originates from the Angsi Glacier, the river does not freeze solid but flows all year long, often carrying large pieces of floating ice. This river is so dangerous to navigate that it was not until 1998
that its largest waterfall, named Hidden Falls, was discovered by Westerners who had believed the stories they heard from the indigenous tribes were only myth.

Answer: The Huang He River

The Huang He River, more popularly known as the Yellow River, in China, is often considered to be the deadliest river in the world. While it brings life-giving moisture and nutrients to agricultural areas of China, it annual flooding kills thousands every year. Although this river is often considered to be China's cradle of civilization, it is also nicknamed 'China's Sorrow'.