Geography · General Awareness

World Geographical Records

2,791 Questions

World geographical records encompass the extremes of physical geography, including the largest lakes, islands, oceans, and trenches. These factual questions test knowledge of global superlatives and major geographical features. This topic is a staple in general studies sections of UPSC, state PSC, and SSC exams.

Largest global islandsDeepest ocean pointsMajor world canalsGlobal polar regionsLargest rivers and reefs

World Geographical Records Questions

Multiple choice

What is the largest geothermal power plant in the world?

  1. The Geysers Geothermal Power Complex in California, USA

  2. The Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Station in Iceland

  3. The Olkaria Geothermal Power Station in Kenya

  4. The Cerro Prieto Geothermal Power Station in Mexico
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Geysers Geothermal Power Complex in California, USA is the largest geothermal power plant in the world. It has a total installed capacity of 1,517 megawatts (MW) and generates enough electricity to power over 750,000 homes.

Multiple choice

What is the largest ocean on Earth?

  1. Pacific Ocean

  2. Atlantic Ocean

  3. Indian Ocean

  4. Arctic Ocean
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean on Earth.

Multiple choice

What is the largest Buddhist monastery in the world?

  1. Sera Monastery

  2. Drepung Monastery

  3. Ganden Monastery

  4. Tawang Monastery
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Sera Monastery in Lhasa, Tibet, is the largest Buddhist monastery in the world, housing over 6,000 monks.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the largest canyon in the solar system?

  1. Valles Marineris

  2. Grand Canyon

  3. Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon

  4. Colca Canyon
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Valles Marineris is a canyon located on Mars and is the largest known canyon in the solar system.

Multiple choice

What is the largest ice sheet in the world?

  1. Greenland Ice Sheet

  2. Antarctic Ice Sheet

  3. Patagonian Ice Sheet

  4. Baffin Island Ice Sheet
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Antarctic Ice Sheet is the largest ice sheet in the world. It covers an area of over 14 million square kilometers.

Multiple choice

What is the largest valley glacier in the world?

  1. Siachen Glacier

  2. Fedchenko Glacier

  3. Khumbu Glacier

  4. Baltoro Glacier
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Siachen Glacier is the largest valley glacier in the world. It is located in the Karakoram mountain range in Pakistan.

Multiple choice

What is the fastest moving glacier in the world?

  1. Jakobshavn Isbrae

  2. Petermann Glacier

  3. Kangerdlugssuaq Glacier

  4. Helheim Glacier
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Jakobshavn Isbrae is the fastest moving glacier in the world. It is located in Greenland and flows at a speed of over 10 kilometers per year.

Multiple choice

What is the oldest ice in the world?

  1. Antarctic Ice Sheet

  2. Greenland Ice Sheet

  3. Patagonian Ice Sheet

  4. Baffin Island Ice Sheet
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The oldest ice in the world is found in the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Some of the ice in the Antarctic Ice Sheet is over 2 million years old.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a major ocean current?

  1. Gulf Stream

  2. Kuroshio Current

  3. El Niño-Southern Oscillation

  4. Agulhas Current
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

El Niño-Southern Oscillation is a climate pattern, not an ocean current.

Multiple choice

What is the highest commercial bungee jumping platform in the world?

  1. Kawarau Bridge, New Zealand

  2. Bloukrans Bridge, South Africa

  3. Europabrücke, Austria

  4. Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, India
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Bloukrans Bridge in South Africa holds the record for the highest commercial bungee jumping platform, with a drop of 216 meters (709 feet).

Multiple choice

Where can you find the world's longest zip line?

  1. Jebel Jais, United Arab Emirates

  2. Dragon Breath Zipline, Peru

  3. Sochi Skypark, Russia

  4. Zipline at Copper Mountain, Colorado
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Jebel Jais zip line in the United Arab Emirates is the world's longest, stretching for 2.83 kilometers (1.76 miles).

Multiple choice

What is the name of the world's largest surfable wave?

  1. Jaws, Maui, Hawaii

  2. Cortes Bank, California, United States

  3. Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania, Australia

  4. Peahi, Maui, Hawaii
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Peahi, also known as 'Jaws,' is considered the world's largest surfable wave, with waves reaching heights of up to 30 feet (9 meters).

Multiple choice

Where can you find the world's highest bungee jumping bridge?

  1. Royal Gorge Bridge, Colorado, United States

  2. Europabrücke, Austria

  3. Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, India

  4. Verzasca Dam, Switzerland
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Verzasca Dam in Switzerland is the world's highest bungee jumping bridge, with a drop of 220 meters (720 feet).

Multiple choice

What is the name of the world's largest cave system?

  1. Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, United States

  2. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam

  3. Waitomo Caves, New Zealand

  4. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, United States
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is the world's largest cave system, with over 400 miles (640 kilometers) of explored passages.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the world's highest waterfall?

  1. Angel Falls, Venezuela

  2. Victoria Falls, Zambia and Zimbabwe

  3. Niagara Falls, Canada and United States

  4. Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Angel Falls in Venezuela is the world's highest waterfall, with a drop of 979 meters (3,212 feet).