Geography

The toponymic suffix -hou (from Old Norse holmr) -hou A toponymic suffix in Norman and Channel Islands place names derived from Old Norse holmr, meaning a small island; appears as -hou and related forms and survives in local geography…

Amran Governorate — overview, geography, history and contemporary issues 'Amran Governorate Amran Governorate in northern Yemen: an overview of its geography, administration, economy, history, cultural features and contemporary challenges.

100 Landscapes of Japan (Heisei period) A modern compilation of one hundred scenic sites across Japan assembled during the Heisei era (1989–2019), highlighting natural beauty, cultural landscapes, and places of tourist a…

100 Landscapes of Japan (Shōwa period) A Shōwa-era compilation of Japan's most celebrated scenic sites, describing its purpose, selection approach, typical types of landscapes, cultural importance and relation to later…

1989 Atlantic hurricane season Summary of the 1989 Atlantic hurricane season: timeline, storm statistics, major storms (notably Hurricane Hugo), impacts, and meteorological context.

37th parallel north A circle of latitude 37° north of the equator that crosses multiple continents and oceans; notable for its climatological, navigational and astronomical significance.

40th Parallel North Circle of latitude 40° north of the equator, crossing Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, the Pacific and Atlantic, and North America; notable for temperate climates, seasonal dayligh…

Aachen (district) The rural and suburban district surrounding the independent city of Aachen in western North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, known for cross-border ties, mixed economy and historical lin…

Aare (Aar): Switzerland's longest river wholly within its borders Aar The Aare (Aar) is a major Swiss river rising in the Bernese Alps, flowing through lakes and the capital Bern before joining the Rhine. It is notable for hydropower, recreation and…

Aarau District — Administrative district of the canton of Aargau, Switzerland Aarau District Overview of Aarau District, an administrative district in canton Aargau, Switzerland, centered on the city of Aarau. Explore its municipalities, administrative functions, recent bo…

Aarberg District (Canton of Bern) Aarberg District Former administrative district in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, centered on the town of Aarberg; includes its geography, municipalities, history and local significance.

Aarbergen — municipality in Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis, Hesse, Germany Aarbergen Aarbergen is a municipality in the Rheingau‑Taunus-Kreis of Hesse, Germany. It lies in the Taunus foothills and combines rural character with commuter links to larger towns, offeri…

Aargau: Swiss canton on the lower Aare Aargau Aargau is a German-speaking canton in northern Switzerland on the lower Aare. Its capital is Aarau; the region is known for rivers, castles, industry, thermal baths and a history s…

Aarwangen District (Amtsbezirk Aarwangen) Aarwangen District Former administrative district in the northeast of the canton of Bern, Switzerland; comprises 25 municipalities and covers about 154 km². Contains towns, rural areas and historical…

Aast, Pyrénées-Atlantiques Aast is a small rural commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of southwestern France, noted for its compact village, agricultural setting and proximity to the Pyrenees footh…

Abaco Islands (northern Bahamas) Abaco Islands Chain of islands and cays in the northern Bahamas, known for sailing, beaches, mangroves, boatbuilding and protected marine parks; includes Great Abaco, Little Abaco and many small…

Abbottabad District Abbottabad District is a hilly district in Hazara Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, with Abbottabad city as its administrative centre. It is known for colonial origins, educa…

Abercrombie River (New South Wales) Abercrombie River A 130 km inland river in New South Wales, Australia, joining the Lachlan at Wyangala; noted for rugged gorges, national park habitat, Wiradjuri and Gundungara heritage, and a 19th‑…

Abercrombie River National Park — river valleys, wildlife and open forest Abercrombie River National Park Protected national park in central New South Wales conserving river valleys, open eucalypt forest, riverside Casuarinas and wildlife including platypus, rakali and several macropod…

Aberdeen, South Dakota: overview, history and community profile Aberdeen, South Dakota Comprehensive overview of Aberdeen, a regional hub in northeastern South Dakota: history, institutions, economy, transportation, climate and cultural life, with links to official a…

Aberdeenshire: geography, history, economy and administrative distinctions Aberdeenshire Northeast Scotland area where a historic county and a modern council area share a name but different boundaries. Features North Sea coast, farmland, uplands, energy and food indust…

Aberfan Aberfan, a village in South Wales, is known for the 1966 colliery spoil tip disaster that killed 144 people. The event led to a public inquiry, changes in waste-tip regulation, and…

Abkhazia: geography, political status, and modern history Abkhazia Abkhazia is a territory on the Black Sea with a disputed status: a de facto independent republic with limited recognition and de jure regarded by most states as part of Georgia.

Abos (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) — Commune in southwestern France Abos, Pyrénées-Atlantiques Abos is a small rural commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of southwestern France, historically part of Béarn, with agricultural roots, local landmarks, and proximity to…

Abra (province) — landlocked province in the Cordillera, Luzon, Philippines Abra (province) Abra is a landlocked province in the Cordillera Administrative Region of Luzon, Philippines. Its capital is Bangued and it is known for mountainous landscapes, indigenous culture,…

Abruzzo: geography, culture, history and highlights of the Italian region Abruzzo Abruzzo is an Italian region on the Adriatic coast known for its mountains, national parks, pastoral traditions, medieval towns, cuisine and a mix of coastal and alpine landscapes.

Absheron Economic Region — Azerbaijan's eastern industrial and energy hub Absheron Economic Region Absheron Economic Region occupies eastern Azerbaijan around Baku and Sumgait. Centered on oil, gas and petrochemicals, it includes Absheron and Khizi districts and combines industr…

Abu Dhabi: Capital City and Leading Emirate of the United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and the principal city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. A political, economic and cultural center located on a T-shaped island in t…

Abu Dhabi (emirate) The largest of the UAE's seven emirates, seat of the federal capital. Known for vast oil reserves, desert and coastal landscapes, the city of Abu Dhabi and the oases of Al Ain.

Abukuma River (Abukuma-gawa) Abukuma River Major river in northeastern Japan. Originating in the Nasu Mountains, the Abukuma River runs ~234 km to the Pacific, draining a 5,390 km² basin that supports about 1.2 million peop…

Aceh: northernmost province of Sumatra with distinct history and resources Aceh Aceh, the northern tip of Sumatra in Indonesia, is known for its strong Islamic heritage, special autonomy including local implementation of Sharia, significant oil and gas resourc…

Achaea: region of the northern Peloponnese Achaea Achaea is a historical and modern region on the northern Peloponnese in Greece, centered on the port city of Patras. It combines coastal plains, mountains, classical history, and c…

Achham District — geography, people, history and development Achham District Achham District in western Nepal: overview of its location, administration, geography, economy, history, and contemporary challenges and development.

Achterhoek: region, landscape and culture in eastern Gelderland Achterhoek Achterhoek is a largely rural region in eastern Gelderland, Netherlands, known for its Low Saxon dialect, rolling farmland, historic towns (Zutphen, Doetinchem, Winterswijk) and cr…

Achterhooks: the Low Saxon dialect of the Achterhoek Achterhooks Achterhooks (Achterhoeks) is a Low Saxon dialect spoken in the Achterhoek area of eastern Gelderland, the Netherlands. This article covers its features, history, distribution and c…

Aconcagua: Highest Peak in the Americas Aconcagua Aconcagua is the tallest mountain in the Western Hemisphere (6,962 m / 22,841 ft). Located in the Andes of Argentina, it is a major mountaineering objective and one of the Seven Su…

Aconcagua River — river of central Chile Aconcagua River Aconcagua River flows east–west across Chile's Valparaíso Region from the high Andes to the Pacific, supplying water for cities and agriculture and notable for its name's link to t…

Acre (unit of area) Acre An acre is a traditional English unit of land area used in the US and some Commonwealth countries. This article explains its size, history, common conversions, and typical uses.

Acre (Brazilian state) Acre (state) Acre is a northwestern Brazilian state largely covered by the Amazon rainforest, bordering Peru and Bolivia. Its economy blends extractive activities, small-scale agriculture and c…

Adamawa Region (Cameroon): geography, history, people and parks Adamawa Region Highland region of central Cameroon centered on Ngaoundéré; noted for the Adamawa Plateau, cattle-raising, savanna and forest parks including Parc National du Mbam et Djérem.

Adams County, Idaho Rural county in western Idaho, founded in 1911 and named for John Adams. County seat is Council; known for forested mountains, ranching, and outdoor recreation. Population was abou…

Adelaide River (Northern Territory, Australia) Adelaide River A tidal river in the Northern Territory of Australia, rising in Litchfield National Park and flowing to Clarence Strait; known for its wildlife, crocodiles, wetlands and regional h…

Adélie Land (Terre Adélie) — French Antarctic claim Adélie Land Adélie Land (French: Terre Adélie) is France’s sector claim in Antarctica along the Southern Ocean coast. Discovered by Jules Dumont d'Urville and named for his wife, it hosts scie…

Adige — major river of northeastern Italy Adige The Adige is a principal Alpine river of Italy, rising in South Tyrol and flowing south and east through cities such as Bolzano, Trento and Verona before reaching the Adriatic coas…

Adirondack Mountains A rugged mountain region in northeastern New York, home to Mount Marcy, thousands of lakes, the protected Adirondack Park, and a long history of conservation, recreation, and disti…

Adjara — Autonomous Republic on Georgia’s Black Sea Coast Adjara Adjara is an autonomous republic in southwestern Georgia on the Black Sea. Its capital is Batumi. The region is known for its subtropical coast, mountain foothills, mixed culture a…

Subnational divisions of Pakistan: provinces, territories and administered Kashmir Administrative units of Pakistan Overview of Pakistan's subnational structure: four provinces, federal territories including Islamabad, autonomous regions, and the Pakistan-administered parts of Kashmir, with thei…

Adour: river of southwestern France Adour The Adour is a river in southwestern France rising in the Pyrenees and flowing northwest to the Bay of Biscay near Bayonne, with important ecological, historical and economic roles…