Geography

Rhine Falls (Rheinfall) — Europe's largest waterfall Rhine Falls The Rhine Falls (Rheinfall) are among Europe's largest waterfalls on the High Rhine near Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Summary of physical features, geology, ecology, history and visi…

Rhine River Major European river rising in the Swiss Alps, flowing through central Europe to the North Sea; important for navigation, industry, ecology, culture and viticulture.

Rhineland (Rheinland): Region along the Middle and Lower Rhine Rhineland Geographical and historical overview of the Rhineland — the German region along the middle and lower Rhine — covering borders, development, culture, economy and 20th‑century politi…

Rhineland-Palatinate: geography, history, economy and cultural highlights Rhineland-Palatinate Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz) is a western German state known for rivers, wine regions, Roman heritage and mixed industrial and agricultural economy; capital: Mainz.

Rhins (river in central France) Rhins The Rhins is a small river in central France, a right-bank tributary of the Loire in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, known for local agriculture, former mill sites and typical freshwater hab…

Rhode Island Sound Rhode Island Sound is an expanse of Atlantic coastal water off Rhode Island in southeastern New England, known for its maritime traffic, fisheries, recreational use, and marine hab…

Rhodesia: Unrecognised state in Southern Africa (1965–1980) Rhodesia Rhodesia was an unrecognised state in the territory now called Zimbabwe. Formed after a unilateral declaration of independence from Britain, it existed through conflict and negotia…

Rhön: low mountain region in central Germany Rhön The Rhön is a volcanic-origin low mountain range in central Germany spanning Hesse, Bavaria and Thuringia, known for hiking, gliding, traditional farms and the Rhön Biosphere Reser…

Rhön-Grabfeld — rural district in Lower Franconia, Bavaria Rhön-Grabfeld Rhön-Grabfeld is a rural district (Landkreis) in northern Bavaria, Germany, known for its upland Rhön landscape, agricultural plain of the Grabfeld, spa towns and outdoor recreatio…

Rhondda (Rhondda Valleys) — coal-mining valleys of South Wales Rhondda Rhondda refers to two steep-sided valleys in South Wales, historically at the heart of Britain's coal industry. The area includes Rhondda Fawr and Rhondda Fach and a distinct indus…

Rhône (European river) Rhône The Rhône is a major Alpine river rising in Switzerland and flowing 812 km through Lake Geneva and France to the Mediterranean, forming the Camargue delta and supporting navigation…

Rhône (department) Rhône is a department in east-central France centered on Lyon. It combines river valleys, vineyards and industry and has evolved administratively since the 18th century, including…

Rhône-Alpes — former administrative region of France Rhône-Alpes Former French region centered on Lyon, spanning plains and the northern Alps. Known for industry, research, alpine tourism and cuisine; it comprised eight departments and merged in…

Rice County, Kansas Rice County is a rural county in central Kansas with Lyons as its county seat; agriculture shapes its economy and small towns preserve its frontier and railroad heritage.

Richland County, Illinois County in Illinois with Olney as its seat; founded in 1841 and home to roughly 16,200 residents at the 2010 census. Rural economy with agricultural and small-town communities.

Richland County, Montana County in eastern Montana with Sidney as its seat; economy driven by agriculture and energy, with a sparse rural population and regional services for surrounding communities.

Richland County, North Dakota Richland County lies in southeastern North Dakota along the Red River. Its county seat is Wahpeton. The area is largely agricultural with a small, stable population (16,321 in 2010…

Richland County, Ohio Richland County, in north-central Ohio, has Mansfield as its county seat. It combines agricultural land and manufacturing heritage, notable historic sites, and a 2010 population of…

Richland County, South Carolina Central South Carolina county containing the state capital Columbia. Founded in 1785, Richland County is a regional center for government, education, and culture and was the state'…

Richland County, Wisconsin Richland County is a rural county in southwestern Wisconsin with a small population, rolling Driftless Area terrain, agricultural economy, and the city of Richland Center as its co…

Richland Parish, Louisiana Richland Parish is a rural parish in northeastern Louisiana. Created in 1868 with Rayville as its seat, it is part of the North Louisiana Delta region and is characterized by flat…

Richland, Georgia Richland is a small city in Stewart County, Georgia, United States, known for its rural character, community life, and historical ties to agriculture. Population was 1,794 at the 2…

Richmond County, Georgia Richmond County is a historically significant county in eastern Georgia whose county seat is Augusta; it combines urban, military, educational and medical roles along the Savannah…

Richwiller — commune in Haut-Rhin, Grand Est, France Richwiller Richwiller is a suburban commune near Mulhouse in the Haut-Rhin department of northeastern France, known for its mixed residential, commercial and light-industrial character within…

Rickenbach (Zürich) — municipality in the district of Winterthur Rickenbach, Zürich Rickenbach is a small municipality in the district of Winterthur, canton of Zürich, Switzerland. It combines rural landscape and residential areas with links to Winterthur and the…

Ricketts, Iowa A concise overview of Ricketts, a small city in the U.S. state of Iowa: its character, historical context, local institutions, and role within rural Midwestern life.

Riding (administrative division) Riding (division) A riding is a historical subdivision, traditionally one of three parts of a county in the UK and a term for electoral districts in Canada; its meaning and use vary by place and era…

Riencourt-lès-Bapaume — commune in Pas-de-Calais, northern France Riencourt-lès-Bapaume Riencourt-lès-Bapaume is a small commune near the town of Bapaume in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France, with rural character and a historical connection to the region…

Riesa–Großenhain: former district in the Free State of Saxony Riesa-Großenhain Riesa–Großenhain was an administrative district in Saxony, Germany, formed in 1994 by merging Riesa and Großenhain and dissolved during the 2008 Saxon district reform.

Riesbach — District 8 of Zürich, Switzerland Riesbach Riesbach is District 8 of the city of Zürich, located on the right bank of Lake Zurich. It includes Seefeld, Mühlebach and Weinegg and is known for lakeside promenades, parks and r…

Riespach — small commune in Haut-Rhin, Alsace (Grand Est), France Riespach Riespach is a small rural commune in the Haut-Rhin department of northeastern France, in the historic Alsace region (now Grand Est). It had 686 inhabitants in 2015 and is typical o…

Rieux-en-Val: a small commune in Aude, Occitanie, southern France Rieux-en-Val Rieux-en-Val is a small rural commune in the Aude department of Occitanie, southern France, noted for its low population, Mediterranean landscape and ties to the historic Corbières…

Rif Dimashq Governorate Rif Dimashq Governorate surrounds the city of Damascus in southwestern Syria. It includes agricultural plains, mountains and strategic border areas and has been shaped by centuries…

Riidaküla — village in Hiiu County, Estonia Riidaküla Riidaküla is a small rural village on Hiiumaa island, formerly in Emmaste Parish, Hiiu County, in northwestern Estonia. It exemplifies island rural life, landscape and local histor…

Rima River (Nigeria): Seasonal Hydrology, Floodplain, and Irrigation Projects Rima River Overview of Nigeria's Rima River: seasonal hydrology and floodplain dynamics in Sokoto–Kebbi, plus irrigation proposals like the Zauro polder and their implications for agriculture…

Rimbach-près-Guebwiller — commune in Haut-Rhin, Grand Est, France Rimbach-près-Guebwiller Rimbach-près-Guebwiller is a small commune in the Haut-Rhin department of northeastern France, near Guebwiller. It is known for its rural landscape, vineyards, foothills of the Vos…

Cachapoal River (Río Cachapoal) — River of Chile's O'Higgins Region Río Cachapoal The Cachapoal River is a major watercourse in Chile's O'Higgins Region. It flows from the Andes toward the Rapel reservoir, shaping the Cachapoal Valley and supporting agriculture,…

Rio de Janeiro (state, Brazil) Rio de Janeiro (state) Brazilian state in the Southeast region; coastal, mountainous, and highly urbanized. Capital: Rio de Janeiro. Economy: services, industry, oil and tourism. Area: 43,653 km².

Río de la Plata An estuary on the border of Argentina and Uruguay formed by the Paraná and Uruguay rivers; a major waterway, ecological zone and gateway to the South American interior.

Rio Grande (Río Bravo): Geography, History, and Environmental Issues Rio Grande Overview of the Rio Grande (Río Bravo): its course from Colorado to the Gulf, role as an international border, historical importance, uses, and contemporary environmental and manag…

Rio Grande County, Colorado Rio Grande County is a rural county in south-central Colorado along the San Luis Valley, named for the Rio Grande. It includes Del Norte, Monte Vista and South Fork, with agricultu…

Rio Grande do Norte (Brazilian state) Rio Grande do Norte Rio Grande do Norte is a northeastern Brazilian state known for its coastline, dunes, wind energy, salt and fruit production, colonial history, and the cities of Natal and Mossoró.

Rio Grande do Sul: Brazil's southernmost state Rio Grande do Sul Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil, is known for its pampas, gaucho culture, vineyards, diverse economy and the capital Porto Alegre. It borders Uruguay and Argentina and has a…

Rio Hondo (California) A largely channelized watercourse in Los Angeles County that links the San Gabriel and Los Angeles River watersheds; important for flood control, groundwater recharge, habitat remn…

Rio Negro (Amazon) — major blackwater tributary of the Amazon Rio Negro (Amazon) Large blackwater river rising in Colombia and flowing through Brazil's Amazonas to join the Amazon. Noted for tea-colored, humic-rich waters, extensive igapó floodplains, exception…

Río Negro (Uruguay) Major river crossing central Uruguay, a left tributary of the Uruguay River that divides the country, supports hydroelectric power, irrigation, transport and diverse freshwater eco…

Río Negro Department (Uruguay) Río Negro Department Río Negro is a western department of Uruguay named for the Río Negro river. Its capital is Fray Bentos; the area is known for agriculture, agro‑industry, Russian cultural heritage…

Risaralda Department (Colombia) Risaralda Department Risaralda is a mountainous department in west-central Colombia, known for its capital Pereira, coffee production, biodiverse cloud forests and growing urban economy within the Colo…