Local Landmarks Trivia Quiz

Answer: Asia

The Petronas Twin Towers, also colloquially known as the KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Centre) Twin Towers, are iconic skyscrapers located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. Standing at 451.9 m (1,483 feet) tall, this landmark is a must-visit spot for tourists. Designed by Argentine-American architect César Pelli and completed in 1996, the towers house shopping malls, offices, and the Petronas Philharmonic Hall, a renowned concert venue. The towers were also featured in the thriller movie "Entrapment" (1999), starring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

This question was penned by proud Malaysian Matthew_07 from the Phoenix Rising team, who has visited the towers frequently and often shares their grandeur and history with visiting friends.

Answer: Asia

The Blue Pond is located on the Japanese island of Hokkaido, in the town of Biei. It was constructed as part of an erosion control system to stop damage to the town from eruptions of the active volcano nearby, Mount Tokachi. Due to the presence of colloidal aluminum hydroxide in the waters, the pond appears in startlingly blue hues - turquoise to cobalt. The skeletons of silver birch and larch trees jut forth from the pond. At night, special illuminations enhance the experience. There is no admission fee to view the pond, so it is a "must see" destination for visitors to Hokkaido.

This question was written by player Pusdoc, who visited the Blue Pond when she lived in Sapporo for work.

Answer: Asia

The official name of the statue, Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Eknakakiri, translates into English as "The Cherished Auspicious Lord Buddha atop Naga Hill".

Made of concrete, covered in Burmese white marble, the statue reveals Gautama in a seated position. He stands 45 metres (148 feet) in height and, at the base, is a little over 25 metres (83 feet) in width. Built at a cost of 30 million baht, the statue has been declared the "Buddhist Treasure of Phuket" and, whilst the construction on the figure itself, was said to have been completed in 2019, work on the remainder of the complex was still in progress as at 2026. At its completion in 2019, the statue was the third tallest in Thailand.

Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 was visiting Phuket at the time construction had just begun on this impressive landmark.

Answer: Oceania

Situated on Western Australia's north-west coast near the Cape Range National Park and the town of Exmouth (roughly 1,200 kms/745 miles north of Perth) is Australia's largest fringing reef. A fringing reef is one that grows close to the shore. Essentially, you can walk a few metres into the water and be standing on the reef.

The reef is a global hotspot for marine life, playing host to more than 500 species of fish and 250 species of coral. Ningaloo is famous for its whale-sharks, which will appear seasonally as will migrating humpback whales. But wait, there's more... you'll also see manta rays, dugongs, dolphins and turtles. Its extraordinary biodiversity has been recognized by UNESCO and the reef is now heritage-listed.

For the pleasure seeker, the area offers the opportunities for snorkelling, kayaking, boating and the opportunity to swim with the whale-sharks during the months of March through to July.

The author, pollucci19, is a pretty parochial and proud West Australian, particularly when it comes to highlighting the wonders and the rugged beauty of the state he lives in. The reef at Ningaloo is, without doubt, one of his favourite sights.

Answer: Oceania

The Story Bridge, opened in 1940, is a landmark in the city of Brisbane. It links Kangaroo Point with Fortitude Valley, crossing the Brisbane River immediately east of the city centre. It is the largest cantilever bridge in Australia with a total length of 777 metres (2,549 ft) and a central span of 282 metres (925 ft). The approach on the southern side is called the Bradfield Highway, which is the same name as the highway that approaches the southern side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, as both bridges were designed by John Bradfield. Whilst over 100 000 vehicles pass over the bridge each year, the bridge features heavily in the annual Brisbane fireworks display called Riverfire.

Question submitted by1nn1 who never gets tired of the view of Brisbane city centre when crossing this bridge.

Answer: Oceania

The Three Sisters can be found in Katoomba, about 80 minutes drive west of the heart of Sydney, and is a must-see for any visitor. The Three Sisters is a rock formation, with three distinct peaks, rising above the Jamison Valley, and the viewing area at Echo Point is a popular spot to grab a great photo.
There is a walking track to the Sisters, and you can even cross the Honeymoon Bridge onto the first Sister. If you are feeling energetic, you can climb the Giant Stairway, almost 1,000 steps down into the valley. There are many trails, short or long, that you can explore. Keep your eyes open for wallabies and kangaroos, lyrebirds and dozens of other birds, koalas, bats, gliders, frogs, butterflies and thousands of gum (eucalyptus) trees. In summer, watch out for snakes, too!

This question submitted by ozzz2002, who only has TWO sisters.

Answer: Europe

The Three Peaks of Lavaredo ("Tre Cime di Lavaredo" in Italian, and "Drei Zinnen" in German) are three distinctively-shaped limestone pillars in the Sexten Dolomites, a subrange of the Dolomites located in north-eastern Italy. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009, the Dolomites are a section of the Southern Limestone Alps.

The centrepiece of a nature park established in 1981, the Tre Cime are among the most iconic of Alpine peaks, having often been compared to a castle's battlements. The highest of the three peaks, Cima Grande/Große Zinne (Big Peak), stands at the centre of the group at an elevation of 2999 m (9,839 ft).

During WWI, the front line between Italy and Austria-Hungary ran through the Tre Cime, and many reminders of the conflict - such as fortifications, tunnels and commemorative monuments - can still be seen in the area. The peaks are also a popular destination for hikers and climbers.

This lofty question was reverently scaled by LadyNym of the Phoenix Rising team.

Answer: Europe

At 170 metres (560 feet) tall, the Spinnaker Tower has dominated the skyline of the city of Portsmouth, on the south coast of England, since the early 2000s. On a clear day it provides spectacular views of the city's harbour area, as well as around 50 miles of coastline from Dorset in the west to West Sussex in the east.

Although this landmark was originally intended to be part of the Millennium celebrations in 2000, construction was delayed and it finally opened in October 2005. The tower was designed in the shape of a spinnaker sail, representing Portsmouth's naval and maritime heritage and has three observation decks located between 100 to 110 metres above ground-level. The lowest of these has a glass floor, which anyone not suffering from a fear of heights can walk across and look down to the water below, while the other levels house a bar and café as well as an outdoor area for the particularly brave to venture out onto.

This question was written by Phoenix Rising's Fifiona81, who can attest to the great view that the Spinnaker Tower provides on a clear day, but also that it's possible to see absolutely nothing when your visit coincides with an ill-timed fog!

Answer: Europe

The Casa Batllo is an imposing building along Barcelona's main promenade, the Passeig de Gràcia. The building itself was constructed in 1877 by Barcelona-born architecture professor, Emili Sala Cortes. Acquired in 1903 by Josep Batllo i Casanovas, it was completely renovated between 1904 and 1906 by Antoni Gaudi.

It was then that it received its new marine-inspired façade, with a roof that appears to be iridescent fish or dragon scales, and a roof line that looks like a dragon's back. The balconies are reminiscent of jaw bones, perhaps of the dragon's victims, or perhaps of huge sea creatures. The outside of the building is encrusted with colourful glass and glazed ceramic that could be coral. These features give rise to its nicknames, House of Bones or the House of the Dragon. The work by Gaudi was never explained by the architect himself, leaving it open to the viewer's own interpretation.

The scales (tiles) on the roof of Casa Batllo give rise to the popular belief that the building is a tribute to St George, the patron saint of Catalonia. St George (Sant Jordi), who saved his princess by killing the dragon from whose blood a rosebush sprouted, is celebrated in Barcelona every April 23rd. On that day, the Passeig de Gràcia is closed to traffic and hundreds of thousands of people throng to celebrate Sant Jordi, and to view the balconies of the Casa Batlló which are covered in deep red roses. Tradition has it that men are given books by loved ones, while ladies are given long-stemmed red roses and an ear of wheat. Bakeries produce bread in the shape of dragons and street vendors sell roses and books.

Antoni Gaudi belonged to the Art Nouveau movement and is responsible for seven buildings or parts of buildings included on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. These include the Casa Batllo, Casa Vicens, Palacio Güell and the Nativity Façade and Crypt of the Sagrada Familia, among others.

This question was carefully constructed and housed in the quiz by Phoenix Rising member VegemiteKid.

Answer: North America

Okanagan Lake is a deep, glacier-carved fjord lake that extends for 135 km (84 mi) north to south in the Okanagan Valley of the Interior of Canada's westernmost province, British Columbia. Part of the Columbia River watershed (that empties into the Pacific Ocean between Washington and Oregon), Okanagan Lake is quite narrow in compared to its length, averaging just 5 km (3.1 mi) in width. There is only one bridge crossing, located at the midpoint where the largest city of the region (Kelowna, population ~170,000) sits.

In addition to being the centerpiece of this beautiful region of British Columbia, Okanagan Lake is also reputed to be the home of a lake monster by the name of Ogopogo, with a history in local indigenous stories and reported sightings right up to the present.

reedy, who lives in Vernon at the northern end of Okanagan Lake, transplanted himself (and his family) to the Okanagan from Canada's windswept prairies in 2015, and hasn't looked back.

Answer: North America

Red Rocks Amphitheatre is an outdoor concert venue owned by the city of Denver just outside of Morrison, Colorado. It has become renowned worldwide for its exquisite acoustics and ambiance, so much so that after eleven straight wins in a row for "best small outdoor venue" the "Pollstar" award given to these venues was renamed the "Red Rocks Award," with Red Rocks being unable to win again. The amphitheatre is a naturally formed area surrounded by Ship Rock and Creation Rock. The oxidation of the sandstone in these rocks give it the characteristic, natural red hue the venue is known for.

Red Rocks Amphitheatre has a bit of a reputation; as one of the highest elevations for a concert venue, many singers struggle for a breath during a longer set. Even Ringo Starr of the Beatles recalls that during their 1964 performance (the sixth stop on the tour, and the only US performance not sold out at the time) they were given oxygen tanks to make it through their performance. Rock performances were a huge hit for the amphitheatre until 1971, when over a thousand people without tickets showed up to a sold-out Jethro Tull concert. At this time, rock performances were banned, and only lighter performances were allowed. This restriction wasn't lifted until the band America fought the venue in court to perform in 1975. Upon rock's return to the Rocks, many popular bands found a home performing here. One such band was the Grateful Dead, who performed there twenty times from 1978 to 1987. They were also one of several bands who are recognized for their live album recorded here; "Live from Red Rocks" is a popular subtitle for many. The acoustics make for a wonderful live performance, recognized early on in Red Rock's history when Mary Garden gained it widespread attention in 1911.

As a Colorado native, salami_swami could go on and on about Red Rocks Amphitheatre. After witnessing several live recordings (pick him out in the crowded sea of people in some popular music videos such as Mumford and Sons' "I Will Wait"), eerie a capella renditions sans microphones, and concerts regarded as some of the greatest performances of all time, he wouldn't give up living nearby for the world.

Answer: North America

Of all the unique buildings designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Fallingwater is perhaps his most famous. The most striking feature of this house is a waterfall that runs partially under the house. The waterfall is part of the Bear Run, a stream that runs through the heavily wooded property. The owner, Edgar Kaufman, a retail magnate, commissioned Wright to design the house in 1935. The brief was to build the house facing the waterfall, but Wright convinced Kaufman to build on the other side of the bank, as it faced south and would attract more light. The house has massive cantilevered terraces, one of which is built over the waterfall itself. The family handed the deed to the property in 1963 to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. It is now a tourist attraction. The house was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2019.

Question submitted by 1nn1, who had this item on his bucket list before he found a way to go see it in 2018.