National Parks of the World - An HF Quiz

This national park contains the largest salt pan in Africa. It is the park’s most distinctive feature and is visible from space! Where would you be?

A) Kruger
B) Etosha
C) Royal Natal
D) Serengeti

B) Etosha

The name Etosha roughly translates as ‘Great White Place’ in the Ovambo language. The park’s waterholes attract a wide variety of plains game including zebra, black rhino, elephant and giraffe.

The USA’s third largest national park is best known for its waterfalls, towering granite monoliths and giant sequoia trees but which is it?

A) Yewllowstone
B) Canyonlands
C) Yosemite
D) Sequoia

C) Yosemite

El Capitan and Half Dome are two of the most famous monoliths in Yosemite. The park has the highest waterfall in North America and is also one of the few places in the USA where you can see a rainbow (or moonbow) at night.

Ireland’s first national park was established in 1932. It encompasses stretches of ancient oak, yew and wet woodlands, but where is it?

A) Killarney
B) Ballycroy
C) Glenveagh
D) Burren

A) Killarney

The park was donated by the Muckross Estate. The ecological importance of the landscapes it contains were recognised in 1981 when the park was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The park is also home to Ireland’s only population of wild native red deer.

The largest and oldest of the four national parks in the Canary Islands encompasses a dormant volcano that's the highest peak in Spain and one of the highest volcanic peaks in the world. Which is it?

A) Timanfaya
B) Sierra Nevada
C) Picos de Europa
D) Teide

D) Teide

Teide on the island of Tenerife has a stark landscape of craters, ash and rivers of solidified lava. The volcano is home to an endemic species of violet that is Spain’s highest-growing flowering plant.

This Croatian national park is noted for its many magnificent waterfalls and the 14th century Visovac Monastery, which is home to one of the three remaining first edition copies of Aesop’s Fables. Which is it?

A) Plitvice Lakes
B) Krka
C) Mljet
D) Kornati

B) Krka

The most well known of Krka's many waterfalls is the Skradinski Buk fall – Europe’s largest travertine cascade. The park is also famous for the large number of wild lavender plants that grow here.

Located in southern Madagascar, this park is dominated by a large sandstone massif. It's home to ring-tailed lemurs and Verreaux's sifaka, famous for the skipping, sideways ‘dance’ but where would you see them?

A) Ranomafana
B) Isalo
C) Andasibe Mantadia
D) Amber Mountain

B) Isalo

Isalo is dominated by a large sandstone massif. Many people hike to the Piscine Naturelle – a natural pool fed by a waterfall. The park has traditionally been used by the Bara people to bury their dead in the many mountain caves.

This park in New Zealand is centred around three active volcanoes; one lends its name to the park and another (Mt Ngauruhoe) was used as Mt Doom in the Lord of the Rings films. But where would yolu find Frodo and co?

A) Tongariro
B) Abel Tasman
C) Mount Cook
D) Whanaganui

A) Tongariro

Tongariro was New Zealand’s first national park and was designated as such in 1894. It is famous for having what is purported to be one of the most popular day hikes in the world, the Tongariro Crossing.

Slovenia’s largest protected area is also the only national park in the country. It takes its name from Slovenia’s highest mountain, which is in the Julian Alps. But where would you be exploring?

A) Paklencia
B) Sutjeska
C) Durmitor
D) Triglav

D) Triglav

Triglav is a beautiful area of lakes, mountains and forest that is popular with hikers. Two of its most visited areas are Lake Bohinj and the Vintgar Gorge.

This South African national park has many fabulous trails, which take hikers into the heart of the Drakensberg Mountains to see mighty cliffs and waterfalls. But where are you walking?

A) Karoo
B) Royal Natal
C) Namaqua
D) Marakele

B) Royal Natal

The most notable features in the Royal Natal park are the Drakensberg Amphitheatre – a 500m high wall of rock – and the Tugela Falls – the world’s second highest waterfall.

Founded in 1959, this  wild park in the Chilean part of Patagonia encompasses mountains, glaciers, lakes, fjords and rivers but is most famous for the distinctive 'Three Towers'. Which is it?

A) Los Glaciares
B) Perito Moreno
C) Torres del Paine
D) Tierra del Fuego

C) Torres del Paine

The three granite peaks, known as the ‘Three Towers’ sit at the heart of Torres del Paine. The park is also famous for the enormous Grey Glacier, part of the Southern Patagonian Icefield, which regularly calves icebergs into the lake of the same name.

This national park in Alberta, Canada was established in 1907 and is the largest in the Canadian Rockies. It is home to Mount Columbia, Mount Edith Cavell and Maligne Canyon, but where would you see them?

A) Jasper
B) Banff
C) Yoho
D) Glacier

A) Jasper

Jasper covers a large area of mountains, lakes and forest and well as the Columbia Icefield – the largest icefield in the Rocky Mountains.

Located on the South Pacific coast in Costa Rica, this area was designated as a Marine National Park in 1989 and is named after the humpback whales that migrate past here. Which is it?

A) Marino Ballena
B) Arenal
C) Manuel Antonio
D) Tortuguero

A) Marino Ballena

The humpback whales which migrate past Marino Ballena each year to mate. Other species to be found here included Hawksbill turtles, green marine iguanas and bottle-nosed dolphins.

This national park is home to Ecuador’s most active volcano, which is also the country’s second highest peak, known for its classic perfect cone shape and symmetrical snow cap. But which is it?

A) Arenal
B) Cotopaxi
C) Sangay
D) Yasuni

B) Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi is also home to a wide variety of wildlife including Andean condors, wild horses and various species of hummingbird.

This park protects one of the oldest deserts in the world and includes the enormous sand dunes of Sossusvlei, the salt pan of Dead Vlei and the 30-metre deep Sesriem Canyon. Which is it?

A) Mudumu
B) Bwabwata
C) Sperrgebiet
D) Namib Naukluft

D) Namib Naukluft

Namib Naukluft is also home to Sandwich Harbour, a lagoon surrounded by dunes that supports large numbers of flamingos, pelicans and cormorants.

The name of this southern Indian national park is derived from two words in the Kannada language – snake and streams - but it is also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park. Which is it?

A) Ranthambore
B) Kanha
C) Nagarhole
D) Bandhavgarh

C) Nagarhole

The park protects an area of forest and open grassland and is blessed with many streams and waterfalls. Animals in the Nagarhole national park include tiger, sloth bear, wild dogs and leopard.