Geography

Märkisch-Oderland: district of Brandenburg on the Oder border Märkisch-Oderland Märkisch-Oderland is an eastern district of Brandenburg, Germany, characterized by the Oder river valley, lowland landscapes, rural economy and World War II history. Seelow is its…

Märkischer Kreis Märkischer Kreis is an administrative district in the Sauerland region of central North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, known for its mixed industrial and rural landscape, historic town…

Marne (department) — northeastern France, home of Champagne Marne Marne is a department in northeastern France named for the Marne River. It contains Reims and Châlons-en-Champagne, important Champagne vineyards, First World War battlefields, and…

Marne (river in France) Marne (river) The Marne is a major river in northeastern France, a right tributary of the Seine. It shaped regional geography, lent its name to four departments, and was the site of two importan…

Marsh (wetland): types, ecology, uses and conservation Marsh A marsh is a shallow wetland dominated by herbaceous plants. This article explains types, vegetation, ecology, human interactions, differences from other wetlands, and conservation…

Marshall County, South Dakota: Overview, History, and Communities Marshall County, South Dakota Marshall County is a rural county in northeastern South Dakota with Britton as its county seat. It is sparsely populated, agricultural, and part of the prairie pothole region impor…

Marshall Islands (Republic of the Marshall Islands) Marshall Islands The Republic of the Marshall Islands is a Micronesian island country in the western Pacific. Overview of its geography, history, governance, economy, culture and notable diaspora c…

Martin County, Florida — Overview, History, and Notable Features Martin County, Florida Martin County is a coastal county in the U.S. state of Florida, formed in 1915 with Stuart as its county seat. Known for its waterways, parks and part of Florida's Treasure Coast.

Martin County, Kentucky Martin County is a rural county in eastern Kentucky. Its county seat is Inez; the 2010 population was 12,929. The county features Appalachian terrain and a history tied to coal, ti…

Martinique: geography, history, culture and political status Martinique Martinique is a Caribbean island and French overseas region known for its volcanic interior, Creole culture, rum production, zouk music and a complex colonial history.

Marvdasht County (Fars Province, Iran) Marvdasht County County in Fars Province, Iran, centered on Marvdasht. Noted for the Persepolis complex, fertile plains, Dorudzan irrigation, mixed agriculture and regional cultural heritage.

Mary River (Northern Territory) A coastal river in Australia's Northern Territory known for its floodplain wetlands, national park, wildlife habitat and historical naming by explorer John McDouall Stuart in 1862.

Marzahn-Hellersdorf: borough of northeast Berlin Marzahn-Hellersdorf Marzahn-Hellersdorf is a borough in northeast Berlin formed in 2001 from Marzahn and Hellersdorf. It includes several former villages, extensive housing estates, parks and suburban…

Mason–Dixon Line Boundary first surveyed between Maryland and Pennsylvania in the 1760s; a precise colonial-era survey that became a legal, geographical and cultural dividing line in the United Sta…

Masovian Voivodeship Masovian Voivodeship is an east‑central province of Poland centered on Warsaw. It covers most of historic Masovia, contains major urban and rural areas, important cultural institut…

Massif Central — highlands of south-central France Massif Central Ancient upland region in south-central France noted for Variscan geology, extensive plateaux, numerous extinct volcanoes (Auvergne), and its influence on rivers, ecology, agricultu…

Mastung District — Balochistan, Pakistan Mastung District Mastung District is an administrative district in northwestern Balochistan, Pakistan, created in 1991 from Kalat District. This article summarizes its geography, history, administr…

Matagorda County, Texas Coastal county in southeastern Texas known for Matagorda Bay, Gulf frontage, agriculture, fisheries, and the county seat Bay City. Population was 36,702 in 2010 (U.S. Census).

Matajur — mountain on the Slovenia–Italy border Matajur Matajur is a 1,642 m peak in the Julian Alps on the Slovenia–Italy border. Noted for its prominence, panoramic views and First World War history, it is popular for hiking and regio…

Matanuska–Susitna Valley (Mat‑Su Valley): geography, history, and uses Matanuska-Susitna Valley A concise overview of Alaska’s Matanuska–Susitna Valley — its landscape, rivers and mountains, settlement history, economy, government and recreational importance.

Matanzas Province, Cuba: geography, culture, and economy Matanzas Province Matanzas Province in western Cuba combines coastal beaches, extensive wetlands and a rich musical and cultural heritage. It includes Varadero, the Zapata Swamp and the historic cit…

Mato Grosso: geography, history, ecosystems and contemporary issues Mato Grosso Mato Grosso is a large state in western Brazil known for its Amazon, Cerrado and Pantanal regions, agricultural expansion, indigenous cultures and ongoing conservation and land-use…

Mato Grosso do Sul: geography, ecosystems, history and economy Mato Grosso do Sul An informative overview of Mato Grosso do Sul, a Brazilian state known for the Pantanal wetlands, its borders, history since the 1970s split, economy and cultural features.

Mattenbach — district and neighborhoods of Winterthur, Switzerland Mattenbach Mattenbach is a district of the city of Winterthur in Switzerland, comprising the quarters Deutweg, Gutschick and Endliker. This article describes its layout, origins, character an…

Mattertal: the Swiss valley beneath the Matterhorn Mattertal Mattertal is a high Alpine valley in Switzerland carved by glaciers beneath the Matterhorn. It contains villages such as Zermatt and Täsch and is known for mountaineering, skiing,…

Matukituki River (South Island, New Zealand) Matukituki River Glacial river in New Zealand's Southern Alps that flows from Mount Aspiring National Park into Lake Wanaka. Noted for braided channels, alpine valleys, hiking tracks and conservati…

Maule Region (Región del Maule) — VII Region of Chile Maule Region Central Chilean region centered on the Maule River; agricultural and wine-producing landscape with Andean foothills, coastal influence, and provincial centers such as Talca, Curicó…

Maumee River River in northeastern Indiana and northwestern Ohio that drains to Lake Erie at Toledo; culturally important waterway with the largest Great Lakes-feeding watershed and notable eco…

Mayen-Koblenz district (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany) Mayen-Koblenz Administrative district in the north of Rhineland-Palatinate characterized by the Rhine and Moselle rivers, Eifel uplands, mixed agriculture, industry, and historical towns such as…

Mayenne (river) The Mayenne is a roughly 200 km river in northwestern France. Rising in the Orne area, it flows through Mayenne department and joins other rivers near Angers to form the Maine; it…

Mayo-Kebbi Est Region (Chad): geography, administration and significance Mayo-Kebbi Est Region Mayo-Kebbi Est is a region of southwestern Chad with capital Bongor, named for the Mayo Kébbi river. This article summarizes its geography, administration, economy, environment and…

Mayo-Kebbi Ouest Region (Chad) Mayo-Kebbi Ouest Region Mayo-Kebbi Ouest is a southwestern region of Chad with capital Pala. It features the Mayo Kébbi river, Lakes Léré and Tréné, mixed Sudanian–Sahelian landscapes, and economies based…

Mayotte: geography, status, culture and contemporary issues Mayotte Mayotte is an island in the Mozambique Channel that is geographically part of the Comoros archipelago but politically an overseas department and region of France. Overview of geogr…

Mazanderani Mazanderani: an Iranian language and the people, culture and region of Mazandaran in northern Iran. Covers language classification, dialects, history, cultural features, contempora…

Mbomou (prefecture of the Central African Republic) Mbomou Mbomou is a southeastern prefecture of the Central African Republic, centered on the river town of Bangassou. It is characterised by riverine landscapes, rural livelihoods and limi…

McCone County, Montana — rural county in eastern Montana McCone County, Montana McCone County is a sparsely populated rural county in eastern Montana, established in 1919 with the county seat at Circle. Known for prairie landscapes, agriculture, and low popula…

McCook County, South Dakota McCook County is a rural county in eastern South Dakota, created in 1873 and named for Edwin S. McCook. Its county seat is Salem; agriculture and small-town community life define t…

McCormick County, South Carolina A concise overview of McCormick County, SC: its location, history since 1916, geography, population, economy, local government, and recreational attractions around lakes and woodla…

McCulloch County, Texas McCulloch County is a rural county in central Texas with Brady as its county seat. It had 8,283 residents at the 2010 census and is known for ranching, small towns, and outdoor rec…

McDonald County, Missouri McDonald County is a rural county in southwestern Missouri along the Arkansas border. Pineville is the county seat. The area lies within the Ozarks and is known for rolling hills,…

McMahon Line (India–China boundary in the eastern Himalaya) McMahon Line A 1914 frontier drawn at the Simla Convention between British India and Tibet, named for Sir Henry McMahon. Recognized by India but rejected by China, it is a disputed de facto bou…

McPherson County, South Dakota McPherson County is a sparsely populated county in northern South Dakota. Created in 1873 with Leola as its county seat, it had 2,459 residents at the 2010 census and retains a lar…

Meade County, South Dakota Meade County is a largely rural county in western South Dakota, established in 1889 with county seat Sturgis; it combines plains and Black Hills foothills and hosts notable communi…

Mechi Zone — former easternmost zone of Nepal Mechi Zone Mechi was a former administrative zone in eastern Nepal, centered on Ilam. It spanned lowland Terai and high Himalayan districts, known for tea, cardamom, cross-border trade and th…

Mecklenburg-Strelitz (district) Former rural district in southern Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany; created in 1994, centered on Neustrelitz, known for lakes, ducal history and nature before being merged in…

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) Mecklenburg-Vorpommern German northeastern state on the Baltic coast. Low-lying, with islands, lakes and Hanseatic towns; capital Schwerin. Known for tourism, maritime economy, and large natural reserves…

Mecklenburgische Seenplatte (district) Rural district in southeastern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, dominated by lakes, forests and protected natural areas; formed by a 2011 administrative reorganization and centered…

Medelpad — historical province of northern Sweden Medelpad Medelpad is a traditional province (landskap) on Sweden's eastern coast, known for its forests, coastal plains, major rivers Ljungan and Indalsälven, and Sundsvall as a regional ce…