Random Mode Keyboard shortcut: Command/Ctrl + Shift + R
thumbnail

Countries Surrounding Istanbul

What countries would reach first if you traveled in a straight line in every direction from Istanbul?
Excluding Turkey itself
Quiz by relessness
Rate:
Last updated: December 11, 2017
You have not attempted this quiz yet.
First submittedDecember 11, 2017
Times taken16,878
Average score92.3%
Rating4.89
4:00
Enter country here
0
 / 13 guessed
The quiz is paused. You have remaining.
Scoring
You scored / = %
This beats or equals % of test takers also scored 100%
The average score is
Your high score is
Your fastest time is
Keep scrolling down for answers and more stats ...
Bearing
Country
353°–6°
Romania
6°–26°
Ukraine
26°–70°
Russia
70°–84°
Georgia
84°–90°
Armenia
Bearing
Country
90°–102°
Iran
102°–105°
Iraq
105°–136°
Syria
136°–138°
Lebanon
Bearing
Country
138°–156°
Cyprus
156°–187°
Egypt
187°–290°
Greece
290°–353°
Bulgaria
+2
Level 24
Dec 10, 2017
missed romania
+8
Level 76
Mar 15, 2024
Should've taken a bearing of 353°–6°, you would've hit it straight on.
+3
Level 80
Dec 10, 2017
Got all :D
+2
Level 59
Dec 11, 2017
Missed only 5! Awesome quiz!
+4
Level 67
Jan 27, 2021
Azerbaijan is so close!
+1
Level 46
Mar 19, 2024
huh
+7
Level 75
Jul 11, 2022
Excellent series, nominated.

I was surprised by the lack of Israel on this one, so I checked the map and it's pretty pleasing how it's perfectly blocked by Cyprus.

+4
Level 82
Jan 27, 2024
Libya is somehow also blocked by Crete and other islands
+1
Level 60
Mar 16, 2024
That feels like political commentary.
+7
Level 76
Jan 27, 2024
Perhaps the instructions should specify that only countries are relevant that can be reached in a straight line *by boat/ship*, and that you cannot cross other countries along the way. Otherwise, every country in the world could be reached directly in some way or another.
+6
Level 83
Jan 29, 2024
The quiz description does specifically state that its asking for the countries you would reach *first*
+17
Level 82
Jan 30, 2024
The other day a friend visiting my house asked, "where does this door lead?", pointing to my closet door.

Unhesitatingly I responded, "Peru". If he wanted me to answer "To my linen closet", he should have specified that he meant where does the door go without crossing any other walls, oceans, or countries.

Come on, dude.

+1
Level 76
Jan 28, 2024
So Israel is protected by Cyprus? I suppose NHL defensemen would consider that perfect position for shot-blocking.
+1
Level 92
Feb 12, 2024
It is possible to move in a straight line from Istanbul to Israel without crossing Cyprus, but you'd have to cross Egypt.
+5
Level 60
Mar 15, 2024
don't know how to read coords so just started listing countries around Turkey lmao, works too
+1
Level 82
Mar 15, 2024
Yeah, I didn't really read the directions properly and was confused that Moldova wasn't there, but got them all eventually anyway.
+4
Level 26
Mar 15, 2024
maybe this quiz was made solely because of how nicely Cyprus blocks Israel from istanbul
+1
Level 43
Mar 15, 2024
Great quiz
+1
Level 46
Mar 15, 2024
Uh oh, looks like your map is saying that Crimea belongs to occupants
+2
Level 73
Mar 15, 2024
Can someone please break down the methodology of this quiz for me? I really can't wrap my head around it. For example, I don't understand why Romania beats Bulgaria and Greece by a huge margain. Greece is clearly the closest country to Istanbul, as the crow flies. Are sea routes faster than land routes? Are these countries not ordered by distance to istanbul? What do the bearings mean? Help!
+1
Level 51
Mar 16, 2024
Yes please! They keep saying Cyprus blocks Israel but I'm very confused. I'll leave my comment here so I can get notified when an explanation is made
+1
Level 60
Mar 16, 2024
Unfortunately, there are no notifications for replies on JetPunk. But here's my explanation:

The countries are not ordered by distance. Imagine you are in Istanbul, and you can travel on water or land. If you walked in a straight line in ANY direction, then these are the countries you will reach first. Bearings are the direction you would travel in to reach it. So Romania isn't "beating" Bulgaria and Greece, but they are all accessible from Istanbul, and 353°–6° are the angles you could travel at to reach Romania, where 0° is traveling straight up. Does that make more sense?

+2
Level 63
Mar 19, 2024
A circle is 360° so if you stand in Istanbul (I guess in the center) and turn around once you will pass every degree from 1 to 360. If you stop at 1° (which I assume is the very North of the circle) and walk/swim until you get to another country this is where you'll land.