Travel trivia: Test your knowledge of the world's rivers

October 12, 7:05 PMSeattle International Travel ExaminerAnnika Hipple

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How much do you know about the rivers of the world? Test your knowledge with the quiz below. Scroll down carefully. Answers appear below the photo. 

1. What is the longest river in the world?
2. What is the world's largest river by volume?
3. The ancient civilization of Mesopotamia arose in the region between which two rivers?
4. Which major river flows through southern China, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam?
5. Which river forms the border between ZImbabwe and Zambia?
6. In ancient times, Ostia was the major port for the city of Rome. It was located on the coast of Italy at the mouth of which river?
7. The longest river system in North America is made up of which two rivers?
8. What is the name of the controversial dam that was recently constructed on the Yangtze River?
9. Buenos Aires is located on the estuary of which river?
10. Lake Nasser was formed by the construction of which major dam?
11. Which famous Swedish tourist attraction is rebuilt each year with material from the Torne River?
12. Which river forms the natural outlet for the Great Lakes?
13. The Napo, Xingu, and Putumayo are all tributaries of which major river?
14. More than 4,000 years ago an advanced civilization flourished in the valley of which major river on the Indian subcontinent?
15. The Irish capital, Dublin, sits on the banks of which river?
16. Which African river is the eighth-longest in the world but the second-largest in terms of volume?
17. The town of Berwick at the mouth of this river changed hands between England and Scotland 13 times during the Middle Ages, before finally becoming part of England in 1482. What is the name of the river?
18. What is the longest river in Europe?
19. How many countries does the Danube River flow through?
20. In 49 B.C. Julius Caesar and his army famously crossed a small stream that marked the boundary between Italy proper and its province of Cisalpine Gaul. Crossing the boundary with an army was considered illegal and committed Caesar to a course of confrontation with his enemies in Rome. What was the name of the river?

1. Though some people believe the Amazon should hold the title, the Nile has traditionally been considered the longest river in the world. The dispute arises because of difficulties in determining where a river actually begins. The length of the Nile is usually recorded as 4,135 to 4,184 miles (6,650-6,695 kilometers). Estimates for the Amazon range between 3,980 and 4,049 miles (6,400 and 6,516 km).
2. The Amazon is the world's largest river by volume. No dispute here!
3. The ancient civilization of Mesopotamia arose in the region between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
4. The Mekong River flows through southern China, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam?
5. The Zambezi River forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia.
6. The ancient Roman port of Ostia was located at the mouth of the Tiber River (now known as the Tevere).
7. The longest river system in North America is made up of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.
8. The construction of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River was completed in 2008. The project was the source of much controversy due to its impacts on the environment and local people. Many scenic and important natural and cultural sites have been flooded.
9. Buenos Aires is located on the estuary of the Rio de la Plata (often called the River Plate in English).
10. Lake Nasser was formed by the construction of the Aswan High Dam on the Nile River between 1958 and 1970.
11. The Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, is rebuilt each winter with ice harvested from the Torne River during the previous spring.
12. The Saint Lawrence River connected the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It originates at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, forms part of the boundary between New York State and the province of Ontario, and continues past Montreal and Quebec City before emptying into the ocean at the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the largest estuary in the world.
13. The Napo, Xingu, and Putumayo are all tributaries of the Amazon River.
14. The Indus Valley Civilization flourished more than 4,000 years ago around the Indus River, in modern Pakistan.
15. The Irish capital, Dublin, sits on the banks of the River Liffey.
16. The Congo River is the eighth-longest in the world and the second-largest in terms of volume.
17. The town of Berwick-upon-Tweed at the mouth of the Tweed River changed hands between England and Scotland 13 times during the Middle Ages, before finally becoming part of England in 1482.
18. The longest river in Europe is the Volga River in Russia.
19. The Danube River flows through nine countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. It also flows through four capital cities (more than any other river in the world): Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade.
20. In 49 B.C. Julius Caesar and his army crossed the small Rubicon River and entered Italy proper, an act that was considered treasonous and which plunged Rome into civil war. The phrase "crossing the Rubicon" has come to mean "passing the point of no return." 

For more info: Travel Trivia appears every week on Mondays. Click here for more quizzes.

Photo: The Nile River between Luxor and Aswan.