Geographic Information Systems and IT solutions for the environment
Play Mappamondo GIS quiz by guessing places and features displayed on satellite images and challenge your geographic knowledge! In this page you will find all past editions of our quiz with the answer hidden but available at the bottom of the image by clicking on the answer link. To play the current edition and try to win a price subscribe to our newsletter or visit the news page!
October 2011 edition
Answer: Afar Triple Junction The Afar Triple Junction is a junction of three tectonic rifts (or ridges) centered in the Afar Depression, informally known as the Afar Triangle, of northeastern Africa. Here, the Red Sea Rift meets the Aden Ridge and the East African Rift. It also represents the junction of the Arabian Plate and the two protoplates which are beginning to form as the African Plate splits apart along the East African Rift. The Afar depression, also known as Danakil Desert, is one of the hottest place on earth and it's characterized by spectacular geological features.
Winners: Congratulation to Giulia Fruscalzo from Italy for winning the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Patricia Moehring from Lebanon to be the fastest player to send the right answer!
May 2011 edition
Answer: Athabasca oil sands mining and Appalachian mountaintop mining The image on the left depicts a mine in the Athabascan region. Once covered by ancient boreal forest the depicted area is now occupied by huge ponds of toxic fluids. The region holds locked into the sand under its boreal forest on indigenous land, the second largest deposit of oil after Saudia Arabia, but in a very different form. The oil is present as bitumen and to be extracted requires the clearing of the forest, the removal of hundreds of feet of soil and the use of enormous amounts of water to make it fluid with consequent land, water and air pollution. As the energy required to extract the oil is only slightly lower than the energy that will be derived from it, this type of mining has only become "economically" feasible in the latest years. Read more from a National Geographic article and about the Greenpeace Canada campaign. The Tar Sand Action guided by Bill McKibben is protesting against the construction of a huge pipeline that should transport the tar sand oil from Canada to US States. You can also watch documentaries such as Petropolis and H2Oil.
The image on the right is a mountaintop removal coal mine in the Appalachian region. Appalachia is a hotspot of biological diversity and source of drinking water for many US cities. The US Environmental Protection Agency defines mountaintop removal as follows: “Mountaintop removal/valley fill is a mining practice where the tops of mountains are removed, exposing the seams of coal. Mountaintop removal can involve removing 500 feet or more of the summit to get at buried seams of coal. The earth from the mountaintop is then dumped in the neighbouring valleys.” The process involves the clearing of the vegetation, the blasting of the mountain, the dumping of the debris in the valley, the pollution of water and land. A number of organizations and affected communities are fighting this type of destructive practice. Learn more on http://www.ilovemountains.org/resources/
Winners: Congratulation to Benoit Lalonde from Canada to be the only player to send the right answer!
March 2011 edition
Answer: Ahu Tongariki and Rano Raraku on Easter Island Ahu Tongariki (visible at the bottom right of the image and in the detail box) is the largest ahu on Rapa Nui/Easter Island topped by 15 moai. Ahu are stone platforms while moai are monolithic human figures carved from rock on the Polynesian island between the years 1250 and 1500. Nearly half are still at Rano Raraku, the main moai quarry (visible on the left side of the image), but hundreds were transported from there and set on ahu around the island's perimeter.
Read more about Easter Island and its ahu and moai.
Winners: Congratulation to Giulia Fruscalzo from Italy for winning the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Fiona Cawkwell from Ireland to be the fastest player to send the right answer!December 2010 edition
Answer: Meteor and Manson Craters Both satellite images represent the location of an impact crater. Impact craters are generated by the collision of a large meteorite, asteroid, comet, or other celestial object with the Earth or another planet. These two impact sites look very different as although the impact on the right (Manson Crater) was much bigger than the one on the left no surface evidence remains due to coverage by glacial till and the site where the crater lies buried is now a flat landscape. But, hidden about 20 to 90 metres below the surface is a buried structure about 38 km in diameter. The Manson impact crater is near the site of Manson, Iowa where an asteroid or comet nucleus struck the Earth during the Cretaceous Period, 74 million years ago. It is one of the largest impacts by an object from outer space to have happened in North America. Meteor Crater is a meteorite impact crater located approximately 43 miles (69 km) east of Flagstaff, in the northern Arizona desert of the United States. Although more evident than Manson Crater, Meteor Crater is much smaller being only about 1,200 m (4,000 ft) in diameter, some 170 m deep (570 ft), and is surrounded by a rim that rises 45 m (150 ft) above the surrounding plains.
Read more about Manson creater and Meteor Crater
Winners: No winner this month!
October 2010 edition
Answer: Lake Balaton: Lake Balaton is a freshwater lake in the Transdanubian region of Hungary. It is the largest lake in Central Europe,and one of its foremost tourist destinations. As Hungary is landlocked, it is often affectionately called the "Hungarian Sea". The Zala River provides the largest inflow of water to the lake, and the canalized Sió is the only outflow. The mountainous region of the Northern shore is known as a major wine region, while the flat Southern shore is known for its resort towns. Read more...
Winners: Congratulation to Van Hare from USA for winning the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Piero Boccardo from Italy to be the fastest player to send the right answer!
June 2010 edition
Answer: Strait of Hormuz The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow, strategically important waterway between the Gulf of Oman in the southeast and the Persian Gulf. On the north coast is Iran and on the south coast is the United Arab Emirates and Musandam, an exclave of Oman. The strait at its narrowest is 54 kilometres (29 nmi) wide.[1] It is the only sea passage to the open ocean for large areas of the petroleum-exporting Persian Gulf. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, an average of about 15 tankers carrying 16.5 to 17 million barrels of crude oil normally pass through the strait every day, making it one of the world's most strategically important choke points. This represents 40% of the world's seaborne oil shipments, and 20% of all world shipments.Read more...
Winners: Congratulation to Giovanni Ranieri from Italy for winning the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Nikolai Hoch from Germany to be the fastest player to send the right answer!
May 2010 edition
Answer: The Three Gorges Dam is a hydroelectric river dam that spans the Yangtze River in the town of Sandouping, located in the Yiling District of Yichang, in the Hubei province, China. It is the world's largest electricity-generating plant of any kind. The main body of the dam was comlpeted in 2006 and on October 30, 2008 the 26th generator was brought into commercial operation. Six additional generators in the underground power plant are being installed and are not expected to become fully operational until around 2011. The building of the dam has been a controversial topic both in China and abroad. Read more...
Winners: Congratulation to Ernesto Sferlazza from Italy for winning the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Mary Boatman from the USA to be the fastest player to send the right answer!
March 2010 edition
Answer: Florence, Italy, lies on the River Arno and is known for its history and its importance in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance, especially for its art and architecture. The historic centre of Florence attracts millions of tourists each year and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. Florence is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world,and its artistic,historic and cultural heritage and impact in the world remains vast up to this day. It has been the birthplace or chosen home of many notable historical figures, such as Dante, Boccaccio, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Niccolò Machiavelli, Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, Donatello, Galileo Galilei, Catherine de' Medici and more. Read more...
Winners: These was one of the most successful editions of our quiz with several readers sending the correct answer and a note of enthusiasm for this beautiful city! Congratulation to Adam Gerrand for winning the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Guido D'Urso to be the fastest player to send the right answer!
February 2010 edition
Answer: Aral Sea, Once the world's fourth-largest lake and inland saline body of water, with an area of 68,000 km2, the Aral Sea has been steadily shrinking since the 1960s after the rivers that fed it were diverted by Soviet Union irrigation projects. By 2007 it had declined to 10% of its original size, splitting into three lakes – the North Aral Sea and the eastern and western basins of the once far larger South Aral Sea. By 2009, the south-eastern lake had disappeared and the south-western lake retreated to a thin strip at the extreme west of the former southern sea. The region's once prosperous fishing industry has been virtually destroyed, bringing unemployment and economic hardship. The Aral Sea region is also heavily polluted, with consequent serious public health problems. The retreat of the sea has reportedly also caused local climate change, with summers becoming hotter and drier, and winters colder and longer. Read more...
We thank Jaques Centonze, particpant to the quiz, that kindly provided this link with additional information and pictures of the past fishing fleet.
Winners: Congratulation to Phil Gerla from USA for winning the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Elisa Malinverno from Italy to be the fastest player to send the right answer!
December 2009 edition
Answer: Luxembourg City, is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse rivers (clearly visible at the bottom fo the image) in southern Luxembourg and contains the historic Luxembourg Castle, established by the Franks in the Early Middle Ages, about which the area grew up. As of 2009, the commune of Luxembourg City has a population of 90,000. Luxembourg City lies at the heart of Western Europe, situated 188 km from Brussels. Luxembourg City is one of the wealthiest cities in the world, having developed into a banking and administrative centre. Luxembourg is a seat of several institutions of the European Union, including the European Court of Justice, the European Court of Auditors, and the European Investment Bank (top right of the image). Read more...
Winners: Congratulation to Camillo Berti from Italy for winning the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Michael Volk from USA to be the fastest player to send the right answer!
June 2009 edition
Answer: Öresund Bridge is a combined two-track rail and four-lane road bridge-tunnel across the Öresund strait. It is the longest combined road and rail bridge in Europe and connects the two metropolitan areas of the Öresund Region: the Danish capital of Copenhagen and the Swedish city of Malmö....read more
Winners: Congratulation to Inge La Rivière from Te Netherlands for winning the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Erik C. Moule from USA to be the fastest player to send the right answer!
February 2009 edition
Answer: Galápagos Islands (Official name: Archipiélago de Colón;) are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, 972 km west of continental Ecuador. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site: wildlife is its most notable feature. ...read more
Winners: Congratulation to Paul Brazier from UK for winning the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Joshua Newhard from USA to be the fastest player to send the right answer!
October 2008 edition
Answer: St. Louis is the second largest city of Missouri State, located near the confluence of the Mississippi River and the Missouri River. The most recognizable structure in the city is the stainless steel Gateway Arch (shadow visible in the image), which is the tallest monument in the USA (192m). The shadow of the arch is visible on the satellite image. ...read more
Winners: Congratulation to Kevin J Campbell from USA for winning the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Corey Plank from USA to be the fastest player to send the right answer!
September 2008 edition
Answer: Dubrovnik is a beautiful historical city located in Croatia. It is one of the top tourist destinations on the Adriatic Sea. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979...read more
Winners: Congratulation to Igor Isajlovic from Croatia for winning the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Michelle Cooper from Australia to be the fastest player to send the right answer!
June 2008 edition
Answer: The Namib Desert is a desert in Namibia and southwest Angola which forms part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The desert is Africa's second largest.
Winners: Congratulation to Jim Marden from USA for winning the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Bryan Costa from USA to be the fastest player to send the right answer!
February 2008 edition
Answer: Farewell Spit is a narrow sand spit situated at 40°31'S, 172°52'E, at the northern end of the South Island of New Zealand...read more...
Winners: Congratulation to Raivo Aunap from Estonia for winning the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Irwin Metthew from New Zealand to be the fastest player to send the right answer!
January 2008 edition
Answer: Valencia, City of Arts and Sciences: it is an ensemble of five areas in the dry river bed of the now diverted River Turia in Valencia, Spain. Designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava and started in July 1996, it is an impressive example of modern architecture. Read more...
Winners: Congratulation to Francesco Vuolo from Italy for winning the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Montserrat Trigo Mendoza from Mexico to be the fastest player to send the right answer!
December 2007 edition
Answer: Molokini is an offshore crescent moon-shaped volcanic crater south of Ma‘alaea Bay, Maui, Hawaii and part of Maui County. It is a popular destination for scuba diving, snuba and snorkeling. Read more...
Winners: Congratulation to Tom Bolmer for winning the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Michael Kelly to be the fastest player to send the right answer!
September 2007 edition
Answer: Stockholm is the largest city and capital of Sweden. It is the site of the national Swedish government, the parliament, and the official residence of the Swedish monarch. Stockholm has been the political and economic centre of Sweden since the 13th century.Read more...
Winners: Congratulation to Denis Genest for winning the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Rob Vanderkam to be the fastest player to send the right answer!
June 2007 edition
Answer: Borneo is the third largest island in the world. It is located at the centre of the Malay archipelago and Indonesia. Borneo is considered to be part of the geographic region of Southeast Asia. Administratively, this island is divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Read more...
Winners: Congratulation to Martin Oliver for winning the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Phil Gerla to be the fastest player to send the right answer!
May 2007 edition
Answer: Riga the capital of Latvia, is situated on the Baltic Sea coast on the mouth of the River Daugava, at 56°58′N, 24°8′E. Riga is the largest city in the Baltic states. The Historic Centre of Riga has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the city is particularly notable for its extensive Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) architecture, comparable in significance only with Vienna and Saint Petersburg. Read more...
Winners: Congratulation to Pizziolo Marco for winning the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Gerold Lüerßen to be the fastest player to send the right answer!
March 2007 edition
Answer: Lake Baikal, plunging more than a mile deep (1,620 meters) in the middle, holds more water than any other lake on Earth, one-fifth of the world's fresh water. It is fed by more than 330 rivers. In its depths thrive between 1500 and 1800 animal species, most of them peculiar to Baikal. And it is home to the world's only freshwater seal. Read more...
Winners: Congratulation to Lori M. Evrard for winning the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Phil Gerla and Chandrashekhar Biradar to be the fastest players to send the right answer! !
February 2007 edition
Answer: Mount Merapi, Central Java. Read more...
Winners: Congratulation to Arief Darmawan to be the only one to send the correct answer!
January 2007 edition
Answer: Lena River Delta in Russia Read more...
Winners: Congratulation to Jeff Ueland to win the draw among all those that sent the correct answer and to Ryan McKoen and Jeff Ueland to be the fastest players to send the right answer!
December 2006 edition
Answer: Kennedy Channel of Nares Strait—the strait that separates Ellesmere Island from northern Greenland. Hans Island at the centre of the channel is claimed by both Canada and Denmark.
Winners: No winners this month!
October 2006 edition
Answer: Yosemite National Park and the geological formation Half Dome.
Winners: These month 3 fastest players are Floyd Larry, Betsi Chathaman and Christopher J. Benson!
July 2006 edition
Answer: Southern tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada! On the right side, the city of Vancouver.
Winners: Congratulation to Camillo Berti to be the fastest player to send the correct answer this month!
June 2006 edition
Answer: San Diego, California. The Marine Park area where the 26th ESRI International Users Conference will be held this year!
Winners: Congratulation to Camillo Berti to be the fastest player to send the correct answer this month!
May 2006 edition
Answer: The island of Bora Bora in French Polynesia
Winners: Congratulation to Alberto Marini, Rosa Giorgio Gaggia e and Davide Menna to be the fastest players to send the correct answer this month!
March 2006 edition
Answer: Pearl Harbor is a harbor on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The attack on Pearl Harbor by the Empire of Japan on December 7, 1941, brought the United States into World War II. Read more...
Winners: Congratulation to Michele Galeotti, Davide Menna and Lorenzo Bottai to be the fastest players to send the correct answer this month!
February 2006 edition
Answer: Capital city of Helsinki, Finland
Winners: Congratulation to Titi Melis, Davide Menna and Patrizia Basili to be the fastest players to send the correct answer this month!
Miscellaneous
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