Geography

Southern Region (Suðurland), Iceland Southern Region (Iceland) Overview of Suðurland (Southern Region) of Iceland: geography, settlements, economy, history and notable natural attractions including glaciers and volcanoes.

Southern Savonia — lakes, forests and cultural centres of southeastern Finland Southern Savonia Southern Savonia is a lake-rich region in southeastern Finland known for forests, Saimaa waterways, historic towns (Mikkeli, Pieksämäki, Savonlinna), outdoor tourism and a distinct…

Southern United States Region of the southeastern and south-central U.S., defined by geography, history and culture; known for warm climate, agriculture, distinctive cuisine, music, and varied state iden…

Southwest (direction) Southwest Southwest is the intercardinal direction midway between south and west (azimuth 225°). It is abbreviated SW and is used in navigation, weather reports, and place names; opposite of…

Southwest Alaska: geography, peoples, and economy Southwest Alaska A concise overview of Southwest Alaska: its ambiguous boundaries, landscapes, climate, Indigenous communities, fisheries-driven economy, history, and reasons for ecological and cul…

Southwest Finland (Varsinais-Suomi) Southwest Finland Region of Finland on the southwest coast, centered on Turku. Noted for its archipelago, maritime economy, bilingual heritage and historical significance; population about 471,000 (…

Southwest National Park (Tasmania) Southwest National Park Tasmania's largest national park, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Remote, roadless landscapes with deep Aboriginal history, rugged coastlines, and limited acc…

Southwest Region (Cameroon) Overview of Cameroon's Southwest Region: geography, biodiversity, history, economy, and notable places including Buea and Korup National Park.

Southwestern Oklahoma Regional overview of southwestern Oklahoma: landscape, climate, history, economy, and notable natural and cultural features of this Great Plains area.

Southwestern Ontario: geography, economy and communities Southwestern Ontario Overview of Southwestern Ontario in Canada: geography, climate, economy, communities and transportation links from the Bruce Peninsula to Windsor and Lake Erie.

Southwestern United States Region of the western United States characterized by arid landscapes, diverse Indigenous and colonial history, rapid urban growth, and distinctive cultural and ecological features.

Spain — geography, society, government and culture Spain Overview of Spain: its location on the Iberian Peninsula, geography, languages, government, culture and modern significance in Europe.

Spalding County, Georgia: Overview, Geography, History, and Communities Spalding County, Georgia County in central Georgia with seat at Griffin. Covers location, landscape, development, government, economy, schools, and communities including cities, a town, and unincorporated…

Spalding, Nebraska: small village in Greeley County Spalding, Nebraska Overview of Spalding, a rural village in Greeley County, Nebraska, covering location, population, history, economy and community features.

Spartanburg County, South Carolina County in Upstate South Carolina with county seat Spartanburg. Population was 284,307 at the 2010 census. Regional center for manufacturing, education, and cultural institutions.

Spechbach-le-Haut (former commune in Haut-Rhin, France) Spechbach-le-Haut Spechbach-le-Haut was a small village in Haut-Rhin, northeastern France. In 2016 it merged with Spechbach-le-Bas to form the new commune of Spechbach. Typical of rural Alsace in hi…

Spechbach (Haut-Rhin) Spechbach, Haut-Rhin Spechbach is a French commune in the Haut-Rhin department, created in 2016 by merging Spechbach-le-Haut and Spechbach-le-Bas; it lies in the historic Alsace area of eastern France.

Spencer County, Indiana — Overview, History, and Notable Places Spencer County, Indiana Spencer County, in southwestern Indiana on the Ohio River, includes Rockport and Santa Claus. Founded in 1818, it is known for Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Holiday World, agr…

Spencer County, Kentucky Rural county in north-central Kentucky, established 1824 with seat Taylorsville. Named for Captain Spier Spencer, noted for Taylorsville Lake, recreation, agriculture and growing t…

Spencer Gulf: geography, history, ecology and human use Spencer Gulf Overview of Spencer Gulf in South Australia: its geography, physical features, human history, ports and industries, ecological value, and conservation issues.

Spherical geometry: geometry on the surface of a sphere Spherical geometry Spherical geometry studies figures drawn on a sphere’s surface. It replaces straight lines with great circles, alters triangle angle sums, and underpins navigation, cartography and…

Spiekeroog — East Frisian Island in the North Sea Spiekeroog Spiekeroog is a small car-free East Frisian island in the German North Sea, known for its dunes, beaches, village life and role in the Wadden Sea coastal landscape.

Spink County, South Dakota County in central-eastern South Dakota, established in 1873. Rural and agricultural, county seat Redfield; population 6,415 at the 2010 census. Governed locally with small towns an…

Spit (coastal landform) Spit (landform) A spit is a narrow ridge of sand or shingle attached to the shore at one end and extending into open water, formed by the deposition of sediment carried along the coast by waves an…

Spittal an der Drau District Administrative district in western Carinthia, Austria. Mountainous landscape around Grossglockner, important lakes (Millstätter See, Weissensee), tourism, culture and alpine econom…

Split-Dalmatia County Coastal Croatian county centered on Split, combining mainland hinterland and central Dalmatian islands; known for tourism, maritime economy, Diocletian's Palace, Biokovo nature are…

Spokane County, Washington — overview, history, geography, and key facts Spokane County, Washington County in eastern Washington state with Spokane as its seat. Covers mixed urban and rural terrain, organized 1858; known for the Spokane River, regional economy, parks, and cultura…

Spratly Islands (South China Sea) Spratly Islands A group of more than one hundred reefs, islets and atolls in the South China Sea, the Spratly Islands are ecologically productive but politically contested by several neighbouring…

Spree (river) — eastern Germany, Berlin and the Spreewald Spree The Spree is a roughly 400 km river in eastern Germany that flows from the Lusatian Highlands through Bautzen, Cottbus and Berlin to join the Havel at Spandau. It is important ecol…

Spree-Neiße — district in southern Brandenburg, Germany Spree-Neiße Administrative district in southern Brandenburg named for the Spree and Neisse rivers. Surrounds Cottbus, borders Poland; created in 1993 from four former districts. Noted for Sorb…

Spring River (Missouri — Kansas — Oklahoma) Spring River (Missouri) A spring-fed river running about 129 miles through southwestern Missouri, southeastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma; noted for clear water, recreation, and regional ecological…

Srinagar district Srinagar district lies at the heart of the Kashmir Valley. It contains the city of Srinagar, the region's summer capital, and is known for Dal Lake, Mughal gardens, and a dense urb…

St. Clair River A 40.5-mile river linking Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair that forms part of the Canada–US border; important for Great Lakes navigation, regional industry, and local ecosystems.

St. Croix River (Wisconsin–Minnesota): overview, ecology, and history St. Croix River (Wisconsin–Minnesota) A 169-mile tributary of the Mississippi forming much of the Minnesota–Wisconsin border, protected as a National Scenic Riverway and valued for recreation, wildlife, and cultural hi…

St. Gallen (Wahlkreis) Electoral district in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland, centered on the city of St. Gallen; overview of geography, administration, history and significance.

St. Johann im Pongau District (Pongau), Salzburg, Austria St. Johann im Pongau District Administrative district in the state of Salzburg, Austria. Covers the Pongau region with Alpine terrain, valleys and towns; centered on Sankt Johann im Pongau and known for tourism…

St. Landry Parish, Louisiana St. Landry Parish, founded in 1807 with seat at Opelousas, lies in south-central Louisiana. Part of Acadiana, it has a strong Cajun and Creole heritage, mixed prairie and bayou lan…

Staffordshire: geography, history and cultural heritage of the English county Staffordshire Staffordshire is a county in England’s West Midlands known for pottery, varied landscapes from moorland to forests, industrial heritage, market towns like Stafford and the city of…

Standard Time (time zones and non-daylight-saving clock conventions) Standard time Standard time is the uniform civil time adopted across a time zone, distinct from daylight saving time; it enables coordinated schedules, legal timekeeping, and international time…

Stanford Rivers — village and civil parish in Epping Forest, Essex Stanford Rivers Stanford Rivers is a small rural village and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of Essex, England, recorded with a population of 739 in the 2001 census.

Stanton County, Nebraska — overview, history, geography and communities Stanton County, Nebraska Stanton County, Nebraska, founded in 1865, is a small rural county with a 2010 population of 6,129. This article summarizes its geography, history, economy, communities and notable…

Stara Zagora Province A province in south-central Bulgaria centered on the city of Stara Zagora, known for fertile plains, industrial and energy activity, and rich Thracian and Roman archaeological heri…

Stark County, Illinois Stark County is a small, rural county in north-central Illinois with Toulon as its county seat. The population was 5,994 at the 2010 census; agriculture and local services shape it…

Stark County, North Dakota Stark County is in southwestern North Dakota with county seat Dickinson. Population was 24,199 at the 2010 census. A regional hub for agriculture, energy, education and services.

Starnberg (district) Starnberg is a Landkreis in Upper Bavaria, southern Germany, centered on the town of Starnberg. Renowned for Starnberger See, affluent communities, lakeside tourism and close links…

Starr County, Texas: geography, history, and community overview Starr County, Texas Starr County in southern Texas borders the Rio Grande. Established in 1848 and named for James H. Starr, it includes Rio Grande City and rural communities with a largely Hispanic p…

States and territories of Australia Overview of Australia's six states and mainland and external territories, their capitals, constitutional status, governance, history since federation, and key distinctions.

States of Austria (Austrian Bundesländer) States of Austria Overview of Austria's nine federal states (Bundesländer), their roles, main characteristics, history, and notable distinctions including capitals and cultural regions.