Geography

Pacific Islander (Pasifika): peoples, cultures, and modern communities Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders (Pasifika) are the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Islands, a diverse set of societies with shared maritime histories, multiple language families, and growing d…

Pacific Islands (Oceania): geography, peoples, history and contemporary issues Pacific Islands Collective term for thousands of islands and archipelagos in the Pacific Ocean — commonly called Oceania — covering Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia; overview of geography, cult…

Pacific Northwest (Cascadia): geography, history, ecology, and culture Pacific Northwest Northwestern region of North America spanning British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and nearby areas — known for temperate rainforests, mountain ranges, Indigenous nations, ports, a…

Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is Earth’s largest ocean basin, stretching from Asia and Australia to the Americas. This article outlines its geography, geology, ecology, human uses, and why the…

Pacific Time Zone (PT) — PST and PDT Pacific Time Zone Time zone covering western North America, standard time UTC−8 (PST) and daylight time UTC−7 (PDT); used in parts of the United States, Canada and Mexico with key roles in commerce…

Paderborn (district) Paderborn is a district in the eastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It surrounds the city of Paderborn and combines urban centres, rural landscapes and historical sites…

Padma River: course, importance, and role in Bangladesh Padma River The Padma is the principal Ganges distributary in Bangladesh, joining major rivers before reaching the Bay of Bengal. This article explains its course, ecology, human uses, and his…

Pahang — Malaysian state on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia Pahang Pahang is the largest state on Peninsular Malaysia's east coast. Its capital is Kuantan. The state is noted for rainforests, highlands, a long river system, coastal beaches and div…

Paharpur Tehsil — administrative subdivision of Dera Ismail Khan District Paharpur Tehsil Overview of Paharpur Tehsil in Dera Ismail Khan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: administrative role, divisions, economy, history and local issues in southern Pakistan.

Pahumara River (Barpeta district, Assam) Pahumara Pahumara is a small river in Barpeta district, Assam, India. A tributary of the Brahmaputra, it flows through rural areas, supports local livelihoods and traditional boat races, an…

Päijänne — Finland's second-largest lake Päijänne Päijänne is Finland's second-largest lake, roughly 1,100 km², lying between Central Finland and Päijänne Tavastia. Known for clear water, numerous islands, a national park and the…

Päijänne Tavastia (Päijät‑Häme) — region of Southern Finland Päijänne Tavastia Päijänne Tavastia (Päijät‑Häme) is a southern Finnish region centered on Lahti, noted for Lake Päijänne, forests, industry and outdoor recreation. Population about 200,000 (2013).

Pakistan Pakistan is a South Asian country with diverse geography, a population over 200 million, and a complex modern history. It includes major cities such as Karachi and Islamabad and ha…

Pakistan Standard Time (PKT) Pakistan Standard Time Pakistan Standard Time (PKT) is the national time zone of Pakistan, fixed at UTC+05:00 and used nationwide for civil, commercial and computing purposes.

Pakpattan District (Punjab, Pakistan) Pakpattan District Pakpattan District is an agricultural and cultural district in central Punjab, Pakistan, known for the shrine of Sufi saint Baba Farid, canal-irrigated plains, and Punjabi rural tr…

Paktia Province (Paktyā) Paktia Province Paktia is an eastern Afghan province centered on Gardez. Predominantly Pashtun and mountainous, it forms part of the traditional Loya Paktia region and has long-standing tribal and…

Paktika Province — southeastern Afghanistan centered on Sharana Paktika Province Paktika is a largely Pashtun province in southeastern Afghanistan, with rugged terrain, a border with Pakistan, a tribal social structure, and an economy based on agriculture, live…

PAL region (television broadcasting regions) PAL region Geographical regions that historically used the PAL analog television standard — covering much of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand — and its technical and cultural e…

Palairac — small rural commune in Aude, Occitanie, France Palairac Palairac is a very small rural commune in the Aude department of Occitanie, southern France, known for its low population, rustic landscape and location within the historic Corbièr…

Palak (Union Council, Abbottabad District) Palak Palak is a union council in Abbottabad District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This article summarizes its role, geography, administration, economy, and local life.

Palakkad district, Kerala Palakkad district Palakkad district in central Kerala, India, noted for the Palakkad Gap, extensive paddy plains, agricultural economy and cultural ties across the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border.

Palatinate (region of Germany) Palatinate (region) The Palatinate (Pfalz) is a historical and cultural region in southwestern Germany, noted for its forests, vineyards, distinctive dialect, and a history tied to the Electorate of t…

Palearctic (Palaearctic) ecozone Palearctic The Palearctic is the Earth's largest terrestrial ecozone, covering Europe, northern Asia, northern Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula; it includes tundra, taiga, temperate…

Palestine: region, people, and modern political entity Palestine Palestine denotes a historic Eastern Mediterranean region, the Palestinian people and their culture, and contemporary political entities and claims centered on the West Bank, Gaza…

Palestine (region) Palestine is a historical and geographic region in the Levant, between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean; its history spans ancient civilizations, major religions, and a compl…

Palestinian territories: geography, history, governance, and status Palestinian territories Overview of the West Bank and Gaza Strip: geography, political history, governance arrangements, international recognition, and current status of these territories.

Palisades Sill A Triassic diabase sill that forms the steep Palisades cliffs along the Hudson River in New York and New Jersey, valued for its geology, scenic cliffs, recreation, and scientific i…

Palk Strait: geography, ecology, history, and human use Palk Strait The Palk Strait is the shallow marine passage between southeastern India and northern Sri Lanka linking the Bay of Bengal with the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar, noted for sandbanks,…

Palombia — fictional South American nation in Spirou and Fantasio Palombia Palombia is a made-up country in the Belgian comic series Spirou and Fantasio, presented as a tropical South American state and used as a recurring setting for adventure, satire, a…

Pamir languages: Eastern Iranian tongues of the high Pamirs Pamir languages The Pamir languages are a cluster of Eastern Iranian languages spoken in the Pamir Mountains and adjacent valleys of Central and South Asia, noted for small speaker communities and…

Pampas — South America's fertile temperate lowlands Pampas The Pampas are extensive temperate grasslands covering parts of Argentina, Uruguay and southern Brazil, known for fertile mollisol soils, intensive agriculture, ranching and distin…

Panaci (commune in Suceava County, Romania) Panaci Panaci is a rural commune in Suceava County, in the historical region of Bukovina, northeastern Romania. It is characterized by mountain landscapes, traditional rural life, and loc…

Panama — Republic of Panama: geography, history, economy and culture Panama Panama is an isthmian state linking the Americas, famed for the Panama Canal. It features tropical biodiversity, a service-based economy centered on shipping and finance, and a div…

Panama Canal: History, design, and global significance Panama Canal The Panama Canal links the Atlantic and Pacific across Panama. This article explains its geography, lock system, historical construction, 2016 expansion, economic role and notable…

Panama Canal Zone Former U.S.-administered territory surrounding the Panama Canal (1903–1979/1999), its administration, history, strategic role in shipping, and transfer to Panama under the Torrijos…

Panaro (river) — right tributary of the Po in Emilia‑Romagna Panaro The Panaro is a river in northern Italy rising in the Northern Apennines and flowing northeast through Emilia‑Romagna to join the Po; known in Latin as Scultenna, it shapes local e…

Pando Department (Bolivia) Pando Department Pando is a remote, sparsely populated Amazonian department of Bolivia with capital Cobija; noted for rainforest, Brazil-nut and timber economy, low population density and conservat…

Panevėžys County, Lithuania Panevėžys County Panevėžys County is one of Lithuania's ten counties, centered on the city of Panevėžys. It is a regional unit used for statistics and planning; county administrations were abolishe…

Pangong Tso (Pangong Lake) Pangong Tso High‑altitude saline lake in the Himalayas spanning Ladakh and Tibet; notable for seasonal freezing, striking color changes, fragile ecology and its location along the India–China…

Panhandle (geography): narrow territorial projections and examples Panhandle A panhandle is a narrow projection of territory attached to a larger area on only one side. This article explains its form, causes, examples, and why such regions matter.

Panjgur District — geography, society, history and significance Panjgur District Panjgur District is a sparsely populated district in western Balochistan, Pakistan, known for its arid landscapes, irrigated oases, Balochi culture and cross‑border connections wit…

Panjnad River: confluence of the five rivers of Punjab (Pakistan) Panjnad River River formed by the confluence of five Punjab rivers; joins the Indus near Mithankot and supports irrigation, culture and ecology in southern Punjab, Pakistan.

Panjshir Province (Afghanistan) Panjshir Province Panjshir Province is a narrow, mountainous Afghan valley noted for its strategic terrain, history of resistance under Ahmad Shah Massoud, fruit orchards, mineral occurrences (inclu…

Panorama Park, Iowa — small incorporated city in the American Midwest Panorama Park, Iowa Panorama Park is a small incorporated city in the U.S. state of Iowa. This article summarizes its character, municipal role, history, and local features for readers seeking a conci…

Pantanal: South America's vast seasonal wetland Pantanal The Pantanal is the largest tropical wetland in the world, spanning parts of Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. This article explains its landscape, biodiversity, seasonal floods, human…

Papua: region, peoples, and political entities of New Guinea Papua Papua denotes the island of New Guinea or parts of it: the Indonesian provinces in the west (Western New Guinea) and the independent state Papua New Guinea in the east. It also ref…

Paracel Islands — South China Sea archipelago and territorial dispute Paracel Islands Small group of islets, reefs and atolls in the South China Sea, controlled by China but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; noted for strategic position, fishing grounds, coral ecosyste…

Paradise Valley (Montana) River valley of the Yellowstone River in Park County, Montana, north of Yellowstone National Park; known for dramatic mountain scenery, hot springs, fly fishing, and gateway towns…