Geography

Waller County, Texas Waller County, west of Houston, combines agricultural heritage with suburban growth. County seat Hempstead and Prairie View A&M are regional anchors. Population was 43,205 at the 2…

Wallis and Futuna A small French Pacific territory of three volcanic islands—Wallis (Uvea), Futuna and Alofi—known for Polynesian culture, Catholic influence, traditional kingdoms and fringing reefs…

Wallonia: the Walloon Region of Belgium Wallonia Wallonia is the predominantly French-speaking southern region of Belgium. This article outlines its geography, languages, administration, history, economy, culture and distinct sta…

Walloon Brabant (province of Belgium) Walloon Brabant Walloon Brabant is the smallest and newest province of Wallonia, Belgium. Predominantly French-speaking, it includes the university town Louvain-la-Neuve and the capital Wavre; for…

Walsh County, North Dakota County in northeastern North Dakota with agricultural economy and county seat at Grafton; established in the 19th century and home to small towns and rural communities.

Walton County, Florida: overview, geography, history and attractions Walton County, Florida Walton County is a coastal county in the Florida Panhandle, established in 1824 with DeFuniak Springs as its county seat; known for Gulf beaches, state parks, historic downtowns an…

Walton County, Georgia Walton County, in north-central Georgia, is a mix of small cities, rural landscapes and suburban growth. County seat Monroe; 2010 population 83,768. Part of the Atlanta metropolita…

Walworth County, South Dakota Walworth County is a rural county in north-central South Dakota; county seat Selby; established 1873; community and economy centered on agriculture, local government, and small tow…

Wangen District (Amtsbezirk Wangen), Canton of Bern Wangen District Former administrative district in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. Centered on Wangen an der Aare, it covered 129 km² and was reorganized during Bern's 2010 administrative reform.

Wangen im Allgäu Historic town in southern Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located in the Allgäu region northeast of Lake Constance. Renowned for a preserved medieval centre, local culture, and links t…

Ward County, Texas — overview, geography, history, and economy Ward County, Texas Ward County is a rural West Texas county with county seat Monahans. Known for oil and gas production and the Monahans Sandhills, it recorded 10,658 residents in 2010 and remains la…

Warendorf (district) Warendorf is a rural district in northern North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, known for agriculture, horse sport traditions, small towns and close links to the Münster region.

Warlencourt-Eaucourt: a commune in Pas-de-Calais, northern France Warlencourt-Eaucourt Warlencourt-Eaucourt is a small rural commune in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France, historically part of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and shaped by agricultural life and First…

Warluzel — Commune in Pas-de-Calais, northern France Warluzel Warluzel is a small commune in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France, historically part of Nord-Pas-de-Calais. This article summarizes its status, characteristics, histor…

Warm front (meteorology) Warm front A warm front is the advancing boundary where warmer air replaces cooler air, producing a characteristic cloud progression, gradual temperature rise and often prolonged precipitatio…

Warta — river in western-central Poland Warta The Warta is a major Polish river, a tributary of the Oder. About 808 km long with a basin near 54,529 km², it flows through historic Greater Poland and is linked to the Vistula by…

Wartburgkreis Wartburgkreis is a rural district in western Thuringia, Germany, surrounding the city of Eisenach and named for the historic Wartburg Castle. It combines forested uplands, spa town…

Warwickshire: county in central England and birthplace of Shakespeare Warwickshire Warwickshire is a county in central England noted for Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick Castle, market towns, changing historic and administrative boundaries, and literary and sporting…

Wasatch Mountains: Geography, ecology, and human use Wasatch Mountains Mountain range running ~160 miles from the Utah–Idaho border south through central Utah; important for water, recreation, ecology, and regional climate.

Waseca County, Minnesota Waseca County is a rural county in southern Minnesota, centered on the city of Waseca. Its landscape, history, and communities reflect the region’s agricultural character.

Washington (state): Geography, History, and Key Facts Washington (state) Concise encyclopedia entry on Washington state: location, climate, landscape, history, government, population centers, economy, major universities, outdoor attractions, and disting…

Washington County, Arkansas County in northwest Arkansas with seat Fayetteville, founded 1828; home to the University of Arkansas and a core of the rapidly growing Northwest Arkansas metropolitan area.

Washington County, Florida A rural county in the Florida Panhandle established in 1821 with its seat at Chipley; known for forestry and agriculture and for being a dry county where retail alcohol sales are r…

Washington County, Kansas Rural county in north-central Kansas with county seat Washington. Agricultural economy and small towns; 2010 census recorded 5,799 residents.

Washington County, Kentucky A county in central Kentucky established in 1792, with Springfield as its seat. Known for rural character, historical buildings, and a small, agriculture-based economy recorded at…

Washington County, Maryland A county in western Maryland centered on Hagerstown; known for its Civil War history, the Hagerstown Valley, agriculture, transportation corridors, and national historic sites.

Washington County, Missouri A rural county in eastern Missouri organized in 1813 with county seat Potosi. Known for historic mining, forested hills, rivers and outdoor recreation. Population was 25,195 at the…

Washington County, Nebraska — overview, history, and communities Washington County, Nebraska Washington County in eastern Nebraska, established 1854 with Blair as its county seat. Rural and suburban mix along the Missouri River, part of the Omaha metropolitan area, with ag…

Washington County, Rhode Island (South County) Washington County, Rhode Island Coastal county in southern Rhode Island, commonly called South County. Pop. 126,979 (2010). Known for shoreline, summer tourism and historic New England towns; Rhode Island countie…

Washington County, Utah: Geography, History, and Modern Overview Washington County, Utah Washington County is the southwesternmost county of Utah, with St. George as its county seat. Known for rapid growth, desert landscapes, outdoor recreation and a history tied to ea…

Washuk District (Balochistan, Pakistan) Washuk District Washuk District is a large, sparsely populated administrative district in Pakistan's Balochistan province, known for its arid landscape, tribal communities, and development challen…

Wasit Governorate, Iraq Wasit Governorate Wasit Governorate is an eastern Iraqi province along the Tigris with capital Al Kut. It is an agricultural, riverine region with deep Mesopotamian roots and administrative signific…

Water hemisphere (Earth's hemisphere with most water) Water hemisphere The water hemisphere is the half of Earth that contains the largest proportion of the planet's oceans. Centered near New Zealand, it contains most of the Pacific and Indian Oceans…

Waterfall: formation, types, and significance Waterfall A waterfall is where flowing water drops over a vertical or near-vertical edge. This article explains how waterfalls form, their parts and types, ecological and cultural importance…

Waterfront: definition, types, uses and management Waterfront A waterfront is land beside a body of water. This article explains types, common features, history of development, uses, environmental importance, and planning considerations.

Waterhole A natural or artificial ground depression where water accumulates seasonally or permanently; important for wildlife, livestock, and local ecology and distinct from springs, wells,…

Wau, South Sudan: regional capital on the Jur River Wau, South Sudan Wau is a city in northwestern South Sudan on the Jur River; a regional administrative, market and transport centre with a complex history, diverse population, and ongoing reconstru…

Wauseon, Ohio: county seat and regional center in northwest Ohio Wauseon, Ohio Wauseon is a small city in northwestern Ohio that serves as the county seat of Fulton County. It is a regional center for government, services, commerce and community life in a lar…

Wayanad district, Kerala: geography, history, economy and tourism Wayanad Wayanad is a high plateau district in northeast Kerala, India, known for its spice plantations, biodiversity in the Western Ghats, tribal communities, and popular hill-station tour…

Wayne County, Michigan: overview, history, and significance Wayne County, Michigan Wayne County, Michigan, contains Detroit and a large metropolitan population. This article covers its geography, history, economy, government, demographics, and notable features.

Waziristan: mountainous tribal region of northwest Pakistan Waziristan Waziristan is a mountainous Pashtun region in northwest Pakistan bordering Afghanistan. Formerly part of FATA, it comprises North and South Waziristan and has notable tribal, strat…

Weddell Sea — Antarctic basin, sea ice and oceanographic gateway Weddell Sea The Weddell Sea is a large, ice-covered sector of the Southern Ocean known for its persistent sea ice, the Weddell Gyre, deep-water formation, unique wildlife and a history of pola…

Wegscheid (Haut-Rhin) — commune in Grand Est, France Wegscheid, Haut-Rhin Wegscheid is a small commune in the Haut-Rhin department of Grand Est, eastern France, noted for its rural setting in the Vosges foothills, Alsatian heritage, and outdoor recreatio…

Weilheim-Schongau (rural district in Upper Bavaria) Weilheim-Schongau Weilheim-Schongau is a rural district in Upper Bavaria, southern Bavaria, Germany. It combines pre-Alpine landscapes, historic towns and agricultural lowlands and borders several o…

Weimarer Land Weimarer Land is a rural district in eastern Thuringia, Germany, that surrounds the district-free city of Weimar. It combines agricultural landscapes, small towns and cultural ties…

Weinfelden District (Thurgau, Switzerland) Weinfelden District Administrative district in the canton of Thurgau, northeastern Switzerland; centered on the town of Weinfelden and composed of multiple municipalities, agricultural land and small…

Weinviertel (Wine Quarter) — Northeastern Austria's Wine Region Weinviertel Weinviertel, in northeastern Lower Austria, is a gently hilled region bordering the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Famous as Austria's largest wine-producing area, noted for Grüner V…

Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen (rural district in Middle Franconia, Bavaria) Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen is a rural district (Landkreis) in Middle Franconia, Bavaria, Germany. It combines varied landscapes, Roman heritage, lakes and nature areas with agricultur…