Geography

Ruhr (Ruhrgebiet): Germany’s largest industrial conurbation Ruhr The Ruhr is a densely populated metropolitan region in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, historically shaped by coal, steel and heavy industry and now a diversified metropolitan are…

Ruhr (river) — geography, history and industrial legacy Ruhr The Ruhr is a 218 km river in western Germany that rises in the Sauerland and joins the Rhine near Düsseldorf. It shaped a major industrial region; today it combines reservoirs, na…

Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) Ruhr-Universität Bochum Ruhr-Universität Bochum is a large public research university in Bochum, Germany, known for a comprehensive range of disciplines, a campus-based structure, and close ties to the Ru…

Rumersheim-le-Haut Rumersheim-le-Haut is a small commune in the Haut-Rhin department of the historic Alsace region in eastern France, noted for its rural landscape, local heritage and community life.

Rural area: definition, characteristics, history and importance Rural area A rural area, or countryside, is a low-density inhabited landscape outside towns and cities. This article explains features, types, history, everyday uses and how rural differs fro…

Ruse Province Ruse Province is a northern Bulgarian region on the Danube, centered on the city of Ruse. It combines river transport, historical sites such as the Rock‑hewn Churches of Ivanovo, v…

Rush County, Kansas Rush County is a sparsely populated county in central Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is La Crosse. The 2010 population was 3,307. The area is predominantly agricultural w…

Russell County, Kansas A concise overview of Russell County, Kansas: geography, history, communities, economy and notable facts including population data and the county seat, Russell.

Russell County, Kentucky Russell County, in south-central Kentucky, was established in 1825. Its county seat is Jamestown and it had 17,565 residents at the 2010 census. The county combines rural agricultu…

Russia: geography, history, society and notable features Russia An encyclopedic overview of the Russian Federation: territory, borders, population, history, government, economy, culture and environment of the world's largest state.

Russian Far East: geography, history, and contemporary significance Russian Far East Region comprising Russia's eastern territories: geography, climate, peoples, history of expansion, economy (fisheries, minerals, energy), strategic role, and administrative composi…

Russian River (California) Russian River Major river flowing through Mendocino and Sonoma counties to the Pacific at Goat Rock Beach; important for ecology, recreation, water supply, and regional history.

Russians in the United Kingdom Overview of the Russian-origin population in the UK: size, distribution, history, institutions (schools, churches, media), cultural and economic contributions, and recent legal and…

Rust Belt: decline, legacy and revitalization of America's industrial heartland Rust Belt Region of the northern United States around the Great Lakes notable for 19th–20th century heavy industry and later deindustrialization, population loss, and ongoing economic transi…

Rust (Burgenland): wine town on Lake Neusiedl Rust, Burgenland Rust is a small Austrian town on the western shore of Lake Neusiedl, noted for its historic centre, birdlife and a long tradition of sweet wines—most famously Ruster Ausbruch.

Rutana Province, Burundi: geography, administration and notable sites Rutana Province Rutana Province in southeastern Burundi is a predominantly rural region centered on the town of Rutana. It features notable geological sites, agricultural livelihoods, and cross-bo…

Rüte District — a canton district in Appenzell Innerrhoden, Switzerland Rüte Rüte is a rural administrative district in the Swiss canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden. It is known for pastoral landscapes, traditional Appenzell culture, local agriculture and outd…

Rutherford County, North Carolina: Overview, History, and Key Features Rutherford County, North Carolina Rutherford County is a county in southwestern North Carolina. This article covers its location, history, communities, economy, and notable attractions such as Lake Lure and Chimney…

Ruwer (Moselle tributary and wine region) Ruwer Ruwer is a small tributary of the Moselle and the name of its surrounding wine-producing valley in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, noted for steep slate vineyards and cool-climate R…

Ruwer River — Tributary of the Mosel in Rhineland-Palatinate Ruwer River The Ruwer is a 46 km tributary of the Mosel in western Germany, flowing through a historic wine valley near Trier known for steep-slope Riesling and attractive hiking and cultural…

Ruzizi River (Rusizi) — from Lake Kivu to Lake Tanganyika Ruzizi River A 117 km river in the Albertine Rift connecting Lake Kivu and Lake Tanganyika, forming parts of borders between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi and supporting…

Rwanda: geography, history, society and recovery Rwanda Rwanda is a landlocked East African country known for its hilly landscape, complex modern history including the 1994 genocide, and post-conflict recovery emphasizing reconciliation…

Ryazan Oblast – geography, history, administration, and economy Ryazan Oblast Ryazan Oblast is a federal subject of Russia centered on the city of Ryazan. This article summarizes its geography, history, economy, administration, and cultural highlights.

Ryūkyū Islands (Nansei Islands) Ryūkyū Islands A subtropical chain of Japanese islands stretching between Kyushu and Taiwan, known for a distinct Ryukyuan culture, endangered languages, unique biodiversity, historical kingdom,…

Saale (Germany): two rivers sharing a name Saale Overview of the two German rivers called Saale: the larger Sächsische Saale (Thuringia/Saxony-Anhalt) and the smaller Fränkische Saale (northern Bavaria), with geography, uses, and…

Saale-Holzland (Saale-Holzland-Kreis) Saale-Holzland Saale-Holzland is a rural district in eastern Thuringia, Germany, characterized by the Saale river valley, forested highlands (Holzland), mixed agriculture, small towns and outdoor…

Saale-Orla (rural district in Thuringia, Germany) Saale-Orla Saale-Orla is a rural district in eastern Thuringia, Germany, named for the Saale and Orla rivers. It is a predominantly rural area with river valleys, forests, towns, local indust…

Saalekreis (district in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany) Saalekreis Saalekreis is a rural district in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, known for the Saale valley, historic towns such as Merseburg, industrial sites like Leuna, and proximity to t…

Saalfeld-Rudolstadt — district in Thuringia, Germany Saalfeld-Rudolstadt Saalfeld-Rudolstadt is a rural district in southern Thuringia, Germany, centered on the towns of Saalfeld and Rudolstadt. It combines river valleys, historic towns, castles and sho…

Saar Protectorate (post‑World War II administration of the Saarland) Saar (protectorate) The Saar Protectorate was the post‑WWII polity in the Saar region under French control (1947–1956/57), with separate administration and economic ties to France before rejoining Wes…

Saar (river) — course, history, and significance in France and Germany Saar (river) The Saar is a transboundary river rising in the Vosges (Grand Est, France) and flowing north through Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate into the Moselle near Trier. Overview of its…

Saarbrücken Capital of Saarland in southwest Germany on the Saar River. A border city with French influence, industrial roots in coal and steel, today noted for its university, cultural sites,…

Regionalverband Saarbrücken — a special district in Saarland, Germany Saarbrücken (district) Regionalverband Saarbrücken is a Kommunalverband besonderer Art that combines city and district functions to administer Saarbrücken and neighbouring municipalities in the state of…

Saare County — islands, nature, history and culture of western Estonia Saare County Saare County (Saaremaa and nearby isles) is a western Estonian county centered on Kuressaare. Known for island landscapes, medieval heritage, nature reserves and a tourism-based ec…

Saaremaa: Estonia’s largest island — geography, history and culture Saaremaa Saaremaa is the largest Estonian island in the Baltic Sea, known for its coastal landscapes, Kaali meteorite crater, juniper-covered terrain, medieval Kuressaare and a distinct isl…

Saarland: Germany’s Small Border State with a Unique History Saarland Overview of Saarland, a small German state on the French border: geography, history, economy, culture, administration and notable sites including the Völklingen Ironworks.

Saarlouis (district) Administrative district in the western part of Saarland, Germany, centered on the town of Saarlouis. Known for its fortress origins, cross-border ties with France and a mixed indus…

Saarpfalz (Saar-Palatinate) district — Saarland, Germany Saarpfalz District Saarpfalz (Saar-Palatinate) is a district (Kreis) in southeastern Saarland, Germany. It includes towns such as Homburg and St. Ingbert and borders French Moselle and several German…

Saatly District, Azerbaijan Saatly District Saatly District is an administrative region (rayon) in central-southern Azerbaijan, established in 1943. It is an agricultural lowland district with an administrative centre in the…

Sabaragamuwa Province Sabaragamuwa Province is an administrative region in south‑western Sri Lanka known for its gem mining, hilly terrain, heavy rainfall and production of rubber and tea.

Sabine River (Texas–Louisiana) A major river of the Gulf Coast plain, the Sabine forms part of the Texas–Louisiana state line and flows into Sabine Lake and the Gulf of Mexico; important for water supply, recrea…

Sabirabad District Sabirabad District is an administrative region in central Azerbaijan at the confluence of the Kura and Araz rivers, known for irrigated agriculture, riverine landscapes, and a hist…

Sabu Raijua Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia Sabu Raijua Regency An overview of Sabu Raijua Regency: its geography across Savu Islands, culture and languages, economy (fishing, weaving, tourism), history, administration and travel connections.

Sächsische Schweiz (district) Former rural district in southern Saxony, Germany, named for the Saxon Switzerland landscape. Centered on Pirna, bordering the Czech Republic; it was dissolved in 2008 during a reg…

Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge A rural district in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, created in 2008. It covers the Elbe Sandstone region (Saxon Switzerland) and the eastern Ore Mountains (Osterzgebirge), known…

Sacramento River Major river of Northern California, about 445 miles long; central to the Sacramento Valley, regional ecology, water supply, agriculture, and California history.

Sacramento Valley Northern portion of California's Central Valley drained by the Sacramento River; an agriculturally rich plain that includes the state capital and important waterways, ecosystems, a…

Sadarak District — administrative district of Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan Sadarak District Sadarak District is a border district of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan, notable for its location along Turkey and Armenia, its 1990 administrative formation, and…