Geography

Pinneberg (district) Pinneberg is a district (Kreis) in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, immediately northwest of Hamburg. It mixes suburban towns, agricultural lowlands and the offshore island Heligoland,…

Pir Panjal Range Mountain range of the Lesser Himalaya running ESE–WNW across parts of India and Pakistan; notable for its elevation, river divides, historic Mughal Road, and distinct ecology.

Pirajoux Pirajoux is a small rural commune in the Ain department of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in eastern France, characterized by agricultural land, local municipal governance and regional cultu…

Piri Reis map (1513) — Ottoman world chart Piri Reis map A surviving 1513 world map fragment by Ottoman admiral Piri Reis on gazelle-skin parchment. Noted for its depiction of the Atlantic coasts, declared sources, and later controversy…

Pirkanmaa — Finnish region centered on Tampere Pirkanmaa Pirkanmaa is a region in western Finland centered on Tampere, with about 500,000 residents (2013). Noted for its lakes, industry, education and cultural life; it borders six Finnis…

Piscu Vechi — commune in Dolj County, Romania Piscu Vechi Piscu Vechi is a rural commune in Dolj County, in the Oltenia region of southwestern Romania. This article summarizes its administrative role, geography, economy, history and conte…

Pishin District (Balochistan, Pakistan) Pishin District Pishin District is a highland district in northwest Balochistan, Pakistan, centered on the city of Pishin. It is a Pashto-speaking agricultural region notable for orchards, trade l…

Piura Region (Peru): geography, history, economy and culture Piura Region Overview of the Piura Region in northwest Peru: its geography, historical background, economy (agriculture, fishing, oil), culture, main provinces and urban centers, and environmen…

Plain (geography): types, formation, ecology and human uses Plain A plain is an extensive area of relatively flat land. This article describes its characteristics, formation types, soils and ecology, agricultural value, and notable plains worldwi…

Plains, Pennsylvania (Plains CDP, Luzerne County) Plains, Pennsylvania Plains is a census-designated place within Plains Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. This article summarizes its location, population, history, community features and civic di…

Plat (land map used in subdivision and property records) Plat A plat is a mapped plan of land divisions used to describe lots, streets, easements and dedications; filed with local authorities to create legal block-and-lot descriptions for dev…

Plateau (Geography): Elevated Flatlands, Types, Formation, and Uses Plateau An elevated landform with a relatively flat top. Covers how plateaus form, their main types (uplifted, volcanic, dissected, submarine), notable examples, uses, and distinctions fro…

Plateau Department (Benin) Plateau Department Plateau is a southeastern department of Benin with its capital at Pobè. It includes five communes, features a tropical climate, agriculture-driven economy, and cultural ties across…

Plateau-Central Region (Burkina Faso) Plateau-Central Region Administrative region in central Burkina Faso, created 2 July 2001; capital Ziniaré; composed of the provinces Ganzourgou, Kourwéogo and Oubritenga; overview of geography, administ…

Plateaux Department (Republic of the Congo) Central department of the Republic of the Congo centered on the town of Djambala; known for upland forests, low population density, subsistence agriculture and administrative role.

Plateaux Region, Togo Plateaux is a south-central region of Togo centered on the regional capital Atakpamé, known for its hilly terrain, diverse agriculture, cultural communities and scenic highlands.

Platte River A broad, shallow river in Nebraska formed by the North and South Platte; important geographically, historically and ecologically as a migratory bird corridor and watering route for…

Plessur District (Graubünden, Switzerland) Plessur District An overview of Plessur District in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland: geography, subdivisions, population and area, history, economy and notable features.

Pleven Province — north-central Bulgarian province Pleven Province Pleven Province in north-central Bulgaria, with capital Pleven, is known for fertile plains, rivers Iskar Vit and Osam, the 1877 Siege of Pleven, agricultural economy and several h…

Plomb du Cantal — highest summit of the Mounts of Cantal (Massif Central) Plomb du Cantal Plomb du Cantal is the highest peak of the Cantal massif in the Massif Central of France, known for its volcanic origin, panoramic views, and outdoor recreation within the Parc des…

Plön (district) — overview, geography, history and attractions Plön (district) Plön is a rural district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, known for its lakes, Holstein Switzerland landscape, historic towns such as Plön and Preetz, and a mix of tourism, agricult…

Plovdiv Province Plovdiv Province, in south-central Bulgaria, surrounds the city of Plovdiv and includes parts of the Upper Thracian Plain, the Rhodope foothills and protected mountain areas. It is…

Plzeň Region Administrative region in western Bohemia of the Czech Republic centered on the city of Plzeň; noted for industry, brewing, forests, and the Otava River basin.

Po (river, Italy) Po (river) Longest river in Italy, flowing east from the Cottian Alps to the Adriatic; vital for the Pianura Padana's ecology, economy, navigation and cultural history.

Podkarpackie Voivodeship (Subcarpathian Voivodeship) Podkarpackie Voivodeship Podkarpackie Voivodeship is a province in southeastern Poland centered on Rzeszów. It combines Carpathian mountains, borderland culture, protected parks, and a mixed economy of agr…

Podlaskie Voivodeship (Podlasie) — northeastern province of Poland Podlaskie Voivodeship Podlaskie Voivodeship is a largely rural region in northeastern Poland, known for primeval forests, wetlands, cultural diversity and protected natural areas. Its capital is Białyst…

Poey-de-Lescar Poey-de-Lescar is a small French commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, near Lescar and Pau, with rural character, local administration, and ties to the historic Béarn reg…

Pogradec District Former administrative district in eastern Albania on Lake Ohrid, centered on the town of Pogradec; noted for its lakeside setting, tourism, fishing and agricultural surroundings.

Poiana Mare — commune in Dolj County, Romania Poiana Mare Poiana Mare is a rural commune in Dolj County, in the historical region of Oltenia, Romania. It is an administrative local unit with agricultural economy, local traditions and basi…

Poitou-Charentes — former region of western France Poitou-Charentes Poitou-Charentes was an administrative region of western France, now part of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Known for Cognac, coastal marshes and Romanesque heritage, it included Charente, Ch…

Poland: Geography, History, Government, and Culture Poland Overview of Poland — its location, physical geography, historical development, political system, society, economy, and cultural heritage in Central Europe.

Polar circle Either of two parallels near 66°33′38″ latitude that mark where the sun can stay continuously above or below the horizon for 24+ hours each year.

Polder: reclaimed low-lying land and its role in flood control Polder A polder is land reclaimed from water and kept dry by dikes and drainage. This article explains how polders are built, maintained, their history, uses, environmental effects, and e…

Political geography: the study of territory, power, and political space Political geography Political geography examines how political processes shape—and are shaped by—territory, borders, sovereignty, and spatial organization across local, national, and global scales.

Polk County, Georgia Polk County, in northwest Georgia, established 1851 with Cedartown as its county seat. Overview includes geography, history, population, economy, government, education, communities…

Pollachi taluk, Coimbatore (Rural), Tamil Nadu Pollachi taluk Pollachi taluk is an administrative subdivision in Coimbatore (Rural) district, Tamil Nadu, centered on the market town of Pollachi; known for agriculture, coconut groves, markets…

Poltava Oblast Poltava Oblast is a central Ukrainian region centered on the city of Poltava, known for fertile soils, Cossack and imperial history, agricultural economy, and cultural landmarks.

Polynesia: peoples, islands, culture, and history Polynesia Polynesia is a cultural and geographic region of the central and southern Pacific, made up of over 1,000 islands connected by related languages, voyaging traditions and shared cult…

Pomerania: historical Baltic region of Germany and Poland Pomerania Pomerania is a coastal region along the Baltic Sea, historically inhabited by West Slavic and Germanic peoples. Today it is divided between Germany and Poland and is known for mari…

Pomeranian Voivodeship (province) — overview and significance Pomeranian Voivodeship Northern Polish region centered on Gdańsk, with Baltic coastline, ports, national parks, Kashubian culture and economy shaped by shipping, tourism and forestry.

Pont-Arcy — commune in Aisne, northern France Pont-Arcy Pont-Arcy is a small commune in the Aisne department of northern France, historically part of Picardy. This article summarizes its location, features, history and local points of i…

Ponthieu — historic province around the Somme estuary Ponthieu Ponthieu is a historic county and former province in northern France, centered on the Somme estuary with Abbeville as its chief town; it has a medieval past and a landscape of mars…

Pontic Mountains: Northern Anatolia’s Coastal Range Pontic Mountains A concise overview of the Pontic Mountains in northern Turkey: geography, geology, ecology, human use, and notable subranges including the Kaçkar massif and coastal ecosystems.

Pontine Islands Small Italian archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea near the Gulf of Gaeta, known for rugged coasts, Roman history, marine life and summer tourism.

Pontus (region): historical area on the southern Black Sea coast Pontus (region) Pontus is a historical region along the southern shore of the Black Sea in northeastern Anatolia. It has a long Greek-influenced past, diverse geography, distinctive culture, and l…

Pool Department, Republic of the Congo Pool Department Administrative department in southeastern Republic of the Congo, centered on the town of Kinkala; known for its riverine landscape, rural economy, and historical ties to the Pool M…

Poonch district, India Poonch is a mountainous district in the western Kashmir region, divided between Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistani-administered Azad Kashmir; known for its strateg…

Popigai crater — Siberian impact structure and diamond-bearing deposit Popigai crater A large, well-preserved impact crater in northern Siberia formed about 35 million years ago; notable for shock-formed diamonds, distinctive geology and scientific importance.