Geography

Yamaguchi Prefecture: geography, history, culture and key sites Yamaguchi Prefecture Yamaguchi Prefecture, at Honshū's western tip, is known for coastal landscapes, historic Chōshū domain influence, scenic bridges and caves, traditional towns, fisheries and transpo…

Yambol Province (Yambolska oblast) — Southeastern Bulgaria Yambol Province Yambol Province is an administrative region in southeastern Bulgaria, centered on the city of Yambol. It includes several municipalities, river valleys, agricultural land and cultu…

Yamuna — river of northern India: course, history, and contemporary issues Yamuna The Yamuna is a major northern Indian river, rising at Yamunotri in the Himalaya and joining the Ganges. This article outlines its course, tributaries, cultural importance, uses, a…

Yangtze River (Chang Jiang): Geography, history, ecology and importance Yangtze River The Yangtze (Chang Jiang) is Asia’s longest river, flowing from the Tibetan Plateau to the East China Sea. This article covers its course, history, ecology, major works like the Th…

Yap (Wa'ab) — Island and State in the Federated States of Micronesia Yap Yap (Wa'ab) is a group of high islands and outer atolls in the western Pacific, known for its stone money, traditional navigation and cultural continuity within the Federated State…

Yaque del Norte River Major river of the Dominican Republic that rises in the Cordillera Central and flows northwest across the Cibao Valley to Montecristi Bay; important for irrigation, towns, and hydr…

Yaqui River (Río Yaqui) — major river of Sonora, Mexico Yaqui River Major river in Sonora, Mexico, rising in the Sierra Madre Occidental and running ~320 km to the Gulf of California. Important for irrigation, reservoirs, local communities and the…

Yaracuy — state in north-central Venezuela Yaracuy Yaracuy is a state in north-central Venezuela centered on the city of San Felipe. It is known for varied landscapes, agricultural production, protected areas and a mixed urban-rura…

Yardimli District (Yardımlı) Yardimli District Yardimli (Yardımlı) is a mountainous district (raion) in southeastern Azerbaijan, centered on the town of Yardimli. Known for rural settlements, forestry, and traditional agricultu…

Yarkon River (Nahal HaYarkon) — river of central Israel Yarkon River Coastal river in central Israel that rises near Rosh HaAyin and flows west through the Tel Aviv area into the Mediterranean; noted for historical mentions, urban influence and rest…

Yarra River (Birrarung): course, history, ecology and uses Yarra River The Yarra River (Birrarung) is a 242 km perennial river in east-central Victoria, Australia, flowing from the Yarra Ranges through the Yarra Valley and Melbourne to Port Phillip. C…

Yasin Valley (Gilgit–Baltistan): geography, culture and travel overview Yasin Valley High mountain valley in the Hindu Kush of northern Pakistan, noted for steep peaks, alpine pastures, orchard agriculture, traditional villages and seasonal access via the Karakoram…

Yazd Province: geography, culture, history and heritage Yazd province Central Iranian province centered on the historic city of Yazd, known for desert architecture, Zoroastrian heritage, windcatchers, qanats and traditional crafts; a cultural and his…

Yazoo River — Mississippi tributary and Delta watershed Yazoo River The Yazoo River in Mississippi is a 188-mile tributary formed by the Tallahatchie and Yalobusha rivers. It defines part of the Mississippi Delta floodplain and has shaped regional…

Ybbs (river and town) — river of Lower Austria and its namesake town Ybbs The Ybbs is a river in Lower Austria with its source near the Zellerrain Pass; its name also refers to the town Ybbs an der Donau where the river meets the Danube.

Yell County, Arkansas Yell County is a rural county in western Arkansas, founded in 1840 and named for Archibald Yell. It has two county seats, Dardanelle and Danville, and had about 22,185 residents at…

Yellow River (Huang He) Yellow River Major river of northern China, noted for heavy silt, historical floods, role in early Chinese civilization, and contemporary water management and environmental challenges.

Yellow Sea Shallow marginal sea between China and the Korean Peninsula, noted for its silt-rich waters from the Yellow River and for its fisheries, shipping routes, and environmental challeng…

Yellowstone County, Montana Yellowstone County is Montana's most populous county, anchored by Billings. It spans river valleys and plains and serves as a regional center for commerce, transportation, culture,…

Yellowstone River A major free‑flowing tributary of the Missouri River that rises in Yellowstone National Park and traverses Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota, known for its scenery, fisheries and n…

Yemen: Geography, History, Culture and Contemporary Issues Yemen An encyclopedic overview of Yemen covering its geography, ancient and modern history, society, economy, and the humanitarian and political crises shaping the country today.

Yenisei River: Siberian waterway from Mongolia to the Kara Sea Yenisei Comprehensive overview of the Yenisei River: course, basin, hydrology, human uses, environmental issues and its role in the Arctic and global systems.

Yeongam County, South Jeolla Province Yeongam Coastal county in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. Rural administrative region of about 60,000 people notable for its port, agricultural economy and the Korean International Cir…

Yerupajá: High Peak of the Cordillera Huayhuash in Peru Yerupajá Yerupajá (6,635 m) is the highest summit of the Cordillera Huayhuash in Peru, a remote and technical Andean peak notable for steep faces, heavy glaciation and its importance to cli…

Yetter, Iowa Yetter is a small incorporated city in the U.S. state of Iowa, a rural community surrounded by farmland with local services, a modest civic structure, and ties to regional settleme…

Yevlakh District (Yevlax) — central Azerbaijan district Yevlakh District Overview of Yevlakh District (Yevlax), a central Azerbaijani raion: location, geography, history, administration, economy and notable facts, with links to related topics.

Yèvre — river of the Cher department, Centre-Val de Loire, France Yèvre The Yèvre is a central French river in the Cher department (Centre-Val de Loire). A right-bank tributary of the Cher, it passes towns such as Bourges and Mehun-sur-Yèvre and suppor…

Yonne (river) The Yonne is a river in north-central France, rising in the Morvan and flowing north through Bourgogne-Franche-Comté to join the Seine near Montereau-Fault-Yonne. It gives its name…

York County, Nebraska: overview, history, and local features York County, Nebraska York County, founded in 1870, is a primarily agricultural county in east-central Nebraska with the city of York as its county seat and a population of about 13,665 at the 2010 cens…

York County, Pennsylvania York County, in south-central Pennsylvania (created 1749), combines historic towns, agriculture, manufacturing and suburban communities. County seat York; 2010 population 434,972.…

York County, South Carolina York County is a north-central South Carolina county with York (seat) and Rock Hill; part of the Charlotte metro area, with a mixed economy of manufacturing, education, services an…

Yorkshire — historic county of northern England Yorkshire Yorkshire is a large historic county in northern England, known for the Pennines, North Sea coast, the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, and cities such as York, Leeds and Shef…

Yorkshire and the Humber: geography, administration, and regional profile Yorkshire and the Humber Overview of Yorkshire and the Humber: its geography, administrative history, major places, landscapes, economy, culture and protected areas in northern England.

Yorkshire Dales — upland valleys and national park in northern England Yorkshire Dales An overview of the Yorkshire Dales: its landscape, geology, history, key places and recreational and conservation importance within the national park and historic county.

Yosemite Valley: Glacial Core of Yosemite National Park Yosemite Valley Yosemite Valley is a glacially carved valley in California's Sierra Nevada, famed for granite cliffs, waterfalls such as Yosemite Falls, rich ecology, Native American history, and…

Yuba County, California: geography, history, and communities Yuba County, California Overview of Yuba County, California, covering location, geography, brief history, economy, communities, and notable facts along the Feather River and in the Central Valley.

Yucatán Channel (Straits of Yucatán) Yucatán Channel A major Caribbean–Gulf of Mexico strait between Mexico and Cuba, the Yucatán Channel is a deep, wide marine passage that controls water exchange, currents, ecology and shipping in…

Yucatán Peninsula: geography, history, ecology and significance Yucatán Peninsula Overview of the Yucatán Peninsula in southeastern Mexico and parts of Belize and Guatemala: its geography, karst landscape and cenotes, Maya heritage, biodiversity, economy and the…

Yugoslavia: history, federation, and dissolution Yugoslavia Overview of Yugoslavia: origins, political forms from 1918–2006, federal structure, major historical phases including the Tito era, the 1990s breakup, successor states, and its leg…

Yukon River Major river of northwestern North America, rising in British Columbia, flowing through the Yukon and Alaska, important ecologically and historically for transportation, salmon runs…

Yuma County, Arizona: geography, history, economy and key facts Yuma County, Arizona Overview of Yuma County, Arizona: location, borders with Mexico and California, population, climate, agriculture, military and recreational sites, and notable historical and econom…

Yunnan Province — geography, history, culture and biodiversity Yunnan Yunnan is a mountainous southwestern province of China known for ethnic diversity, rich biodiversity, borderlands with Southeast Asia, and major cultural and ecological significanc…

Yusufkhel District (Paktika Province, Afghanistan) Yusufkhel District Yusufkhel District is a rural administrative district in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, created in 2004 from part of Zarghun Shar. It is mountainous, predominantly Pashto-speaking,…

Yvelines (French department) Yvelines Yvelines is a department in the Île-de-France region west of Paris, known for the Palace of Versailles, extensive forests, and a mix of suburban and rural areas.

Zaatari Refugee Camp — Overview, History and Current Situation Zaatari Large refugee camp in northern Jordan near the Syrian border, established for people fleeing the Syrian conflict. It evolved into a semi-permanent settlement with markets, services…

Žabljak, mountain town in northern Montenegro Žabljak Žabljak is a small mountain town in northern Montenegro, gateway to Durmitor National Park and Black Lake. Known for skiing, hiking and high-altitude scenery; population 1,723 (201…

Zabul Province (Afghanistan) Zabul Province Zabul is a sparsely populated, historically named province in southern Afghanistan with Qalat as its capital. It is predominantly Pashtun and characterized by rugged terrain, rural…

Zacatecas (Mexican state) Zacatecas Zacatecas is a north-central Mexican state known for colonial silver-mining history, a highland plateau landscape, and the UNESCO-listed city of Zacatecas. Population roughly 1.3 m…