Radio Puzzle: Geographic Names in Clues

Listeners tuning into KIOS-FM this week face a geographic guessing game. The on-air challenge presents twelve clues, each describing a specific location in the United States. The answers must be two-word names for places, which can include cities, states, rivers, or mountains. The puzzle follows a strict rule where the initial letters of the clue words match the initial letters of the answer. For example, the clue Florida Locale leads to Fort Lauderdale.

The current list of riddles includes descriptions such as Northeast Haven, Pioneers' Pinnacle, and Storied Fire. Other prompts reference industrial and natural features like Molten Lava, Oil Capital, and Hydroelectric Development. One entry, Dry (very!), points to an arid region, while Port Honolulu asks for a specific harbor name. The puzzle also includes Engineered Channel and Health Spa. A separate question labeled Minnesota's Sizable Population requires a three-word answer.

The show recently recognized Deborah Freedman of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the winner of the previous week's contest. That earlier puzzle asked participants to identify two companies with logos that start with lowercase letters and contain a capital B. The correct response was eBay and jetBlue. Freedman was selected from the pool of correct submissions to compete on the air.

Participants in the current round must submit their solutions by Thursday, November 5 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. The show instructs listeners to include a phone number where they can be reached. Those whose answers are chosen will have the opportunity to play the puzzle live. The broadcast is part of the NPR network's programming for the date.

The structure of the puzzle relies on wordplay and geographic knowledge rather than obscure trivia. Each clue is designed to be solvable by a general audience familiar with American place names. The format remains consistent with the station's recurring Sunday feature.