Quests

Six small puzzles to solve with PyWorldAtlas. Each one names the call that helps. Try it yourself first, in the Playground or your own Python, then open the answer to check.

Every quest starts from the same three lines:

>>> from datetime import date
>>> from pyworldatlas import Atlas
>>> atlas = Atlas()

1. The long way to Vienna

How many borders do you cross to travel by land from Portugal to Austria?

Hint: atlas.border_path()

Show the answer

>>> print(atlas.border_path("Portugal", "Austria"))
Portugal → Spain → France → Germany → Austria (4 border crossings)

2. Next-door capitals

Which capital city is closest to Vienna, and how far away is it?

Hint: atlas.capitals_near()

Show the answer

>>> print(atlas.capitals_near("Vienna", limit=1)[0])
Bratislava, Slovakia · 55 km

3. The longest day

On 21 June, how much longer is the day in Reykjavik than in Lima?

Hint: atlas.sun() with a latitude and longitude

Show the answer

>>> reykjavik = atlas.sun((64.15, -21.94), date(2026, 6, 21))
>>> lima = atlas.sun((-12.05, -77.04), date(2026, 6, 21))
>>> reykjavik.daylight, lima.daylight
('21 h 09 min', '11 h 25 min')
>>> round(reykjavik.day_length_hours - lima.day_length_hours, 1)
9.7

Almost ten hours more. In June it is summer north of the equator and winter south of it.

4. Top of the Alps

Which country in Western Europe has the highest point, and how high is it?

Hint: atlas.rank()

Show the answer

>>> print(atlas.rank("highest_elevation", region="Western Europe", limit=1)[0])
#1 France: 4,810 m

That is Mont Blanc, on the border of France and Italy.

5. Islands only

How many countries and areas in Oceania have no land border at all?

Hint: atlas.countries() with land_borders=False

Show the answer

>>> len(atlas.countries(continent="Oceania", land_borders=False))
28

6. Dig straight down

If you dug a tunnel straight through the Earth from Madrid, which country would you come out in?

Hint: atlas.antipode() finds the antipode

Show the answer

>>> spot = atlas.antipode("Madrid")
>>> spot.nearest[0].place.country_code
'NZ'

New Zealand. Most of the land on Earth sits opposite ocean, so few cities have a city on the other side.

Want more? The Cheat sheet lists the most useful calls, and atlas.quiz("capitals") asks five questions at a time.