Ready for the Travel Trivia Showdown

Tonight the Tripping team will be challenging another team to an intense, winner-take-all game of travel trivia at a local pub - the hub of all enlightenment. In preparation for this epic showdown, I have done some research.

How strong is your travel trivia knowledge? If you know the correct response to every question, email me and I will recruit you for our next travel trivia showdown.

1. How often is the Eiffel Tower painted?

Every seven years. And get this - it's hand-painted! The last time the Eiffel Tower got a paint job? In 2009. The work was done by painters from Romania and Greece, using a special paint from Norway - a truly multi-national endeavor.

2. What city is sinking 10 times faster than is Venice?

Built on a soft lake bed, Mexico City is sinking faster than Venice, at 10 cm a year on average. Yipe. The city's famous Angel of Independence monument already had to have 23 extra steps added to it.

3. What is the deepest part of the world's oceans?

The Mariana Trench, in the western Pacific Ocean. According to Wiki, "If Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth at 8,848 metres (29,029 ft), was set in the deepest part of the Mariana Trench, there would be 2,076 metres (6,811 ft) of water left above it." Oh my god. It's deep enough to swallow Mount Everest plus the massive granite dome called the Liberty Cap shown here to the left of Nevada Fall in Yosemite National Park. Yikes!

4. What is the official language of Suriname?

The smallest independent country in South America, Suriname is one of the most multilingual societies in the world. The official language, however is Dutch. More than 60% of the population speak Dutch as their mother tongue.

5. What is the original name of the city most of us now simply refer to as Buenos Aires, Argentina?

Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Aire, Argentina. It translates to Our Lady Saint Mary of the Good Air.

6. What country has more volcanoes than any other?

Indonesia. The world has 850 known active volcanoes, and 167 of them are there.

Alright, wish us luck. I hope that at least one of these questions will be asked - and that I remember the answer!

Sources:
http://a-night-in-paris.com/facts-about-the-eiffel-tower-paris-2.html
http://www.rphs.devisland.net/zach/funfacts.htm
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977643004
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariana_Trench
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suriname
http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/c16qGEX/Tuesday-Travel-Trivia-Week-79
http://www.triviaplaying.com/17_Travel_Q_.htm
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/travel-tips-and-articles/22323