Geography

Basilicata: geography, history, economy and cultural highlights Basilicata Basilicata is a mountainous region in southern Italy with historic towns like Matera, extensive natural parks, agricultural traditions and recent energy developments from local oil…

Geological basins: formation, types, and significance for sediments and resources Basin (geology) Explore geological basins: their tectonic and local origins, main types (rift, foreland, intracratonic, sag), and why they concentrate sediments, groundwater and hydrocarbon resour…

Basin and Range Province Basin and Range A broad physiographic region of western North America marked by alternating narrow mountain ranges and flat basins; formed by crustal extension since the Miocene and hosting divers…

Basque An overview of the Basque people, their language (Euskara), the Basque Country region, cultural traditions, history, and contemporary status.

Basque Country (Euskal Herria): region, language and politics Basque Country Overview of the Basque Country (Euskal Herria): geography across Spain and France, the Basque language (Euskara), cultural traditions, historical development, autonomy arrangements…

Basque Country (autonomous community in Spain) Basque Country (autonomous community) The Basque Autonomous Community (Euskadi) in northern Spain: its territory, institutions, language, history of autonomy, provinces, economy and cultural distinctions within the bro…

Basque Country (greater region) A transnational cultural and historical region in southwestern Europe, straddling parts of northern Spain and southwestern France, known for the Basque language, distinctive tradit…

Bass Strait Shallow sea passage separating Tasmania from mainland Australia, notable for its islands, strong seas, maritime history, and ecological and economic roles.

Basti division (Uttar Pradesh, India) Basti division Administrative division in northeastern Uttar Pradesh, India, grouping several districts around the town of Basti; noted for agricultural economy, cultural links to Awadh and sites…

Batangas Province (Calabarzon, Philippines) Batangas Batangas is a coastal province in southwestern Luzon, Philippines, known for Taal Volcano and Lake, maritime commerce, agriculture (including coffee), and a distinct Tagalog cultur…

Bath County, Kentucky Rural Kentucky county established in 1811. Population 11,591 at the 2010 census. County seat Owingsville; economy centered on agriculture, small business and local services.

Batha (former prefecture of Chad) Batha Batha was an administrative prefecture in central Chad; since 2002 its territory has been administered as the Batha Region. Overview of geography, history, economy and administrati…

Batha Region (Chad) Batha Region Batha is a central-Chadian region centered on the town of Ati. It spans Sahelian landscapes, includes Lake Fitri, and is divided into three departments: Batha Est, Batha Ouest and…

Battagram District — overview, geography, administration, and significance Battagram District Battagram District is a mountainous district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This article covers its location, terrain, administration, languages, history, economy, and notable fe…

Battambang Province (Cambodia) Battambang province Battambang is a northwestern Cambodian province known for rice production, French colonial heritage, hilltop temples and the Tonlé Sap biosphere. The capital and largest city is Ba…

Battle Ground, Indiana Small town in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, notable as the site of the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe. Contains a preserved battlefield, monuments, and local commemorations near Lafayette…

Batura Muztagh: western subrange of the Karakoram Batura Muztagh A compact overview of the Batura Muztagh, the westernmost subrange of the Karakoram in Gilgit‑Baltistan, covering geography, major peaks, glaciers, human use and its mountaineering…

Batura Sar — Karakoram mountain in Pakistan Batura Sar Batura Sar is a 7,795 m peak in the Karakoram of northern Pakistan, the highest summit of the Batura Muztagh subrange, notable for its remote glaciers, mountaineering history and s…

Bauska — historic town in southern Latvia Bauska Bauska is a historical market town in southern Latvia, known for its medieval castle ruins, proximity to Rundāle Palace, river confluence, and its role in regional trade and touris…

Bavaria (Freistaat Bayern): geography, history, and culture Bavaria Bavaria is Germany's largest state by area in the southeast, with capital Munich. Known for Alpine landscapes, strong regional identity, beer and festivals, it evolved from duchy a…

Bay County, Florida: Overview, Geography, History, and Economy Bay County, Florida Bay County is a coastal county in the Florida Panhandle centered on Panama City. It is known for Gulf beaches, military facilities, a tourism-driven economy and recovery from major…

Bay of Bengal: geography, history, climate, and economic importance Bay of Bengal The Bay of Bengal is the northeastern arm of the Indian Ocean. This article summarizes its geography, physical features, climate influences, historical role, economic uses, and env…

Bay of Biscay: geography, climate, history and significance Bay of Biscay The Bay of Biscay is a broad gulf of the northeast Atlantic along the western coast of France and northern Spain, noted for its depth, rough weather, marine life and historical imp…

Bay of Campeche Semi-enclosed bay in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico off Mexico’s southern coast, bordered by Campeche, Tabasco and Veracruz. Noted for rich coastal ecosystems, fisheries, ports an…

Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska) Bay of Kotor A fjord-like bay on Montenegro's Adriatic coast, famed for steep mountains, well-preserved medieval towns such as Kotor and Perast, and a UNESCO-listed cultural and natural landsca…

Bayreuth (district) Rural district in Upper Franconia, Bavaria, surrounding the independent city of Bayreuth; known for forests, river sources, outdoor recreation and a mix of small towns and agricult…

Bazoges-en-Pareds — commune in Vendée, Pays de la Loire, France Bazoges-en-Pareds Bazoges-en-Pareds is a rural commune in the Vendée department of Pays de la Loire, western France, known for local administration, agricultural landscape and regional heritage.

Beach: coastal landform, composition, uses, and environmental dynamics Beach A beach is a coastal landform made of loose sediments such as sand, gravel, pebbles or biological fragments. This article explains composition, formation, uses, ecology, history an…

Bear Creek Township, Dickey County, North Dakota Bear Creek, North Dakota Bear Creek is a small civil township in southeastern North Dakota with an agricultural landscape and 183 residents at the 2010 U.S. census. Governed locally with services provided…

Bear Mountain (Salisbury, Connecticut) Bear Mountain (Connecticut) A prominent peak in the southern Taconic Mountains, Bear Mountain is the highest mountain summit in Connecticut; the state's true highest point lies on the south slope of nearby Mo…

Bearing (navigation): definitions, types, methods, and common uses Bearing (navigation) Angle measurement from a reference direction to an object used in marine, aviation, and land navigation; covers types (true, magnetic, relative), methods, instruments, history and…

Beaufort County, South Carolina Coastal county in South Carolina's Lowcountry with seat Beaufort. Includes Hilton Head Island and historic towns; known for marshes, tourism, Gullah heritage, and a military aviati…

Beaufort Sea The Beaufort Sea is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean north of Alaska and northwestern Canada, notable for its seasonal ice cover, wildlife (including beluga whales), river inflow…

Beaujeu, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence Beaujeu is a small rural commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, southeastern France, typical of mountain villages with pastoral landscapes…

Beaupuy (Gers) — small commune in southwestern France Beaupuy, Gers Beaupuy is a rural commune in the Gers department of southwestern France, known for rolling hills, agricultural landscape and local Gascon traditions within the Occitanie region.

Béchar Province, Algeria Béchar Province Béchar Province is a large, sparsely populated Saharan region of western Algeria centered on the city of Béchar, noted for oases, dune seas, rocky plateaus and a frontier position…

Bechuanaland: history, geography and colonial division of a Tswana region Bechuanaland Bechuanaland was a Tswana-speaking region in southern Africa placed under British protection in 1885 and later divided: the southern part joined South Africa, the northern protecto…

Bedfordshire: overview, landscape, history and notable places Bedfordshire A concise encyclopedia overview of Bedfordshire, a ceremonial county in the east of England covering geography, history, economy, key towns and distinguishing features.

Beeran Gali — Union Council in Abbottabad District Beerangali Beeran Gali (also Berin Gali or Baran Gali) is a union council in Abbottabad District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A hilly rural locality noted for its forested terrain, local ag…

Béjaïa Province — coastal wilaya of northern Algeria Béjaïa Province Béjaïa Province is a coastal region in northern Algeria centered on the city of Béjaïa, noted for its Mediterranean port, mountainous scenery, Gouraya National Park and the endange…

Belarus — Republic in Eastern Europe Belarus Concise encyclopedia entry on Belarus: geography, history, government, demographics, economy, culture, environment and international relations.

Belarusians Belarusians are an East Slavic people native to Belarus, speaking Belarusian and Russian, with communities across Eastern Europe and a global diaspora.

Belgians People who are citizens of the Kingdom of Belgium, a multilingual, federal state in Western Europe with distinct regional communities, cultures, and historical roots.

Belgium: Kingdom, Regions, Languages, and Political Structure Belgium Belgium is a small Western European kingdom known for its federal system, three language communities, Brussels as an international capital, and a rich cultural and economic mix sha…

Belize: Central American country Belize Belize is a small, multilingual Central American country with rich Maya heritage, a long Caribbean coastline, the Belize Barrier Reef, and a diverse population. Overview of geograp…

Belize Barrier Reef — geography, ecology, history and conservation Belize Barrier Reef A stronghold of Caribbean coral biodiversity, the Belize Barrier Reef is a 300 km section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. This article explains its structure, wildlife, history a…

Bell River (New South Wales) The Bell River is a tributary of the Macquarie River in central western New South Wales, Australia. It lies within the Murray–Darling Basin and supports local ecosystems, agricultu…

Belle Fourche River — tributary of the Cheyenne River in Wyoming and South Dakota Belle Fourche River The Belle Fourche River is a roughly 290-mile tributary of the Cheyenne River that flows from the Black Hills region through Wyoming and South Dakota and is important for irrigatio…