Geography

Värmdö: island of the Stockholm archipelago Värmdö Värmdö is a large island in the Stockholm archipelago on Sweden's east coast. Mostly in Värmdö Municipality with western parts in Nacka Municipality, it is known for boating, coast…

Värmland — historical province in west-central Sweden Värmland Värmland is a forested, lake-rich historical province in west-central Sweden bordering Norway. Known for timber industries, folk culture, and writers such as Selma Lagerlöf, it cen…

Värmland County (Värmlands län) Värmland County Värmland County (Värmlands län) is an administrative county in west-central Sweden with its seat in Karlstad. Known for forests, lakes and cultural history; it was established in 1…

Varna Varna: a Bulgarian Black Sea city and province; the Varna Necropolis and Copper Age culture noted for early gold; the medieval Battle of Varna; and the Sanskrit term for the fourfo…

Varna Province Varna Province is an eastern Bulgarian region on the Black Sea coast centered on the city of Varna, noted for its port, seaside resorts, archaeological sites and Golden Sands Natur…

Vârvoru de Jos — a rural commune in Dolj County, Romania Vârvoru de Jos Vârvoru de Jos is a rural commune in Dolj County, Romania. This article summarizes its location, geography, history, economy, local institutions and notable features.

Varzo — Alpine comune in Piedmont, Italy Varzo Varzo is an Italian mountain municipality in Piedmont on the Swiss border. Noted for Alpine scenery, access to mountain passes, and a small population in a large area of valleys an…

Vaskojoki: river of Lemmenjoki National Park, Finnish Lapland Vaskojoki Vaskojoki is a 110 km river in western Inari, Finnish Lapland, running through Lemmenjoki National Park and emptying into Lake Paatari. It crosses remote boreal landscapes and supp…

Västerbotten — historical province in northern Sweden Västerbotten Västerbotten is a historical province in northern Sweden with a Gulf of Bothnia coast, boreal forests, Sámi heritage, the city of Umeå and the famous Västerbotten cheese.

Västerbotten County (Västerbottens län) Västerbotten County County in northern Sweden with seat Umeå, established in 1638. Noted for vast boreal forests, long coastline, major rivers, Sámi presence, forestry, hydropower and the university c…

Västergötland: geography, history and cultural overview of the Swedish province Västergötland Västergötland is a historical province in southwestern Sweden known for its broad plains, medieval towns, ancient monuments and role in the early formation of the Swedish kingdom.

Västernorrland County (Västernorrlands län) — overview, geography and administration Västernorrland County Västernorrland County in northern Sweden, seated in Härnösand, is a coastal and forested region formed in 1634. This article outlines its geography, history, economy, municipalitie…

Västmanland — historical province of central Sweden Västmanland Västmanland is a historical Swedish province in central Sweden, known for its mixed forest and lake landscape, mining heritage in Bergslagen and the city of Västerås.

Västmanland County Administrative county in central Sweden centered on Västerås, known for industrial history, Sala Silvermine, parts of Bergslagen and a mix of lakes, forests and urban centres.

Västra Götaland County (Västra Götalands län) Västra Götaland County County in southwestern Sweden with its seat in Gothenburg; created in 1998 from three former counties. A region of coastal archipelagos, industry, services and regional government.

Vatnajökull: Iceland’s largest ice cap and its landscape Vatnajökull Vatnajökull is Iceland’s largest glacier and an active ice cap. It covers over 8% of the country, contains outlet glaciers, subglacial volcanoes, and is central to Icelandic natura…

Vättern: Sweden's second-largest lake Vättern Vättern is a large, deep Swedish lake known for exceptionally clear, low-nutrient water, important drinking supply, recreational fishing, and cultural towns along its shores.

Vaucluse (French department) Vaucluse Vaucluse is a department in southeastern France, in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. Noted for Avignon, the Fontaine-de-Vaucluse spring, Mont Ventoux, Luberon landscapes, agriculture an…

Vaud: Swiss canton on Lake Geneva with Lausanne as its capital Vaud Vaud is a largely French-speaking canton in western Switzerland on Lake Geneva, centered on Lausanne; known for vineyards (Lavaux), higher education, research institutions and mixe…

Vaupés River (Rio Uaupés) — Amazon tributary on the Colombia–Brazil border Vaupés River The Vaupés (Rio Uaupés or Rio Uaupes) rises in Colombia and flows east into Brazil, joining the Papurí and ultimately feeding the Rio Negro; important for Amazon ecology and indige…

Vayots Dzor Province Vayots Dzor is a mountainous, sparsely populated province in southern Armenia, noted for medieval monasteries, the Areni wine region, Jermuk spa, and important archaeological finds…

Vechta (district) Vechta is a Landkreis in Lower Saxony, Germany, known for its rural landscape, strong Catholic tradition, agricultural economy, the University of Vechta, and the annual Stoppelmark…

Vela, Dolj — commune in Dolj County, Romania Vela, Dolj Vela is a rural commune in Dolj County, in the Oltenia region of southwestern Romania. It is an agricultural locality with local administration, traditional culture and links to co…

Veliko Tarnovo Province Veliko Tarnovo Province is a central-northern region of Bulgaria centered on the historic city of Veliko Tarnovo. It is known for medieval heritage, hilly terrain along the Yantra…

Veliky Novgorod (Novgorod the Great) Veliky Novgorod Historic city in northwest Russia on the Volkhov River, administrative centre of Novgorod Oblast. One of the oldest Russian cities, medieval trade hub and seat of the Novgorod Repu…

Velino — River of central Italy Velino The Velino is a central Italian river that drains the Rieti plain, feeds the famous Marmore Falls and is the main tributary of the Nera, ultimately joining the Tiber basin.

Vendée (department, France) Vendée Vendée is a coastal department in western France, in the Pays de la Loire region. Known for its Atlantic shoreline, agricultural bocage, and the historical War in the Vendée, it co…

Veneto (region of Italy) Veneto Veneto is a northeastern Italian region on the Adriatic Sea with a rich history centered on Venice, varied landscapes from plains to the Dolomites, notable industry, agriculture an…

Venezuela: geography, people, culture, history and economy Venezuela Overview of Venezuela: its geography, regions, biodiversity, people and languages, historical background, economy centered on oil, agriculture and natural landmarks such as Angel F…

Ventura County, California: geography, history, economy and notable features Ventura County, California Coastal county in southern California with beaches, agriculture, oil and suburban communities. Includes Oxnard, Thousand Oaks and Ventura; population was over 800,000 by the 2010 c…

Veracruz — Mexican coastal state on the Gulf of Mexico Veracruz Veracruz is a diverse Mexican state on the Gulf coast, known for its port city, varied geography from coastal plains to mountains, rich cultural traditions, and important economic…

Verchin — a commune in Pas-de-Calais, northern France Verchin Verchin is a small rural commune in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France, historically part of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and today in the Hauts-de-France region.

Verden (district) Verden is a rural district in central Lower Saxony, Germany, centered on the town of Verden (Aller). It combines river landscapes, agriculture, equestrian traditions and small indu…

Verdigris River A tributary of the Arkansas River rising in southeastern Kansas and flowing into Oklahoma; site of Kansas's lowest elevation and important for navigation, reservoirs, recreation, a…

Verenahof: West German enclave transferred to Switzerland in 1967 Verenahof Verenahof was a tiny West German territory entirely surrounded by Switzerland until a 1967 land exchange transferred sovereignty to Switzerland and integrated it into Büttenhardt.

Vergée — traditional unit of land area (Channel Islands and historical France) Vergée A vergée (vergee) is a traditional unit of area once used in France and still used in the Channel Islands. Regional statutes define different sizes; it is not an SI unit.

Vernon County, Missouri — overview, history, and characteristics Vernon County, Missouri Vernon County is a rural county in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Nevada. This article summarizes its location, character, history, economy, and notable facts.

Vernon, Ardèche: a small commune in southern France Vernon, Ardèche Vernon is a rural commune in the Ardèche department of southern France. This article summarizes its setting, character, historical roots, economy and distinctions, and provides pra…

Vernoux-en-Vivarais Vernoux-en-Vivarais is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France, a small market town in the historic Vivarais region known for rural landscapes, local culture and out…

Verson, Calvados (Commune in Normandy) Verson Verson is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy, northwest France. Near Caen, it combines suburban housing, agricultural land, local services and a modest historical and…

Vervins — commune in Aisne, northern France Vervins Vervins is a small subprefecture commune in the Aisne department of northern France, historically in Picardy, noted for the 1598 Peace of Vervins and its Thiérache rural heritage.

Vesijärvi (lake in Päijänne Tavastia, Finland) Vesijärvi Vesijärvi is a roughly 111 km² lake in Päijänne Tavastia, Finland. It borders Lahti, Asikkala and Hollola, is known for clear water and aquatic plants, and underwent major ecologic…

Vest (development region) — Western Romania development region Vest (development region) Vest (Regiunea Vest) is a Romanian development region covering the western counties, created to coordinate regional development, manage EU funds, and support projects in infrastruc…

Vest‑Telemark: geography, culture, language and local communities Vest-Telemark Vest‑Telemark is a rural district in southern Norway known for rugged valleys, conservative dialects retaining Old Norse features, folk traditions, outdoor recreation and municipal…

Vestfold (former Norwegian county) Vestfold Vestfold was a coastal county in southern Norway known for lowlands and productive farmland, Viking-era archaeology, maritime industries and whaling history. It merged with Telemar…

Veveyse District (Canton of Fribourg, Switzerland) Veveyse District Veveyse is a French-speaking district in the canton of Fribourg, Switzerland, centered on Châtel-Saint-Denis; known for rolling foothills, the Veveyse river, rural communities and…

Veyras (Ardèche) Veyras, Ardèche Veyras is a small commune in the Ardèche department of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, southern France. Summary of its geography, history, administration, economy, cultural life and practica…

Vézère — River, valley and prehistoric sites in southwestern France Vézère The Vézère is a tributary of the Dordogne in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France, best known for its deep valley, karst caves and outstanding prehistoric cave-painting sites inscribed by UN…