The Floor is Lava! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Medina

Medina sprawls between the Hejaz mountain range and a volcanic field called Harrat Rahat, where there are over 500 volcanoes in an area roughly the size of Lake Ontario. That's a lot of lava! Luckily most of them don't erupt that often. One of the volcanoes erupted as recently as the 13th century and the hardened trails of lava can still be seen on satellite images of the city. According to Islamic tradition, Muhammad set up the city of Medina on the oasis and his body is entombed in a mosque there (pictured). Due to its importance as a religious site, only Muslims are allowed to enter the city.

Answer: King Arthur

The name 'Arthur's Seat' may be a corruption of a local dialect phrase, but it could have a more mythical origin. The legendary King Arthur may be the legend behind the hill. It rises from the edge of Edinburgh city centre at one end of the Royal Mile.

At the other end of the Mile, the castle sits on another hill called Castle Rock. This rock is a huge chunk of basalt that blocked the vent of a now-extinct volcano.

Answer: North Island

New Zealand is made of two main islands: North and South. Auckland sits on an isthmus in the northern section of the country's North Island. Most of the city is on the mainland, but a group of smaller islands are also included within the city limits. The largest volcano on the mainland is Mount Eden in English (Maungawhau in Maori). Visitors can climb or cycle the 196 metres to the summit to experience views of the Waitemata Harbour.

As recently as 2017, the volcanoes in Auckland were considered dormant rather than extinct, with 0.1% chance of an eruption in any one year. Although, the likelihood of volcanic activity is quite low, it would be a niggling thought at the back of my mind if I lived there!

Answer: Naples

Naples is in a precarious position. The infamously destructive Mount Vesuvius looms to the east of the city, and the Phlegraean Fields supervolcano sits to the northwest. Both sites were active during the 20th century. Due to the potential danger, the area around Naples is subject to an evacuation plan. Volcanic eruptions aren't all bad, though: some of the older city streets were paved with Vesuvian lava.

Some of the historic flags of Naples feature a fleur-de-lis like the one pictured.

Answer: Hawaii

Hilo is on eastern side of the island of Hawaii. Also on the eastern side of the island is the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. At 1,308 square km, it contains two active volcanoes and became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. Another impressive site in Hilo is Rainbow Falls. Created through volcanic activity, the 25m waterfall earned its name because of the colours seen in the spray as the water crashes into the pool below.

The picture is of a Hawaiian lei.

Answer: False

Yes, Mount Mayon is an active volcano; yes, it is partially within Legazpi city limits; no, it's not the only volcanic site in the Philippines. Far from it, in fact - during the 20th century, volcanic activity was recorded throughout the country.

As well as featuring a very striking volcano, Legazpi is home to a number of hills and caves. It also contains a bustling seaport and the San Gregorio Cathedral.

Answer: Peru

Arequipa is one of Peru's major cities. It's set against the beautiful backdrop of El Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu. Of the three volcanoes, only one (Pichu Pichu) was considered extinct at the end of the 20th century. The other two were considered dormant with the potential to become active. Arequipa has a historical town centre that became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000.

It was built of sillar, a type of rock taken from the nearby volcanoes. Unfortunately, the historic site is at risk from volcanic activity and earthquakes.

Answer: Nyiragongo

Goma lies on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. It's in the East African Rift Valley, right on the border of two plates that are moving away from each other. Unfortunately, the shifting plates have caused earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in the area.

When Nyiragongo erupted in 2002, the lava lake in the centre drained through fissures that had opened up. Gas and ash flew up into the air and lava ran through the city.

Answer: Spain

The Galeras volcano is part of the Andes mountain range which runs through South America. Pasto is situated at the base of the volcano and was established in the 16th century by Spanish colonialists. The city was quite important during the colonial era, and has enjoyed successes in agriculture and gold-mining. Along with the Andean backdrop, Pasto has other beautiful scenery like the misty La Cocha Lake.

Answer: Boring Lava Field

The Boring Lava Field didn't earn its name because it's dull! The name comes from the nearby town of Boring. The volcanic area contains over 30 shield volcanoes and cinder cones, as well as a large number of vents. The site was active between the Pliocene and mid-Pleistocene periods.

The infamous Mount St Helens (which erupted explosively in 1980) is also near Portland and can be seen from the city.