Geography

MacDonnell Ranges (Central Australia) MacDonnell Ranges A rugged east–west mountain range in Australia's Northern Territory, notable for deep gaps and gorges, Aboriginal cultural significance, conservation parks and the long-distance La…

Macedonia: region, historical kingdom, and modern identities Macedonia Macedonia denotes an ancient kingdom, a Balkan region shared by several countries, and contemporary political and cultural identities. This article outlines its history, geography,…

Macedonia (Greece) Region of northern Greece centered on Thessaloniki, with distinct geography, history from ancient Macedon to modern administration, and economic and cultural importance.

Macedonia (region): geography, history, and modern divisions Macedonia (region) Macedonia is a historical and geographical region in the central Balkans whose borders and political status changed over centuries; today it is divided among Greece, North Macedoni…

Machair: fertile coastal grasslands of northwest Scotland and western Ireland Machair Machair (Gàidhlig) are low-lying, calcareous coastal grasslands on parts of western Scotland and Ireland, valued for species-rich flora, traditional crofting management and importa…

Mackenzie River Major Canadian river flowing 1,738 km from Great Slave Lake to the Arctic Ocean, draining a vast northern watershed and supporting Indigenous communities, wildlife, and seasonal ri…

Macon County, Illinois Macon County is a central Illinois county centered on Decatur. It combines an urban core and extensive farmland, with a history tied to early 19th-century settlement, agriculture,…

Macon County, Missouri Macon County is a largely rural county in north-central Missouri with the city of Macon as its county seat. The 2010 U.S. census recorded 15,566 residents; the area has agricultura…

Macoupin County, Illinois A mostly rural county in southwestern Illinois with county seat Carlinville, population 47,765 (2010). Named for a local creek, it has agricultural roots, historic mining, and is p…

Macquarie River (New South Wales) Macquarie River A major inland river in central New South Wales, rising near Oberon and flowing northwest through Bathurst, Wellington and Dubbo to the ecologically important Macquarie Marshes.

Madeira: Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic Madeira Autonomous Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic, known for its main island Madeira, Porto Santo, laurel forests, wine, and tourism; part of Macaronesia and an outermost EU…

Madeira River — major tributary of the Amazon in Bolivia and Brazil Madeira River The Madeira River (Rio Madeira) flows from Bolivian Andean tributaries into western Brazil and joins the Amazon. It is a key waterway for navigation, biodiversity, sediment transpo…

Mädelegabel — prominent peak of the Allgäu Alps Mädelegabel Mädelegabel (2,645 m) is a well-known mountain on the Germany–Austria border in the Allgäu Alps, noted for its dolomite rock, a small glacier, popular climbing routes, and a place…

Madera County, California County in central California spanning the eastern San Joaquin Valley and western Sierra Nevada; agriculture, forest lands and mountain recreation shape its economy and identity. Co…

Madhya Pradesh: geography, history, culture and attractions Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh is a large central Indian state known for its forests, rivers, ancient sites, tribal cultures and major cities such as Bhopal and Indore.

Magallanes Region (XII Region of Chile) Magallanes Region Southernmost administrative region of Chile, notable for Patagonia landscapes, Torres del Paine, islands and a Chilean Antarctic claim administered as part of the region.

Magdalena River Principal river of Colombia, flowing north from the Andes to the Caribbean; central to the country's geography, transport, ecology, history and economy.

Maghreb (Northwest Africa) Maghreb Northwest African region historically and culturally defined; commonly includes Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya, with shared Berber and Arab influen…

Magna Graecia — Greek colonies and culture in southern Italy Magna Graecia Magna Graecia ("Great Greece") denotes the coastal Greek colonies of southern Italy and nearby Sicily from the 8th century BC, their culture, urban centers, and lasting influence o…

Magstatt-le-Bas Magstatt-le-Bas is a small rural commune in the Haut-Rhin department of the Grand Est region in northeastern France, part of the historic Alsace area with local administration and…

Magstatt-le-Haut — commune in Haut-Rhin, Grand Est, France Magstatt-le-Haut Magstatt-le-Haut is a small commune in the Haut-Rhin department of eastern France. This article summarizes its geography, administration, history, local life, and visitor notes.

Mahakali Zone (Nepal) Mahakali Zone Mahakali Zone was a former administrative zone in Nepal’s Far-Western Development Region, spanning plains to high mountains and now part of Sudurpashchim Province; overview, geogra…

Maidan Wardak Province Central Afghan province west of Kabul; capital Maidan Shar. Mountainous highlands, mixed Pashtun and Hazara population, agriculture-based economy and strategic routes to Kabul.

Main (river) — a major German tributary of the Rhine Main The Main is a 524 km river in Germany, flowing through Bavaria and Hesse, bordering Baden-Württemberg, notable for navigation, vineyards in Franconia, and cities such as Frankfurt,…

Main-Spessart (Landkreis in Lower Franconia, Bavaria) Main-Spessart Main-Spessart is a district in northwest Bavaria, Germany, spanning the Main river valley and the forested Spessart hills; it combines rural economy, woodland, historic towns and o…

Main-Tauber (district) — geography, towns, history and culture Main-Tauber (district) Main-Tauber is a rural district in northeastern Baden-Württemberg, Germany, named for the Main and Tauber rivers; known for historic towns, vineyards, spas and scenic river valleys…

Maine-et-Loire: Geography, History and Economy of the Loire Valley Department Maine-et-Loire Maine-et-Loire, a Loire Valley department centered on Angers: geography, history since 1790, vineyards, agriculture, towns, economy and cultural heritage

Mainland China Mainland China refers to the contiguous territory administered by the People’s Republic of China, commonly excluding Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and several outlying islets for admini…

Mainland Japan: definition, history, and regional distinctions Mainland Japan Overview of the term Mainland Japan, its geographic scope, historical changes in usage, cultural distinctions with Hokkaido and Okinawa, and contemporary usage in language and poli…

Mainz-Bingen (district) Mainz-Bingen Mainz-Bingen is a Landkreis in eastern Rhineland‑Palatinate, Germany, encompassing Rhine valley towns and the wine-producing areas of Rhenish Hesse with a long cultural and transpo…

Maipo River (Chile) Maipo (river) The Maipo River flows west from the Andes through the Santiago Metropolitan and Valparaíso regions of central Chile, providing water for cities, agriculture, industry and recreatio…

Makalu Makalu is the world’s fifth-highest mountain at 8,485 m on the Nepal–China border. A steep, four-sided pyramid in the Mahalangur Himalaya, it is noted for technical climbs, glacier…

Makassar Strait A broad Indonesian seaway between Borneo and Sulawesi linking the Celebes and Java Seas; important for shipping, the Indonesian Throughflow, regional ports, fisheries and offshore…

Malagasy ariary The ariary is the official currency of Madagascar (ISO code MGA). It is a rare non‑decimal currency, historically tied to older Malagasy coinage and still divided into iraimbilanja…

Malakand District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Malakand District Malakand District is a mountainous district in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, known for the Malakand Pass, Pashtun culture, strategic history, and local agriculture and tra…

Malanje Province, Angola: geography, people, and key sites Malanje Province Malanje is a north-central Angolan province centered on the city of Malanje, known for Kalandula Falls, Capanda Dam, conservation areas and a predominantly agricultural economy.

Mälaren — Sweden’s third-largest lake and its cultural landscape Mälaren Mälaren is Sweden’s third-largest lake, a shallow post-glacial freshwater basin that drains to the Baltic Sea. It is notable for islands, Viking heritage sites and its role in Stoc…

Malawi — geography, history, society and economy Malawi Overview of Malawi: location in southeast Africa, physical features including Lake Malawi, brief history from precolonial to independence, and present-day society, economy, and cha…

Malay Archipelago The Malay Archipelago is the vast island region between mainland Southeast Asia and Australia, encompassing thousands of islands, rich biodiversity, and a complex human and colonia…

Malay Peninsula Peninsular landmass in Southeast Asia forming the southernmost part of mainland Asia, shared by Myanmar, Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia; notable for trade routes, biodiversity an…

Malaya: historical names, geography, and colonial legacy Malaya Malaya has denoted different places over time: an island named in ancient Indian texts, regions of the Malay world, British colonial territories, and the independent Federation of…

Malaysia: geography, people, government and natural diversity Malaysia Concise overview of Malaysia’s geography, political structure, peoples, languages, religions, biodiversity and economic features.

Malden Island: uninhabited Line Island of Kiribati Malden Island Malden Island is an uninhabited coral island in the central Pacific, part of Kiribati's Line Islands; noted for its archaeological remains, seabird colonies and protected status as…

Maldives: island nation of coral atolls in the Indian Ocean Maldives The Maldives is a low-lying island nation of more than 1,000 coral islands and 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean, known for its atoll geography, marine biodiversity, tourism economy an…

Mali: Republic in West Africa Mali Mali is a large, landlocked country in West Africa known for its historic empires, the Niger River, Saharan landscapes, and diverse cultures. This article summarizes its geography,…

Malika Parbat — the 'Queen of the Mountains' of Kaghan Valley Malika Parbat Malika Parbat is a prominent 5,290 m peak above Saiful Muluk in Pakistan's Kaghan Valley, noted for steep ridges, technical climbing, and strong cultural and scenic significance.

Malir District — geography, history, economy and notable places Malir District Malir District is a largely rural and agriculturally important district of Karachi Division, Sindh, Pakistan, known for its open spaces, Hub Dam and areas adjoining Kirthar Nationa…

Maloja District (Graubünden) — geography, history and significance Maloja District Former Swiss district in the canton of Graubünden, covering alpine valleys including the Upper Engadine and Bregaglia; multilingual region known for tourism and historic mountain p…