Geography

Great Britain (island in the North Atlantic) Great Britain Great Britain is the largest island in the British Isles, containing England, Scotland and Wales; this article summarizes its geography, geology, climate, history, political status…

Great Dividing Range (Eastern Highlands of Australia) Great Dividing Range Australia's largest mountain system: a complex of ranges, plateaus and escarpments running about 3,500 km along the east coast. Shapes climate, rivers, ecosystems and settlement ac…

Great Eastern Main Line Major railway linking London Liverpool Street with East Anglia, serving key stations from Shenfield and Chelmsford to Ipswich and Norwich and numerous branch lines to coastal towns…

Great Glen (Scotland): geography, geology, history and uses Great Glen A long glen in Scotland formed along the Great Glen Fault, stretching from Inverness to Fort William; important for transport, geology, lochs, history and tourism.

Great Lakes (North America) Great Lakes A concise overview of the five interconnected freshwater lakes of eastern North America: geography, origin, uses, environmental challenges, and distinguishing facts.

Great Plains (North America): geography, ecology, history and uses Great Plains Overview of the Great Plains: extent, climate zones, soils, vegetation and wildlife, human history, agriculture and ongoing conservation and restoration efforts in this central Nor…

Great Rift Valley (East African Rift) Great Rift Valley A long continental rift system from Southwest Asia into eastern Africa formed by plate divergence, noted for deep valleys, volcanoes, rift lakes, rich biodiversity and key paleoant…

Great Salt Lake: geography, ecology, history, and human uses Great Salt Lake A concise overview of the Great Salt Lake in Utah: its physical features, hydrology, ecology, historical origin, uses such as mineral extraction and recreation, and modern environm…

Great Sandy Desert (Australia) Great Sandy Desert Vast arid region in northwestern Australia, second-largest Australian desert; known for red sandplains, spinifex vegetation, Indigenous cultural regions, and mineral activity under…

Great Slave Lake: North America's deepest lake Great Slave Lake Great Slave Lake is a vast glacial lake in Canada's Northwest Territories, notable for its depth, size, Indigenous connections, and role in regional ecology, transport and history.

Great Victoria Desert Largest Australian desert spanning Western and South Australia; an arid landscape of dunes, gibber plains and salt lakes, with long Aboriginal occupation, unique wildlife and a con…

Great Western Main Line (London–Bristol railway) Great Western main line Major railway running west from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads, opened in 1841 as the original Great Western Railway route; now part of the national network managed by N…

Greater Antilles: Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Puerto Rico Greater Antilles The Greater Antilles are the largest Caribbean islands — Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Jamaica and Puerto Rico — formed from continental rock with distinct g…

Greater Caucasus: geography, ecology, geology and human significance Greater Caucasus Major mountain range of the Caucasus stretching from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea; overview of its geography, ecology, geology, divisions and cultural importance.

Greater China: regions, history, and contemporary significance Greater China Neutral overview of Greater China: the geographic, cultural and economic grouping of mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, their differences, history and contemporary releva…

Greater Los Angeles Area A concise encyclopedic overview of the Greater Los Angeles Area: its geography, components, history, economy, and distinguishing features within Southern California.

Greater Middle East A geopolitical term grouping the Middle East with adjacent countries in North Africa, the Caucasus, Central and South Asia. Definitions vary and the label is often debated for its…

Greater Poland Voivodeship (Wielkopolskie) Greater Poland Voivodeship A western-Poland province centered on Poznań, covering much of the historical region of Greater Poland; notable for its role in early Polish statehood, agriculture, industry, and c…

Greece (Hellenic Republic): geography, history, government and culture Greece Greece — the Hellenic Republic — is a southeastern European country of islands and mountains, birthplace of classical civilization, a parliamentary republic and a modern economy sh…

Greeley County, Kansas Greeley County is a sparsely populated county in western Kansas, known for its agricultural landscape, small county seat Tribune, and its name honoring Horace Greeley.

Greeley County, Nebraska Greeley County is a small, rural county in Nebraska, founded in 1871 with the county seat at Greeley. It had 2,538 residents at the 2010 census and is known for its agricultural la…

Green belt (urban planning): purpose, types, history, and debates Green belt Green belts are land-use policies that protect undeveloped land around cities to limit sprawl, conserve nature and provide recreation. This article explains forms, history, benefit…

Green County, Kentucky: History, Geography, and Demographic Overview Green County, Kentucky Overview of Green County, Kentucky: history tied to Revolutionary War namesake Nathanael Greene, rural geography of farms and forests, population trends, and Greensburg's role as t…

Green County, Wisconsin County in Wisconsin, United States. County seat Monroe. Population: 33,647 (2000 census).

Green Forest, Arkansas — small city in Carroll County with rural commerce and history Green Forest, Arkansas Green Forest is a small city in Carroll County, Arkansas, United States, known for its rural setting, local schools, small manufacturing and agricultural economy, and community tra…

Green Lake County, Wisconsin Rural county in central Wisconsin centered on Green Lake. Known for agriculture, outdoor recreation and small communities; county seat is the village of Green Lake. Population 19,1…

Green River — major tributary of the Colorado River Green River The Green River is the largest tributary of the Colorado River, rising in Wyoming and flowing through Utah into Lake Powell. Its course, canyons, reservoirs, dams, ecology and recr…

Green Turtle Cay, Abaco — island of New Plymouth and marine habitat Green Turtle Cay Green Turtle Cay is a small Bahamian island in the Abaco Out Islands, known for New Plymouth, marine life (notably green turtles), boating, beaches and a compact, historic communit…

Green Valley, Arizona: overview, history, and community profile Green Valley, Arizona Green Valley is a census-designated retirement-oriented community in Pima County, Arizona, known for golf, recreation facilities, and a predominantly older population. 2010 populat…

Greenbrier County, West Virginia — overview, geography, history and notes Greenbrier County, West Virginia Greenbrier County is a largely rural county in southeastern West Virginia, known for the Greenbrier resort, forested landscapes, historic Lewisburg, and a mix of agriculture and to…

Greene County, Alabama Rural county in west-central Alabama; county seat Eutaw. As of the 2010 census its population was 9,045 and the county had a predominantly African American population. Named for Ge…

Greene County, Arkansas Northeastern Arkansas county with county seat Paragould. Named for General Nathanael Greene, population 42,090 (2010). Rural and small-city economy built on agriculture, manufactur…

Greene County, Georgia Greene County is a historic, largely rural county in east-central Georgia. Founded in 1786 with Greensboro as its seat, it has agricultural roots, historic districts, and recreatio…

Greene County, Illinois Greene County is a largely rural county in west-central Illinois with Carrollton as its county seat. It has agricultural roots, small towns, and a population of about 13,886 at the…

Greene County, Indiana Greene County, located in southwestern Indiana, is a largely rural county with a history of farming and mining. The county seat is Bloomfield; the 2010 population was 33,165.

Greene County, Iowa Greene County is a rural county in west-central Iowa with Jefferson as its county seat, known for agriculture, small towns, and mid-19th century settlement history.

Greene County, New York — overview, geography, history and economy Greene County, New York Greene County, New York, located along the Hudson and in the Catskill Mountains, is known for outdoor recreation, small towns like Catskill, and a history dating to 1800 and Genera…

Greene County, North Carolina Greene County is a small, largely rural county in eastern North Carolina. Its county seat is Snow Hill and the 2010 census recorded a population of 21,362. It is known for agricult…

Greene County, Ohio: overview, history, communities and notable features Greene County, Ohio Greene County, in southwestern Ohio, includes Xenia and suburban and rural communities. Named for General Nathanael Greene, it blends education, military-related industry, parks, a…

Greene County, Pennsylvania Rural county in southwestern Pennsylvania founded in 1796; county seat Waynesburg; known for Appalachian landscapes, coal and natural gas history, and small-town communities.

Greene County, Virginia Rural county in Virginia's Blue Ridge foothills. Established 1838 with county seat Stanardsville; population 18,403 (2010). Noted for agriculture, outdoor recreation and proximity…

Greene, Iowa: A Small Midwestern City Greene, Iowa Greene is a small city in the U.S. state of Iowa. This article summarizes its setting, local character, history, civic life, economy and notable features.

Greenland An overview of Greenland: geography, environment, people, governance, economy, and notable facts about the world's largest island and an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of…

Greenland Sea: location, climate, ecology, and human uses Greenland Sea The Greenland Sea is a marginal sea between Greenland and Svalbard, linking Arctic and North Atlantic waters. It is known for cold climate, seasonal sea ice, important marine life,…

Greenleaf, Idaho — small city in Canyon County, Treasure Valley Greenleaf, Idaho Greenleaf is a small city in southwestern Idaho's Canyon County. A residential and agricultural community in the Boise–Nampa area, it has local services, neighborhood character, an…

Greenlee County, Arizona — overview, history, and economy Greenlee County, Arizona Greenlee County is a sparsely populated county in southeastern Arizona known for its copper mining history, rural communities, and rugged terrain. Clifton is the county seat.

Greenup County, Kentucky County in northeastern Kentucky along the Ohio River; seat at Greenup, established 1803 and named for Christopher Greenup. 2010 population about 36,910. Geography, history, communi…

Greenville County, South Carolina — overview, history, and key facts Greenville County, South Carolina Greenville County is the most populous county in South Carolina, centered on the city of Greenville; an economic and cultural hub in the state's Upstate region.