Geography

Assiniboine River A major prairie river in central Canada that flows across southern Manitoba to join the Red River at Winnipeg; important for history, ecology, agriculture and flood control.

Astara District (Azerbaijan) Astara District Astara District is a coastal raion in southeastern Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea, known for its border city, Hyrcanian forests, fishing industry and subtropical climate.

Astore District, Gilgit–Baltistan: geography, administration and significance Astore District Astore District is a mountainous administrative district of Gilgit–Baltistan in northern Pakistan, containing the Astore Valley. It is known for alpine scenery, high pastures, seas…

Asturian language: overview, classification, history and current status Asturian language Asturian (Bable) is a Romance language of northern Spain, spoken mainly in Asturias and related to Leonese and Mirandese. It has regional protection, a standard norm, and ongoing r…

Asturias (Principality of Asturias) Asturias Asturias is an autonomous community in northern Spain on the Cantabrian coast, known for green mountains, coastal towns, Asturian language and cider, with a distinct history tracin…

Atacama Desert: Geography, Climate, History, and Scientific Value Atacama Desert A comprehensive overview of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile: its extreme aridity, causes, landscapes, human history, unique ecology, and importance for mining and science.

Atacama Region (III), Chile Atacama Region Administrative region in northern Chile centered on Copiapó. Includes the southern Atacama Desert, an arid coastline, and a mining-based economy with ancient and modern mining heri…

Atakora Department (Benin): geography, people, administration Atakora Department Atakora is Benin's mountainous northwestern department. This article outlines its landscape, climate, peoples, communes, economy, conservation areas and administrative history.

Atascosa County, Texas Atascosa County is a south‑central Texas county with a mix of rural and small‑town communities. The county seat is Jourdanton; Pleasanton is a principal city. Agriculture, ranching…

Aterno–Pescara: River of Abruzzo Aterno-Pescara Aterno–Pescara is the longest river in Italy's Abruzzo region, formed by the Aterno and Pescara courses and draining a 3,190 km² basin into the Adriatic at Pescara.

Atkinson County, Georgia Atkinson County is a small, rural county in southeastern Georgia with the county seat at Pearson. Founded in the early 20th century, it has a largely agricultural economy and a mod…

Atlanta, Texas — city profile, history, and local features Atlanta, Texas Atlanta, Texas is a small city in northeastern Texas. This article summarizes its location, historical development, local economy and culture, and notable distinctions within the r…

Atlantic Canada (the Atlantic provinces of Canada) Atlantic Canada The eastern Canadian region of four provinces—Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador—known for its maritime culture, coastal geography and f…

Atlantic Standard Time (AST) Atlantic Standard Time Zone Time zone four hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC−04:00), used in eastern Canada, parts of the Caribbean and South America; shifts to ADT (UTC−03:00) where daylight savin…

Atlántico Department (Colombia): geography, history and culture Atlántico Department Atlántico is a coastal department in northern Colombia on the Caribbean Sea, centered on the port city of Barranquilla. It is important for commerce, culture and regional transport…

Atlantique Department (Benin) Atlantique Department Atlantique is a coastal department in southern Benin, containing several communes including Abomey-Calavi and Ouidah. It borders the Gulf of Guinea and was reduced in 1999 when Lit…

Atlas Mountains Mountain range in northwest Africa spanning Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, known for high peaks, Berber culture, varied climates and its role separating the Mediterranean/Atlantic f…

Atoll: formation, features, ecology, and human significance Atoll An atoll is a ring-shaped coral reef island surrounding a lagoon. This article describes how atolls form, their parts and ecology, where they occur, human uses, threats and conserv…

Attock District — geography, history, administration, and points of interest Attock District Attock District is a strategically located district in Punjab province of Pakistan, centered on the city of Attock. It spans diverse terrain, cultural groups and historical sites a…

Au (Wädenswil), Canton of Zürich Au, Zürich Au is a lakeside village in the municipality of Wädenswil, canton of Zürich, Switzerland. It is a residential and recreational locality on the southern shore of Lake Zürich with lo…

Aube (river) A tributary of the Seine in northeastern France, the Aube flows from the Plateau of Langres through historic towns and lends its name to the Aube department.

Aubencheul-aux-Bois Aubencheul-aux-Bois is a small rural commune in the former Picardie region, in the Aisne department of northern France. It had 298 inhabitants in 2012 and retains a village landsca…

Aubonne (district) — former district of the canton of Vaud Aubonne (district) Summary of the former Aubonne district in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland: its municipalities, landscape, administrative role, history and local economy.

Aubonne (river) A small river in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, the Aubonne flows through a rural valley and empties into Lake Geneva near the town of Aubonne.

Auchy-au-Bois, Pas-de-Calais (commune in northern France) Auchy-au-Bois Auchy-au-Bois is a small rural commune in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France, with notes on its geography, history, local features, administration and practical inform…

Aude (department) — Occitanie, southern France Aude Aude is a department in Occitanie, named for the Aude river. It includes the medieval city of Carcassonne, Mediterranean coastline, Cathar castles, diverse vineyards and a legacy o…

Aude (river in southern France) Aude (river) The Aude is a river rising in the Pyrenees and flowing to the Mediterranean in southern France; it gives its name to the Aude department and has a long natural and cultural history…

Aue-Schwarzenberg (former rural district in Saxony, Germany) Aue-Schwarzenberg Aue-Schwarzenberg was a rural district (Landkreis) in the Free State of Saxony, located in the Ore Mountains region. It existed until the 2008 municipal reform and included the tow…

Augsburg (district): overview, geography, history and administration Augsburg (district) A rural district in Swabia, Bavaria surrounding the city of Augsburg. Covers geography, neighbours, history, administration, economy and cultural notes.

Aurich (district) Aurich is a Landkreis in northwest Lower Saxony, Germany, in the historic region of East Frisia. It combines coastal landscapes, agriculture, local industry and tourism centered on…

Aurora (Philippine province) Aurora (province) Aurora is a coastal province in the eastern part of Central Luzon, Philippines, with capital Baler. It is known for Sierra Madre forests, coastal biodiversity, surfing at Baler and…

Aurora County, South Dakota Aurora County is a small, rural county in eastern South Dakota with a sparse population, agricultural economy and Plankinton as its county seat; created in 1879 and shaped by prair…

Ausangate — High mountain of the Vilcanota Andes Ausangate Ausangate is a prominent glaciated peak in the Vilcanota range of the Peruvian Andes, revered culturally and popular for high‑altitude trekking and mountaineering.

Australasia: geography, ecology, history and distinctions Australasia Region comprising Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea and nearby islands; defined by shared geology, unique flora and fauna, and distinct biogeographic boundaries such as the Wallac…

Australasian realm: geography, biodiversity, and biogeographic history Australasian realm The Australasian realm is a major biogeographic region including Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand and nearby islands, noted for high endemism, distinctive marsupial and monotreme…

Australia (continent): Sahul, Meganesia and the Australian landmass Australia (continent) The continental landmass on the Australian Plate, including mainland Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea. Coverage of geography, geology, ecology, human history and how the continen…

Australian Antarctic Territory The Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) is the sector of Antarctica claimed by Australia, covering roughly 5.9 million km². It is administered for science and conservation, and in…

Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Australian Capital Territory The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is a small federal territory containing Canberra, the national capital. It hosts federal institutions, local self-government, national cultur…

Australian Indian Ocean Territories Overview of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories: the external territories of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, their geography, governance, people, economy, eco…

Australian Shield (Western Plateau) Australian Shield A vast, ancient Precambrian shield covering about two-thirds of Australia; arid, mineral-rich terrain with sparse surface water and important groundwater systems such as the Great…

Austria: Central European republic — geography, history, culture and government Austria Austria is a landlocked Central European republic centered on Vienna, known for the Alps, Habsburg history, classical music, and a modern, high‑income economy. Overview of geograph…

Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija Overview of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija: names, geography, history, contested status, administration, demographics, and contemporary significance.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (former autonomous region of the Philippines) Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Former autonomous region in the southern Philippines covering five provinces in the Mindanao area; created to provide self-government for predominantly Muslim areas and later repla…

Autonomous Region of Bougainville An autonomous region of Papua New Guinea in the Solomon Islands archipelago, Bougainville has a distinct history, culture and a 2019 independence referendum that returned an overwh…

Auvergne — historical region of central France Auvergne Auvergne, in the Massif Central of south-central France, is a historical and former administrative region noted for volcanic terrain, cheeses (Cantal, Saint-Nectaire), Clermont-Fer…

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes — administrative region of France Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is a large French region formed in 2016 by merging Auvergne and Rhône‑Alpes. It combines mountains, valleys and cities such as Lyon and Grenoble, with strong i…

Avar language: overview, characteristics, distribution and status Avar language Avar is a Northeast Caucasian language spoken mainly in Dagestan and parts of Azerbaijan. It has a rich consonant inventory, elaborate case morphology and a 20th-century literary s…

Aveyron — department in Occitanie, southern France Aveyron Aveyron is a rural department in Occitanie, southern France, named for the Aveyron river. It is known for plateaus, deep gorges, medieval villages, Roquefort cheese and the town of…