Geography

Aveyron (river) River in southern France that flows into the Tarn; gives its name to the Aveyron department and traverses karst plateaus, gorges and agricultural lowlands.

Avoca River (Victoria, Australia) Avoca River A largely shallow, intermittently flowing inland river in western and central Victoria, approximately 270 km long, rising near Amphitheatre and terminating in north‑west wetlands i…

Avon (county) — former English county, 1974–1996 Avon (county) Former non-metropolitan county in South West England created in 1974 and abolished in 1996; it covered Bristol, Bath and neighbouring areas before being divided into unitary author…

Avon River (Gippsland, Victoria) Perennial river in West Gippsland, Victoria, rising on the Great Dividing Range and flowing into the Gippsland Lakes. Important for regional ecology, agriculture, recreation and to…

Awaran District (Balochistan, Pakistan) Awaran District Awaran District is a sparsely populated, arid district in southern Balochistan, Pakistan, noted for rugged terrain, tribal communities, limited infrastructure, and a history of nat…

Ayalon River: course, characteristics, and role in central Israel Ayalon River Ayalon River (Nahal Ayalon) is an ephemeral river in central Israel. Originating in the Judaean Hills, it runs through the Ayalon Valley into a managed floodplain and a channel bes…

Aysén Region (XI Region of Chile) Aysén Region Sparsely populated southern Chilean region noted for fjords, glaciers and temperate rainforests; capital Coyhaique; economy centered on fisheries, ranching, forestry and tourism.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir: geography, governance, history and significance Azad Kashmir Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is a self-governing territory administered by Pakistan and claimed by India. This article summarizes its geography, population, administration, history…

Azamgarh division (administrative division of Uttar Pradesh, India) Azamgarh division Azamgarh division is an administrative unit in eastern Uttar Pradesh, India, centered on Azamgarh city. It comprises districts such as Azamgarh, Mau and Ballia and has a largely ag…

Azerbaijan — Republic at the crossroads of Europe and Asia Azerbaijan Azerbaijan is a South Caucasus republic on the Caspian Sea. Its capital is Baku; it includes the Nakhchivan exclave. Noted for oil and gas resources, rich cultural traditions and a…

Azerbaijan Time (AZT) Azerbaijan Time Azerbaijan Time (AZT) is the national time standard at UTC+4. Daylight saving time (AZST, UTC+5) was used until its abolition in March 2016. Includes usage, history, regional conte…

Azerbaijani diaspora Ethnic Azerbaijanis living outside their historical homelands in the Republic of Azerbaijan and Iranian Azerbaijan; communities, history, identity, and global distribution.

Azua Province Azua Province, on the southern Caribbean coast of the Dominican Republic, includes an irrigated agricultural valley, dry coastal plains and uplands; it was one of the country's ori…

Ba Province, Fiji Ba Province Ba is a coastal province on Viti Levu in Fiji's Western Division. It is the country's most populous province and includes major towns, tourism hubs and agricultural lowlands.

Baar Baar is a toponym in German-speaking central Europe — chiefly a municipality in the Swiss canton of Zug and a plateau region in southwestern Germany; it is also a surname and appea…

Bab-el-Mandeb: the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden Bab-el-Mandeb Bab-el-Mandeb is the narrow seaway linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. A strategic maritime chokepoint between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, it is important for shipping, oil…

Babi Yar: Kyiv ravine and the 1941 mass murders Babi Yar Babi Yar is a ravine in Kyiv where, in late September 1941, Nazi forces carried out a large mass shooting of Jews and later victims; the site became central to memory, investigatio…

Babil Governorate, Iraq Babil Governorate Babil Governorate is a province in central Iraq, home to the modern city of Al Hillah and the archaeological site of ancient Babylon; it is an agricultural and culturally important…

Babusar Pass High mountain pass (4,170 m) in northern Pakistan linking Kaghan Valley with Gilgit-Baltistan; scenic viewpoint, seasonal road, historic trading route and subject of road-improveme…

Bacău County, Romania Bacău County Bacău County is an administrative region in eastern Romania, part of the historical province of Moldavia. Its capital is the city of Bacău, an important local economic and cultural…

Backpacker murders (Belangalo Forest killings) Backpacker murders Series of murders of seven international backpackers in Australia between 1990 and 1996, bodies found in Belangalo State Forest; investigation, trial of Ivan Milat, and lasting eff…

Bacon County, Georgia Bacon County is a small rural county in southeastern Georgia, with Alma as its county seat. Created in the early 20th century, it is known for agriculture, timber, and close-knit c…

Bactria: A historical region of Central Asia Bactria Bactria is an ancient region centered on Balkh in northern Afghanistan, notable for its role as a crossroads of Iranian, Hellenistic and Central Asian cultures and as a corridor of…

Bad Doberan (former district of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) Bad Doberan (district) Former rural district in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, known for its Baltic Sea coast, historic spa town Heiligendamm and the medieval Doberan Minster. Abolished in 2011…

Bad Dürkheim (district) Rural district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, covering parts of the Palatinate Forest and a wine-producing plain; notable for viticulture, spa town Bad Dürkheim and tourism on t…

Bad Kissingen (district) Bad Kissingen is a rural district in Lower Franconia, Bavaria, Germany, known for spa towns, rolling hills of the Rhön, the Franconian Saale river, and a mix of tourism, agricultur…

Bad Kreuznach (district) Administrative district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, centered on the spa town of Bad Kreuznach; part of the Naheland wine and river landscape with mixed agriculture, industry,…

Bad Orb — spa town in Hesse, Germany Bad Orb Bad Orb is a traditional spa town in Hesse, Germany, noted for its saline springs, Kurpark and Spessart forest setting. It combines health tourism, historic architecture and outdoo…

Bad Tölz — Bavarian spa town, historic center and alpine gateway Bad Tölz Bad Tölz is a spa town in Bavaria, Germany, known for its medieval center, iodine-rich springs, Isar riverside setting and 20th-century military history; a regional cultural and to…

Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen is a rural district in Upper Bavaria, Germany, known for alpine foothills, the Isar valley, spa town Bad Tölz, outdoor recreation and a mix of small industr…

Badakhshan (region of Afghanistan and Tajikistan) Badakhshan Mountainous historical region straddling northeastern Afghanistan and eastern Tajikistan, known for the Pamirs, the Wakhan Corridor, and historic lapis lazuli mines.

Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan Badakhshan Province A mountainous province in northeastern Afghanistan centered on the city of Feyzabad; home to the Wakhan Corridor, ancient lapis mines and diverse highland communities.

Baden District, Aargau, Switzerland Baden District, Aargau Administrative district in northern canton Aargau with seat at Baden, largest municipality Wettingen; covers 153.07 km², contains 26 municipalities and about 121,071 residents.

Baden District, Lower Austria: geography, history and cultural importance Baden District, Austria Administrative district in southeastern Lower Austria centred on the spa town of Baden bei Wien, known for thermal springs, vineyards, historical resorts and a mix of suburban, ind…

Baden-Württemberg — German state in the southwest Baden-Württemberg Baden-Württemberg is a prosperous federal state in southwest Germany, noted for its automotive and engineering industries, the Black Forest, historic university towns, and cross-bo…

Baden (Morbihan) — coastal commune on the Gulf of Morbihan, Brittany Baden, Morbihan Baden is a coastal commune in Morbihan, Brittany, on the sheltered Gulf of Morbihan. Known for maritime landscapes, Breton culture, tidal ecosystems, boating access to nearby islan…

Badens (Aude) — commune in Occitanie, southern France Badens Badens is a small rural commune in the Aude department of Occitanie, southern France. It had about 785 residents in 2017 and retains an agricultural, village character.

Badghis Province (Afghanistan) Badghis Province Badghis is a northwestern Afghan province between the Murghab and Hari rivers, reaching toward the Sarakhs desert. Its capital is Qala-i-Naw. The province is rural, drought-prone a…

Badin District (Sindh, Pakistan) Badin District Badin District is a coastal district in southeastern Sindh province of Pakistan, known for agriculture, wetlands near the Indus delta, mangroves, and distinct cultural and environm…

Badlands: Eroded, arid landscapes and their defining features Badlands Badlands are heavily eroded, sparsely vegetated terrains formed in soft sedimentary rocks. This article summarizes their formation, characteristic landforms, distribution, and sign…

Badulla District (Sri Lanka): geography, economy and culture Badulla District Badulla District in Uva Province, Sri Lanka: a mixed highland and lowland district of 2,861 km² with about 837,000 people, known for tea estates, vegetable cultivation and paddy lo…

Badwater Basin — lowest point in North America and Death Valley salt flat Badwater Basin Badwater Basin is a salt-filled endorheic basin in Death Valley National Park, California. It contains the continent's lowest accessible point, distinctive salt flats, a briny pool…

Baekdu Mountain (Changbai Mountain): geography, geology, and cultural importance Baekdu Mountain Baekdu (Changbai) is a volcanic massif on the China–North Korea border, noted for its large caldera lake Heaven Lake, high summit, distinct ecosystems, and cultural significance in…

Baffin Bay Baffin Bay is the marginal sea between Baffin Island and southwest Greenland. This article summarizes its location, oceanography, ecology, human history, and modern environmental a…

Bagas, Gironde — a rural commune in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France Bagas, Gironde Bagas is a small rural commune in the Gironde department of southwestern France, historically part of Aquitaine and located within the modern Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

Bagerhat District — coastal district in Khulna Division, Bangladesh Bagerhat District Bagerhat is a coastal district in southwestern Bangladesh, known for the historic Mosque City of Bagerhat, proximity to the Sundarbans, Mongla Port, agriculture and coastal livelih…

Bagh Bagh (Persian: باغ) means "garden". It refers to enclosed, often geometrically arranged gardens and related place names, landscape traditions, and architectural forms across Persia…

Bagh District, Azad Kashmir (Pakistan) Bagh District Bagh District is an administrative district of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, created in 1988. It is hilly, known for confectionery and bakeries, linked by mountain roads and rebuilt afte…