Geography

United States Virgin Islands An unincorporated U.S. territory in the Caribbean made up of main islands St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix; known for tropical climate, tourism, Danish colonial history and coast…

Unna (district) Unna is a Kreis (district) in central North Rhine‑Westphalia, Germany, forming part of the eastern Ruhr metropolitan area. It includes several towns, transport links, industrial he…

Unstrut-Hainich — district in northern Thuringia, Germany Unstrut-Hainich Unstrut-Hainich is a rural district in northern Thuringia, Germany, named for the Unstrut river and the Hainich forest. It contains historic towns, extensive beech woods and protec…

Unterallgäu: rural district in Swabia, Bavaria Unterallgäu Unterallgäu is a rural district (Landkreis) in the Swabia region of southwestern Bavaria, Germany. Its capital is Mindelheim; the area features Allgäu landscapes, spa towns, agricu…

Unterstrass, Zürich — a quarter in District 6 Unterstrass Unterstrass is a residential and mixed-use quarter in District 6 of Zürich, formerly an independent municipality until 1893. It covers 2.46 km² and has a population of about 19,921…

Upland and lowland: landscapes, rivers, ecology and geologic origins Upland and lowland Comparative overview of upland and lowland areas: definitions, landforms, river behavior, ecological differences, geologic causes, soils and vegetation, human uses, management, and…

Upper Austria (Oberösterreich): region, geography, history and economy Upper Austria Upper Austria (Oberösterreich) is one of Austria's nine states. This article outlines its geography, main cities, historical development, economy, cultural life and notable facts.

Upper Bavaria (Oberbayern): region, administration and features Upper Bavaria Upper Bavaria (Oberbayern) is a southeastern Bavarian administrative region with Munich as its seat. It combines Alpine landscapes, major lakes, a strong economy and important cult…

Upper Dir District (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan) Upper Dir District Upper Dir is a mountainous district in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Created in 1996 when Dir was split, it covers about 3,699 km² and has Dir as its administrative ce…

Upper Egypt: geography, history, and cultural significance Upper Egypt Upper Egypt is the southern Nile valley region of Egypt, known from antiquity for its nomes, the city of Thebes, distinctive crown and symbols, and its role in pharaonic history an…

Upper Karabakh Economic Region Former economic region of Azerbaijan in Karabakh, known for agriculture, historic towns such as Shusha and Aghdam, and the impact of conflict and reconstruction.

Upper Kohistan District Upper Kohistan is a mountainous administrative district in Hazara Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, formed when Kohistan was split in 2014. It is noted for rugged terrain, ri…

Upper Midwest (United States) Upper Midwest The Upper Midwest is a loosely defined U.S. region in the northern-central states. It is known for lakes, forests, prairies, agriculture, and a mixed industrial and cultural herita…

Upper Normandy (Haute-Normandie): overview, geography, economy and history Upper Normandy A concise encyclopedia entry on Upper Normandy (Haute-Normandie), a former French region: geography, departments, economy, historical changes, culture and notable features.

Upper Orakzai Tehsil (Orakzai District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Upper Orakzai Tehsil Overview of Upper Orakzai Tehsil: location, geography, settlements, history, economy and notable features of this administrative subdivision in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Upper Peninsula of Michigan The Upper Peninsula (the U.P.) is the northern peninsula of Michigan, noted for its forests, lakeshores, mining history, sparse population and distinct local culture known as Yoope…

Upper Sind Frontier District Historic district of the Bombay Presidency in British India, covering the northern frontier of Sindh. It lay along the Indus and bordered Punjab and Baluchistan; later reorganized…

Upper Sorbian — a West Slavic language of Upper Lusatia Upper Sorbian language Upper Sorbian is a West Slavic minority language spoken by about 40,000 Sorbs in Upper Lusatia (Saxony, Germany). It has a Latin-based orthography, cultural institutions, and legal…

Uppland — historical province on Sweden's eastern coast Uppland Uppland is a historic province on Sweden's eastern seaboard north of Stockholm, known for its coastal archipelago, Mälaren shoreline, Viking Age remains around Uppsala, and an unus…

Uppsala County (Uppsala län) — central Swedish county Uppsala County Uppsala County (Uppsala län) is a central Swedish county with its seat in Uppsala. It combines historic city life, university research, Baltic coast and agricultural plains and was…

Upshur County, Texas Rural county in East Texas with county seat Gilmer. Established in the mid-19th century, named for Abel P. Upshur; 2010 population about 39,300. Economy blends agriculture, forestr…

Upstate New York Comprehensive overview of Upstate New York: geography, regions, history, economy, recreation, and how it differs from the New York metropolitan area.

Upton County, Texas Upton County is a rural county in West Texas centered on Rankin. It has a small population, an economy based on ranching and oil and gas, and is located within the Permian Basin re…

Ural River Ural (river) Major Eurasian river rising in the Ural Mountains and flowing south to the Caspian Sea, often cited as a natural border between Europe and Asia and important for regional ecology a…

Ural Mountains A major Eurasian mountain chain running north–south in Russia, marking a physical and cultural divide between Europe and Asia, noted for its geology, mineral wealth, and ecological…

Urban area: definition, characteristics, history and significance Urban area An urban area is a densely settled territory—cities and towns—defined by population density, built environment and non‑agricultural functions. This article outlines definitions, fe…

Urban areas of Sweden (tätort / locality) Urban areas of Sweden Statistical classification for Sweden’s built-up places (tätort), defined by population and building proximity. Used by Statistics Sweden (locality) for demographic and planning da…

Urban sprawl: causes, characteristics, impacts and responses Urban sprawl Urban sprawl describes low-density, often unplanned outward growth of cities into previously rural areas, its causes, environmental and social impacts, historical context, and poli…

Urbanization: processes, types, history, impacts and planning Urbanization Overview of urbanization—how rural areas become urban, physical and functional types, historical drivers, social and environmental impacts, and planning responses to manage city gr…

Urbeleskarspitze Urbeleskarspitze is a 2,632 m peak in the Allgäu Alps (Tyrol, Austria). A dolomitic, bell-shaped summit, it is known for steep, exposed terrain and difficult climbing routes; first…

Urfahr-Umgebung District (Upper Austria) Urfahr-Umgebung District Overview of Urfahr-Umgebung, a district in Upper Austria: geography, administration, history, economy and cultural features surrounding the city of Linz.

Urheimat: the reconstructed homeland of a proto-language (linguistic concept) Urheimat Urheimat: the linguistic concept identifying a proto-language’s reconstructed original homeland, how scholars infer likely regions using linguistics, archaeology and genetics, and…

Uri — places, names, and common acronyms Uri Overview of the multiple meanings of Uri: geographic places in Europe and Asia, a Hebrew name, ancient references, and common acronyms such as Uniform Resource Identifier and Upper…

Canton of Uri Uri (canton) Central Swiss canton noted for alpine valleys, the Gotthard pass, and the William Tell tradition. Capital Altdorf; about 35,000 residents; German-speaking with a long role in the S…

Urozgan Province (Uruzgan, Oruzgan) Urozgan Province Urozgan is a mountainous province in central Afghanistan with Tarinkot as its capital. The province has a rural, tribal society, a history of conflict and resilience, and an econom…

Uruguay Uruguay — a small South American republic on the Atlantic coast between Brazil and Argentina, noted for its temperate plains, agricultural economy, stable democracy, and Montevideo…

Uruguay River: course, characteristics, uses and regional importance Uruguay River Major South American river that begins in Brazil, runs roughly 1,500 km, forms borders and joins the Paraná to create the Río de la Plata; important for transport, energy and ecosy…

Usora (river) The Usora is a left tributary of the Bosna in central Bosnia and Herzegovina, about 82 km long, notable for its dual upper branches, local industry and flood risks, and historical…

Uster District Administrative district in the canton of Zürich, Switzerland centered on the city of Uster; a mix of suburban towns, rural areas and recreational landscapes.

Ústí nad Labem Region (Ústecký kraj) Ústí nad Labem Region Administrative region in northwestern Czech Republic centered on Ústí nad Labem. Noted for Elbe valley, border mountains, industrial history, national parks and varied landscapes.

Usulután Department, El Salvador Usulután Department Coastal department in southeastern El Salvador established in 1865, known for its capital Usulután, Jiquilisco Bay, agricultural economy, mangrove wetlands and port communities.

Utah Territory (1850–1896) Utah Territory Organized U.S. territory established in 1850, settled largely by Mormon pioneers. It experienced boundary changes, federal disputes over polygamy, and political evolution before ad…

Utena County (Utenos apskritis) — northeastern Lithuania Utena County Utena County is a northeastern Lithuanian county centered on the city of Utena. It is known for its forests, lakes, rural economy and cultural links to the Aukštaitija region; coun…

Utrecht (province) Utrecht is the smallest Dutch province by area, located near the country's centre. It contains the city of Utrecht, a major transport, education and cultural hub, and a mix of urba…

Uttar Pradesh: Geography, People, History, and Culture Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh (UP) is India's most populous state, located in the north with a rich cultural and historical heritage, major rivers, varied economy and several important religious a…

Uttarakhand — Indian Himalayan state: geography, history, and significance Uttarakhand Uttarakhand is a northern Indian state formed in 2000, known for its Himalayan landscapes, pilgrimage sites, rivers, biodiversity and tourism. It was named Uttaranchal until 2006.

Uttarkashi district, Garhwal division — Himalayan district of Uttarakhand Uttarkashi district Mountainous district in Uttarakhand, India, known for the sources of the Ganges and Yamuna, major Hindu pilgrimage sites such as Gangotri and Yamunotri, and its role as a gateway f…

Utzenstorf, Emmental (Bern) — overview and landmarks Utzenstorf Utzenstorf is a municipality in the Emmental district of the canton of Bern, Switzerland, known for its rural setting and the medieval Landshut Castle. This article covers location…