# Ask the Geography Maven **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 8, 2000, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970 "2000-07-08T19:09:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970/21 "2000-07-08T23:29:10Z")
Mattk: Stay out of this. The capitals of Bolivia are La Paz and Sucre. What is the capital of Papua New Guinea? ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2000, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970/22 "2000-07-08T23:30:59Z")
Well, that’s me told. ---
**Author:** ![BarnStorm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@BarnStorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnStorm)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970/23 "2000-07-09T03:30:18Z")
What countries are completely surrounded by another country. (Not like Monaco, where you can get there freely by boat, just ones where you’re at the mercy of a singe neighbor.) I know of three, but I’m betting there are more. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970/24 "2000-07-09T04:18:54Z")
Let’s see. The Vatican, San Marino, and Lesotho are all that are coming to mind at the moment. I think that’s it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970/25 "2000-07-09T05:08:28Z")
I believe the Independent Order of the Knights of Malta (or whatever the official name is – I didn’t look since we’re doing top of the head stuff) would also qualify. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970/26 "2000-07-09T05:16:05Z")
What’s the nearest country’s capital city to Washington D.C. after Ottawa? ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970/27 "2000-07-09T05:20:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rysdad \* > \*\*What’s the nearest country’s capital city to Washington D.C. after Ottawa? \*\* Havana? ---
**Author:** ![BarnStormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f8ce5/32.png) [@BarnStormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnStormer)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970/28 "2000-07-09T05:44:07Z")
That’s the three I’ve been to. Lesotho is the only one I’d bother going back to. A true mountain kingdom, except for the one modern hotel/casino. ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970/29 "2000-07-09T14:45:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rysdad \* > \*\*What’s the nearest country’s capital city to Washington D.C. after Ottawa? \*\* Nassau, Bahamas? ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970/30 "2000-07-09T15:35:28Z")
Let’s make well and sure of this. This is a list of the landlocked countries of the world: Afghanistan (Pak. Iran Turkm. Uz. Taj. China) Andorra (Spain, France) Armenia (Georgia, Azer., Iran, Turkey) Austria (Germ. Czech. Slovak. Hung. Sloven. It. Switz. Liech.) Belarus (Lith, Latv, Russia, Ukr, Poland) Bhutan (China, India) Bolivia (Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina) Botswana (S. Afr., Namib, Zambia, Zimb.) Burkina Faso (Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, C.d’I.) Burundi (Rwanda, Tanzania, D.R. Congo) Central African Republic (Camer., Chad, Sudan, both Congos) Czech Rep. (Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Austria) **Holy See/Vatican City (Italy)** Hungary (Aust. Sloven. Croat. Serb. Rom. Ukr. Slovak.) Kazakhstan (Russia, China, Kyrg., Uzb., Turkm.) Kyrgyzstan (Kaz., China, Taj., Uzb.) Laos (Viet., Camb., Thai., Burma, China) **Lesotho (South Africa)** Liechstenstein (Switzerland, Austria) Luxembourg (Belgium, France, Germany) FYRO Macedonia (Albania, Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria) Malawi (Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania) Mali (Guinea Senegal Mauritania Alg. Niger B.F. C.d’I.) Moldova (Ukraine, Romania) Mongolia (China, Russia) Nepal (China, India) Niger (Algeria, Libya, Chad, Nigeria, Benin, B.F., Mali) Paraguay (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil) Rwanda (D.R. Congo, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda) **San Marino (Italy)** Serbia\* (Hung. Rom. Croat. Bulg. FYROM, Alb. Monten.\* B.H.) Slovakia (Czech Rep., Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Austria) Swaziland (South Africa, Mozambique) Switzerland (France, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Italy) Tajikistan (Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Afghanistan) Turkmenistan (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran) Uganda (Tanzania, Rwanda, D.R. Congo, Sudan, Kenya) Uzbekistan (Kazakh. Kyrgyz. Tajik. Afghan. Turkmen.) Zambia (D.R.Congo Tanz. Malawi Moz. Zimb. Bot. Namib. Ang.) Zimbabwe (Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana) \*note: this listing depends on whether you consider Serbia and Montenegro unified or not. So, yes. Only three. Quiz: In this list, there are two countries which are doubly landlocked, i.e. landlocked by landlocked countries. Which are they? ---
**Author:** ![Cumulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Cumulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumulus)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970/31 "2000-07-09T17:11:45Z")
Liechstenstein is one. ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970/32 "2000-07-09T17:22:28Z")
What are the only three U.S. states which have borders which are parts of a radius? ---
**Author:** ![Cumulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Cumulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumulus)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970/33 "2000-07-09T17:28:03Z")
Delaware and Pennsylvania are the only two I can think of. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970/34 "2000-07-09T17:40:22Z")
Regarding the Capital nearest Washington D.C. other than Ottawa… Havana is 1,132 miles. Nassau is 955 miles. Hamilton, Bermuda is 826 miles. (I know. Bermuda is a British territory. But, still…) ---
**Author:** ![soulsling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@soulsling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulsling)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970/35 "2000-07-09T18:11:33Z")
who developed an accurate way to measure longitude for seafaring? ---
**Author:** ![Cumulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Cumulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumulus)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970/36 "2000-07-09T18:15:57Z")
Originally, Tobias Mayer. ---
**Author:** ![soulsling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@soulsling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulsling)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970/37 "2000-07-09T18:17:31Z")
that doesn’t fit. i’m doing a crossword. someone else? ---
**Author:** ![Cumulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Cumulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumulus)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970/38 "2000-07-09T18:20:19Z")
John Harrison? ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970/39 "2000-07-09T21:31:15Z")
Yes, it was John Harrison (according to the book, Longitude, at any rate). BTW – ref. land-locked countries. Since we are allowed to use resourced now I tracked down this from Britannica" > [@](#): > > Although the order no longer exercises territorial rule, it issues passports, and its sovereign status is recognized by the Holy See and some other Roman Catholic states. It was also a participant in the Convention of Geneva (1864)“on the same footing as the great powers.” (that from the _Catholic Encyclopedia_) ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970/40 "2000-07-09T22:04:29Z")
John Harrison did what?!! He built a chronometer! Saying he developed a system to determine longitude is completely inaccurate. He developed the chronometer which facilitated the chore. That’s all. (BTW, that book, Longitude,… I didn’t think much of it) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-geography-maven/24970.md?page=3)