A

Addis Ababa The capital of Ethiopia, in the Ethiopian Highlands. It has a population of about 5.5 million.

Aegean Sea Part of the Mediterranean Sea that lies between Turkey and Greece.

Africa The second largest continent after Asia. Northern Africa is mostly occupied by the Sahara Desert. Farther south, the desert gives way to areas of dry grassland and, nearer the Equator, tropical rainforest. A plateau rises in southern Africa, bordered by mountains in the southeast and desert in the southwest.

African Great Lakes A series of lakes around the Great Rift Valley. They include Lake Victoria, Tanganyika, Malawi, Turkana, Albert, Kivu and Edward.

Ahaggar An area of flat-topped mountains rising in the middle of the Sahara Desert.

Alaska The largest state in the USA, separated from the other states by Canada.

Alps A mountain range stretching from the Mediterranean coast of France to Central Europe. The highest peak is Mont Blanc in France, which is 4810 metres (15,781 feet) high.

Altai Mountains A mountain range that stretches around 2000 kilometres (1200 miles) through western Mongolia and northern China. The highest peak, Belukha Mountain, is 4506 metres (14,783 feet) high.

Altiplano A high plain in western South America. The altiplano is a flat, semi-desert region surrounded by the Andes Mountains.

Amazon The second longest river in the world, flowing about 6451 kilometres (4008 miles) from the Andes, through Peru and Brazil to the Atlantic Ocean. The River Amazon carries more than one fifth of the world’s freshwater.

Amazon Basin A vast area between the Andes, the Brazilian Highlands and the Guiana Highlands across which the River Amazon and its many tributaries flow.

Amazon Rainforest The largest area of rainforest in the world, stretching across the Amazon Basin. It is home to more than one fifth of all the plant and animal species in the world.

Amsterdam The capital city of the Netherlands (although the country's seat of government is The Hague). Its population is 741,636. A centre of finance and trade, Amsterdam is famous for its canals and museums.

Amur A river that rises in northeast China, then flows east forming the border between China and Russia before emptying into the Strait of Tartary and the Sea of Okhotsk. At 2824 kilometres (1755 miles) long, it is the tenth longest river in the world.

An Nafud A red, sandy desert in the north of the Arabian Peninsula. The sand is piled into enormous, crescent-shaped dunes by frequent storms.

Anatolian Plateau A broad area of land, between the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea, joining Europe and Asia. The Asian part of Turkey occupies it.

Andaman Islands A chain of islands in the Bay of Bengal between India and Burma. Most of the islands belong to India.

Andes Mountains The longest mountain range in the world, running the length of western South America. Its highest peak, Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, is 6960 metres (22,830 feet) high. It is the highest mountain on the continent.

Angel Falls The highest waterfall in the world, located in southeastern Venezuela. The Angel Falls are 979 metres (3212 feet) high.

Antarctica The Earth's southernmost and smallest continent. It contains the South Pole and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. Nearly all of Antarctica is covered by ice, which averages nearly 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) in thickness. Antarctica is the coldest and driest continent. Its only inhabitants are scientists working at research stations there.

Anti-Lebanon Mountains A mountain range on the Syria–Lebanon border. The highest peak, Mount Hermon, is 2814 metres (9232 feet) high.

Antilles A group of islands that form the greater part of the Caribbean Islands. The Greater Antilles, to the north and west, include the larger islands of Cuba and Jamaica. The Lesser Antilles, to the south and east, consist of smaller islands such as Grenada and Barbados.

Apennines A mountain range stretching nearly 1400 kilometres (875 miles) down the middle of the Italian Peninsula.

Appalachian Mountains A mountain range in eastern North America, running 2500 kilometres (1500 miles) from New England to Alabama, USA. Its highest peak, Mount Mitchell, is 2037 metres (6684 feet) high.

Arabian Peninsula The part of Asia that is surrounded on three sides by the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea.

Aral Sea A saltwater lake on the border between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. In recent years, the waters flowing into the Aral Sea have been diverted to irrigate crops, causing large parts of it to dry up.

Arctic Ocean The Arctic Ocean lies across the Earth's North Pole. It is almost completely surrounded by Europe, Siberia, Greenland and North America. It is partly covered by sea ice throughout the year and almost completely in winter.

Asia The Earth's largest and most populous continent. It shares the landmass of Eurasia with Europe, and is separated from it by the Ural Mountains and the Caucasus Mountains. Asia stretches from the Arctic tundra and coniferous forests in the north to the tropical lands bordering the Indian Ocean in the south. In the middle lie barren grasslands, desert or high mountain ranges.

Atacama Desert A desert in western Chile between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean. The Atacama Desert is one of the driest places in the world.

Athens The capital of Greece. At the heart of the city is the flat-topped Acropolis, where the remains of several ancient temples stand. The population of its urban area, including the port  Piraeus, is about 3.6 million people.

Atlantic Ocean The second largest of the world's oceans. The Atlantic covers about one fifth of the Earth's surface. It separates the "Old World" (Africa, Europe and Asia) from the "New World" (the Americas). It is normally divided into North and South at the Equator.

Atlas Mountains A mountain range stretching about 2000 kilometres (1200 miles) along the northeastern edge of the Sahara.

B

Baghdad The capital of Iraq. It is the third largest city in the Middle East (after Cairo, in Egypt, and Tehran, in Iran), with a population of more than 7.9 million.

Baikal, Lake The deepest lake in the world, located in the far east of Siberia. It contains around one-fifth of the world’s total fresh surface water.

Baja California A long peninsula in northwest Mexico, separated from mainland Mexico by the Gulf of California.

Balkan Mountains A mountain range that stretches 550 kilometres (340 miles) across Bulgaria to the Black Sea. Its highest point is Botev Peak, which is 2376 metres (7795 feet) high.

Balkhash, Lake A large lake in eastern Kazakhstan.

Baltic Sea Part of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly enclosed by the Scandinavian Peninsula and mainland Europe.

Bangkok The capital of Thailand on the banks of the Chao Phraya river. In Thailand it is known as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, meaning “city of angels”. Its urban area has a population of 17.4 million people.

Barcelona Spain's second largest city and capital of the region of Catalonia. A port city, its urban area has a population of about 4.8 million people.

Beijing The capital of China, in the northeast of the country. At its centre lies the Forbidden City, once the home of China’s emperors. The population of its urban area is about 22 million.

Beirut The capital of Lebanon and the country’s main port, built on the Mediterranean coast.

Berlin The capital of Germany, in the east of the country. It was once divided into East and West by the Berlin Wall, which came down in 1989. Its population is about 3.7 million people.

Bié Plateau A region of high, flat land occupying most of central Angola at a height of around 1500 metres (5000 feet).

Black Sea A sea almost completely enclosed by Eastern Europe, Russia, Georgia and Turkey.

Bogotá The capital of Colombia, sited 2265 metres (7430 feet) above sea level. Its urban area has a population of 11.7 million.

Borneo The third largest island in the world, divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. It is covered mainly in rainforest. Tree-felling in the area is seriously threatening its wildlife.

Bosporus A narrow channel of water that divides Europe and Asia and connects the Black Sea with the Mediterranean Sea.

Brahmaputra A river that flows 2900 kilometres (1800 miles) from China, through India to Bangladesh, where it meets the River Ganges.

Brazilian Highlands A region of hills and mountains in the east of Brazil. They stretch from tropical forests in the north to a drier climate in the south.

British Isles The group of islands off the northwestern coast of Europe. They include Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Hebrides and over 6000 other smaller islands.

Brussels The capital of Belgium and the European Union. It has a population of about 1 million people.

Bucharest The capital of Romania. It was once known as the “Paris of the East” because of its French-style architecture. It has a population of about 1.9 million people.

Budapest The capital of Hungary, situated on the banks of the River Danube. It is Europe’s largest spa town, with more than 100 natural hot springs. Its urban area has a population of about 3.3 million people, which is one third of Hungary's entire population.

Buenos Aires The capital of Argentina and the third largest city in South America, with a population of 16.4 million people. It is the birthplace of tango music and dance.

C

Cairo The capital of Egypt, built on the banks of the River Nile. It is the largest city in Africa, with the population of its urban area around 25.6 million.

California The third largest state in the USA after Alaska and Texas. Located on the west coast, it has a warm, sunny climate. It lies on the San Andreas Fault, the boundary between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates.

Cameroon, Mount The highest peak in West and Central Africa, at 4040 metres (13,255 feet) high. A volcano, it last erupted in 2012.

Canberra The capital of Australia, with a population of 466,566 people. It lies in Australian Capital Territory, separate from the surrounding state of New South Wales.

Cape Agulhas The most southerly point of Africa. It is officially the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian oceans.

Cape of Good Hope A rocky headland near the southern tip of Africa. It is named because it is the point at which ships sailing from Europe to India start to sail east.

Cape Horn The southernmost headland of Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of South America. It marks the point where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet. The waters around Cape Horn are particularly hazardous, because of high winds and strong currents.

Cape Town The second largest city in South Africa, near the Cape of Good Hope. It has a population of around 4 million people.

Cape York Peninsula The northernmost point of Australia.

Caribbean Sea Part of the Atlantic Ocean lying between Central and South America and the Antilles islands.

Carpathian Mountains The second longest mountain range in Europe, stretching over 1500 kilometres (930 miles) from the Czech Republic to the Iron Gate. Its highest point is Gerlach Peak in Slovenia, which is 2655 metres (8709 feet) high.

Caspian Sea The world's largest lake. A salty, inland sea, it is located to the east of the Caucasus Mountains and to the west of Central Asia. Its coast is shared by Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan. The River Volga flows into it, but no river flows out of it.

Caucasus Mountains A mountain range stretching 1100 kilometres (680 miles) from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea. The highest point in the Caucasus is Europe’s highest mountain, Mount Elbrus, which is 5664 metres (18,582 feet) high.

Central America A chain of countries (Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama) that forms a link between the continents of North and South America. Central America has a tropical climate, and tropical rainforest covers much of the uplands.

Chad, Lake A large, shallow lake on the southern edge of the Sahara. It provides freshwater to millions of people, but has shrunk considerably in the last 50 years.

Chicago A large city on the banks of Lake Michigan, USA. Its urban area has a population of nearly 10 million people. Chicago has some of the nation’s tallest skyscrapers.

Columbia A river rising in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flowing into the US state of Washington, then forming the border between Washington and Oregon before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. It is about 2000 kilometres (1243 miles) long and its largest tributary is the Snake River.

Congo Basin A vast lowland area across which the River Congo and its tributaries flow. It contains the second largest rainforest in the world.

Congo The second longest river in Africa, with a total length of 4700 kilometres (2900 miles) and some channels as deep as 220 metres (720 feet).

D

Damascus The capital of Syria, built around an oasis near the Anti-Lebanon Mountains. It is thought to be the oldest continually inhabited city in the world, first settled 4000 years ago.

Danube The second longest river in Europe, flowing 2860 kilometres (1777 miles) from the Black Forest in Germany to the Black Sea in Ukraine. On the way it passes through, or borders, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova.

Dardanelles A narrow body of water in northwest Turkey linking the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara.

Dasht-e Kavir A large desert in Iran, dotted with shallow lakes. These are covered in a thick crust of salt, formed when surface water evaporates in the heat.

Dead Sea A saltwater lake between Israel and Jordan, surrounded by arid hills. It is more than eight times saltier than the ocean. Located 423 metres (1388 feet) below sea level, it is the lowest point on the Earth’s surface.

Death Valley A deep desert valley in California, USA. It is the lowest, hottest and driest point in the country.

Deccan Plateau A high area of land in central India, lying between the Eastern and Western Ghats in India.

Delhi A city and a territory of northern India which contains New Delhi, the capital of India. Delhi's urban area has as population of over 30 million people, making it the world's fourth largest city after Jakarta, Dhaka and Tokyo.

Denali (McKinley, Mount) The highest mountain in North America, located in the US state of Alaska. It is 6194 metres (20,321 feet) high.

Dhaka The capital of Bangladesh. Its urban area has a population of about 36.6 million people, making it the second largest city in the world.

Dnieper A river that flows 2145 kilometres (1333 miles) from Russia, through Belarus and Ukraine, to the Black Sea.

Drakensberg A mountain range stretching about 1000 kilometres (600 miles) along the southeastern coast of Africa.

Dubai A city in the United Arab Emirates. It is the site of the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, which is 828 metres (2717 feet) high. The population of its urban area is 5.6 million people.

Dublin The capital of Ireland and known as Baile Átha Cliath in Irish. Located on the east coast of Ireland, at the mouth of the River Liffey, Dublin's urban area has a population of about 1 million.

E

Elburz Mountains A mountain range in Iran, running over 1500 kilometres (930 miles) around the southern edge of the Caspian Sea. It includes the highest mountain in the Middle East, Mount Damavand, which is 5670 metres (18,602 feet) high.

English Channel Part of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from France. At its narrowest point, it is 34 kilometres (21 miles) wide.

Ethiopian Highlands A mountainous area in Ethiopia and Eritrea. The Ethiopian Highlands have a temperate climate. Their highest point, Ras Dashen, is 4550 metres (14,928 feet) high.

Euphrates A river that flows 2800 kilometres (1740 miles) from eastern Turkey to meet the River Tigris in Iraq, from where it flows into the Persian Gulf.

Europe Europe is a continent that shares the landmass of Eurasia with Asia. It is separated from it by the Ural Mountains and the Caucasus Mountains. Europe is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. Its climate is greatly affected by warm Atlantic ocean currents. These make winters milder and summers cooler.

Everest, Mount The highest mountain in the world, at 8849 metres (29,032 feet) high. It is part of the Himalayas on the border between Tibet (part of China) and Nepal. Mount Everest is called Chomolungma in the Tibetan language and Sagarmatha in the Nepalese language.

Everglades A large area of wetlands in southern Florida, USA. It is a haven for animals such as alligators and wading birds.

Eyre, Lake The lowest point in Australia, lying about 16 metres (53 feet) below sea level. The lake is usually dry but may flood in heavy rain.

F

Fuji, Mount Japan’s highest mountain, on the main island of Honshu. A volcano, it has a near-perfect cone shape and is 3776 metres (12,389 feet) high. It has been dormant since 1707.

G

Galápagos Islands A group of islands in the Pacific Ocean lying off the coast of Ecuador. The Galápagos Islands are famous for their unique wildlife, including marine iguanas and giant tortoises.

Ganges A river that flows 2500 kilometres (1550 miles) from the Himalayas, through India and Bangladesh to the Bay of Bengal. For followers of the Hindu religion, the Ganges is a holy river.

Ghats Two mountain ranges in India, the Eastern and Western Ghats, bordering its eastern and western coasts.

Gibraltar, Strait of A narrow strait, measuring just 14.3 kilometres (8.8 miles) at its narrowest point, that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, separating Spain in Europe from Morocco in Africa.

Gobi Desert A vast, cold desert that stretches across China and Mongolia. Most of it is not sandy but bare, dry rock.

Golden Gate The entrance to San Francisco Bay, USA.

Gran Chaco A dry scrubland covering northern Argentina and Paraguay.

Grand Canal The world’s longest man-made waterway, which stretches 1790 kilometres (1100 miles) from Beijing to Hangzhou, in China. The oldest part of the canal was built 2500 years ago.

Grand Canyon A deep gorge in Arizona, USA, carved out by the flow of the Colorado River. The Grand Canyon is is 446 kilometres (277 miles) long, up to 29 kilometres (18 miles) wide and 1820 metres (5970 feet) deep at its deepest.

Great Barrier Reef The longest coral reef in the world, stretching about 2000 kilometres (1250 miles) along the northeast coast of Australia.

Great Dividing Range The third longest mountain range in the world, running 3500 kilometres (2100 miles) just inland from the eastern coast of Australia.

Great Lakes Five large lakes formed from the meltwater of an ice sheet formed during the Ice Ages. Lake Superior, Huron, Erie and Ontario all lie on the USA-Canada border. Lake Michigan lies entirely within the USA.

Great Plains A large expanse of flat grassland between the Mississippi River and Rocky Mountains in the USA and Canada.

Great Rift Valley A long “crack” in the Earth’s surface, stretching from the Middle East down through the Red Sea to East Africa. The valley is some 5000 kilometres (3000 miles) long. Volcanoes and lakes are found along the Great Rift Valley.

Guinea Highlands A high plateau stretching from southeastern Guinea to Côte D’Ivoire in West Africa and covered in dense rainforest.

H

Hanoi The capital of Vietnam with a population of about 8.6 million.

Hawaiian Islands A chain of 132 islands in the Pacific Ocean. Each island is the top of an enormous volcano rising from the ocean floor. The main islands form the US state of Hawaii.

Himalayas A mountain range, running 2400 kilometres (1500 miles) between the Tibetan Plateau and the Indian Subcontinent in South Asia. The Himalayas include many of the highest peaks in the world, including Mount Everest.

Hindu Kush A 800-kilometre (500-mile) mountain range lying between central Afghanistan and northern Pakistan. Its highest point is Tirich Mir (7708 metres or 25,289 feet). The Hindu Kush divides the valley of the Amu Darya to the north from the Indus valley to the south, and thus separates Central Asia from South Asia.

Ho Chi Minh City A major city and port on the south coast of Vietnam, formerly known as Saigon. The population of its urban area is 19.8 million people.

Hong Kong A large industrial port off the southeast coast of China. The city is famous for its skyscrapers and the high density of its population.

Horn of Africa The horn-shaped region of East Africa that juts out into the Indian Ocean. It includes the countries of Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Somalia.

Huang He Also known as the Yellow River, it is one of China’s major rivers. It flows 5460 kilometres (3400 miles) across regions of yellow soil, called loess, which turns the river yellow before it reaches the Yellow Sea.

I

Iberian Peninsula Part of southwestern Europe that separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Mediterranean. It is shared by Spain and Portugal.

Iguaçu Falls A series of waterfalls on the Argentina–Brazil border. Many of the falls are broken by rocky ledges that throw spray into the air and create rainbows.

Indian Ocean The third largest of the world's oceans. It covers about one eighth of the Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia in the north, Africa in the west, Australia in the east and the Southern Ocean in the south. It is the warmest of the world's oceans, and includes the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.

Indus A river that flows 3200 kilometres (1990 miles) from the Tibetan Plateau to the Arabian Sea. The Indus Valley was the site of one of the world’s first civilizations.

Iron Gate A deep gorge through which the River Danube flows. It forms part of the Romanian-Serbian border.

Irrawaddy The main river in Myanmar, which flows 2170 kilometres (1350 miles) through the country. It is an important waterway for commercial boats.

Istanbul The largest city in Turkey, lying on both the European and Asian sides of the Bosporus Strait. Its urban area has a population of around 15.7 million.

J

Jakarta The capital and largest city of Indonesia. Located on the island of Java, its urban area has a population of around 41.9 million people, making it the world's largest urban area. It was once the capital of the Dutch East Indies, when it was known as Batavia.

Jerusalem An ancient city in the Middle East, claimed by Israel as its capital, but also claimed by Palestine. A city with a population of 1.25 million people, it is an important holy place to Muslims, Christians and Jews.

Johannesburg The largest city in South Africa, with a population of 9 million people. It is home to a rich trade in gold and diamonds, mined from the nearby Witwatersrand hills.

Jordan A river that flows 251 kilometres (155 miles) from the Anti-Lebanon Mountains to the Dead Sea.

K

Kalahari Desert A desert in southern Africa covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa.

Kamchatka Peninsula Part of northeast Russia that juts out into the Pacific Ocean. The peninsula contains around 160 volcanoes, 29 of which are still active.

Karachi The most populous city in Pakistan and the country's most important industrial and financial centre. Its population is about 20.4 million.

Karakoram Range A mountain range on the borders of Pakistan and India. It contains the second highest mountain in the world, K2, which is 8611 metres (28,251 feet) high.

Karakum Desert A desert in Central Asia, east of the Caspian Sea. It covers more than two-thirds of the area of Turkmenistan.

Karoo An arid region that occupies the western part of South Africa.

Kenya, Mount The second highest African mountain, at 5199 metres (17,057 feet). It is an extinct volcano, topped with snow and glaciers.

Khorat Plateau A region of flat, high land in northeast Thailand, used for farming.

Kilimanjaro A dormant volcano in eastern Tanzania. At 5895 metres (19,341 feet) high, it is the tallest mountain in Africa.

Kinshasa The capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It is the third largest city in Africa, with a population of 15.6 million.

Kuala Lumpur (KL) The capital and largest city in Malaysia, with a population of 8.8 million people in its urban area.

Kunlun Mountains A mountain range stretching 3000 kilometres (1860 miles) along the north of the Tibetan Plateau. Its highest point, Kunlun Goddess, is 7167 metres (23,514 feet) high.

Kuril Islands A chain of 56 volcanic islands stretching between the Kamchatka Peninsula, in Russia, and Hokkaido, Japan.

Kyiv The capital of Ukraine and one of the largest cities in Eastern Europe, with a population of 2.9 million.

Kyzyl Kum A desert stretching from the Aral Sea to the Pamir Mountains, occupying parts of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

L

La Paz One of Bolivia's capitals (the other is Sucre), it is the highest capital city in the world, located at 3650 metres (11,975 feet) above sea level.

Lagos The former capital of Nigeria, and the second largest city in Africa. Its urban area has a population of more than 28 million people.

Lapland A region stretching across northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. It is home to the Sami people, once known as Lapps.

Lena A river in eastern Siberia, Russia, that flows 4400 kilometres (2700 miles) to the Arctic Ocean. The Lena Basin is rich in gold and diamonds.

Llanos A grassland plain east of the Andes and north of the Amazon in Colombia and Venezuela.

Loire The longest river in France, flowing 1012 kilometres (629 miles) from the Cévennes Mountains in southern France to the Atlantic Ocean.

London The capital of the United Kingdom, built on the River Thames in southeast England. It is home to many historic buildings, such as the Tower of London and Houses of Parliament. Its population is 9.8 million.

Los Angeles (LA) The largest city in California, USA, the centre of an urban area with a population of 12.2 million people. One of its suburbs is Hollywood, the centre of the film industry in the USA.

M

Madagascar A large island off the southeastern coast of Africa. Madagascar's wildlife includes species found nowhere else, such as lemurs.

Madrid The capital of Spain, built on a high plateau in the centre of Spain. Its urban area has a population of 6.8 million people.

Maghreb The northwest region of Africa, including the Atlas Mountains and the coasts of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

Malawi, Lake One of the African Great Lakes, lying in the Great Rift Valley. Also called Lake Nyasa, it is divided between Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique. It is home to more species of fish than any other lake.

Malay Peninsula A long, narrow area of land along the western edge of the South China Sea in Southeast Asia. It is occupied by Malaysia along with parts of Myanmar and Thailand. The southern tip is separated from the island of Singapore by the Straits of Johor.

Manila The capital of the Philippines. It is the most densely populated city in the world. Its urban area—including Metro Manila, which consists of 16 cities including Quezon City—has a population of 24.7 million, the eighth largest in the world.

Maracaibo, Lake A bay on the coast of Venezuela, almost entirely surrounded by land. A narrow neck of water opens on to the Caribbean Sea. The surrounding Maracaibo Basin contains large reserves of oil.

Massif Central A range of mountains and high plateaus in central France, including around 450 extinct volcanoes.

Mato Grosso Plateau A high plain of land in central Brazil, lying between the River Amazon and the River Paraguay.

Mecca (Makkah) A city in Saudi Arabia which is holy for Muslims, because it is where the Prophet Mohammed was born.

Mediterranean Sea The sea that lies between Africa, Europe and Asia. It opens to the Atlantic Ocean via the narrow Strait of Gibraltar.

Mekong A river that flows 4180 kilometres (2598 miles) from Tibet through southern China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam to the South China Sea. It forms the border between Laos, Myanmar and Thailand.

Melanesia A region of Oceania northeast of Australia. Melanesia consists of New Guinea, the Bismark Archipelago, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji.

Mexico, Gulf of Part of the Atlantic Ocean, almost completely enclosed by the USA, Mexico and the island of Cuba.

Mexico City The capital of Mexico. With a population of 22.5 million, it is the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world. Located at about 2200 metres (7200 feet) above sea level, Mexico City is rimmed by mountains to the south and east.

Micronesia The northwest region of Oceania. It includes the Gilbert, Mariana, Marshall and Caroline Islands as well as Banaba, Nauru and Wake Island.

Mississippi The second-longest river in the USA, flowing 3730 kilometres (2320 miles) from Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.

Missouri The longest river in the USA, flowing 3767 kilometres (2341 miles) from its source in the Rocky Mountains of western Montana to where it meets the Mississippi River north of St Louis, Missouri.

Moscow Russia’s capital, the largest city in Europe, with a population of 10.3 million. At its heart is the Kremlin, a medieval fortress, now home to Russia’s president.

Mumbai The most populous and wealthiest city in India with 12.5 million people. Mumbai's urban area has a population of over 20.7 million people. Once called Bombay, it grew up on seven islands on the west coast of India to become the country's financial and commercial capital.

N

Namib Desert A desert stretching along the southwestern coast of Namibia.

Nasser, Lake An enormous reservoir, created in the 1960s when the Aswan Dam was built across the River Nile. The dam controls the flooding of the Nile downstream.

New England A region in northeastern USA consisting of the states of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

New Orleans A city in Louisiana, USA, near the mouth of the Mississippi River. It is is known for its festivals and music, especially jazz.

New York City The largest city in the USA, located at the centre of an urban area with a population of 19.4 million people. It is the nation's chief commercial and financial centre.

Niagara Falls Two waterfalls formed where the Niagara River plunges 50 metres (165 feet) over a cliff. The Horseshoe Falls lie on the Canadian bank; the American Falls on the US bank.

Niger The third longest river in Africa. It flows 4180 kilometres (2600 miles) from the Guinea Highlands, forming a large delta at its mouth in the Gulf of Guinea.

Nile The longest river in the world, measuring 6670 kilometres (4145 miles) in length. The Nile has two major tributaries: the White Nile and Blue Nile. The White Nile rises in the highlands to the west of Lake Victoria. The Blue Nile begins at Lake Tana in Ethiopia and flows into Sudan where it meets the White Nile just north of the capital, Khartoum. The Nile then flows north to the Mediterranean Sea.

North America The continent of North America stretches from the Arctic islands of Greenland and northern Canada to the hot, tropical forests of Central America. Canada and the United States of America take up around three-quarters of the continent.

North Sea A sea of the Atlantic Ocean located between Great Britain, Scandinavia, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and France. Major European shipping lanes run across it. The North Sea also has rich energy resources including oil, gas and wind. It is also has important fishing grounds.

O

Ob A river in western Siberia, flowing 3650 kilometres (2268 miles) into the Arctic Ocean.

Oceania A region made up of Australasia (Australia and New Zealand) and islands of the south Pacific Ocean divided between Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Compared to the other continents, Oceania is the smallest in land area and the second smallest in population after Antarctica.

Okavango Delta A swampy region of northern Botswana formed where the Okavango River flows into a trough at the northern edge of the the Kalahari Desert. Starting in May, the river floods, drawing a huge variety of animals to the lush wetlands.

Orange The longest river in South Africa, flowing 2200 kilometres (1367 miles) from the Drakensberg to the Atlantic Ocean.

Orinoco A river in South America, flowing 2140 kilometres (1330 miles) through the Llanos lowlands of Venezuela, to the Atlantic Ocean.

Orontes A river that flows 400 kilometres (250 miles) from Lebanon to the Mediterranean Sea.

Ottawa The capital of Canada, situated on the Ottawa River in Ontario. The population of its urban area is 1.5 million.

P

Pacific Ocean The largest and deepest of the Earth's oceans. It stretches from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south. Asia and Australia lie to the west, the Americas to the east. It covers about one third of the Earth's surface. The western Pacific has many seas, including the Bering Sea, the Sea of Okhotsk, the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, the South China Sea, the Celebes Sea, the Banda Sea, the Coral Sea and the Tasman Sea.

Pamir Mountains A mountain range in Tajikistan. The highest peak is Ismoil Somoni, which is 7495 metres (24,590 feet) high.

Pampas A grassland area of Argentina and Uruguay, used largely for grazing cattle.

Panama Canal A man-made channel linking the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The 82-kilometre (51-mile) canal was opened in 1915 and has three sets of locks.

Paraná The second longest river in South America. It flows 4880 kilometres (3032 miles) from Brazil, through Paraguay and Argentina, emerging as the Rio de la Plata and flowing into the Atlantic Ocean.

Paris The capital of France, on the banks of the River Seine. It is home to many famous monuments, such as the Eiffel Tower. The city of Paris has a population of 2 million people, but its entire urban area has a population of over 13 million.

Patagonia A region of dry scrublands and desert in the south of Argentina and Chile.

Persian Gulf Part of the Arabian Sea, almost completely enclosed by the Arabian Peninsula in the west and Iran in the east.

Polynesia The easternmost region of Oceania. Polynesia contains over 1000 islands in the southern Pacific Ocean, including the Cook Islands, Easter Island, French Polynesia, Samoa and Hawaii.

Pontic Mountains A mountain range in northern Turkey, running around the northern edge of the Black Sea. The highest peak, Kaçkar Dagi, is 3937 metres (12,917 feet) high.

Prague The capital of the Czech Republic, on the banks of the River Vltava. The city is overlooked by Prague Castle. It has a population of 1.4 million.

Pripet Marshes A region of low-lying marshes in southern Belarus and northern Ukraine, surrounding the River Pripet.

Pyrenees A mountain range that stretches 430 kilometres (260 miles) from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea. The highest peak is Aneto, in Spain, which is 3404 metres (11,168 feet) high.

Q

Québec The only mostly French-speaking province of Canada.

R

Red Sea A sea separating northeastern Africa from the Arabian Peninsula.

Rhine A river flowing 1233 kilometres (766 miles) from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea. It is one of Europe’s most important waterways, with boats travelling along it carrying goods deep inland.

Rhône A river flowing 813 kilometres (505 miles) from Switzerland, through France to the Mediterranean Sea.

Rio Grande A river that flows 3051 kilometres (1896 miles) from Colorado in the USA to the Gulf of Mexico. For much of its length, it forms the border between the USA and Mexico.

Rio de Janeiro The second largest city in Brazil, with a population of 12.3 million. Situated by a natural harbour, the city is famous for a 40-metre (130-feet) statue of Christ the Redeemer, atop Corvocado Mountain.

Rocky Mountains A mountain range stretching 4830 kilometres (3015 miles) from northern Canada to the USA-Mexico border. Its highest peak, Mount Elbert, is 4401 metres (14,440 feet) high.

Rome The capital of Italy, built on the River Tiber. It was once the capital of the Roman Empire, and many ancient buildings still stand in the city. The Vatican City State is contained inside the city. Rome has a population of 2.3 million people.

Rub' al Khali A vast uninhabited desert in the Arabian Peninsula. It is one of the largest areas of sandy desert in the world.

Rwenzori Mountains A mountain range on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Reaching heights of 5109 metres (16,761 feet), its peaks are among the few in Africa to be covered with snow all year round.

S

Sahara Desert A bare, rocky desert stretching across North Africa. About the size of the USA, it is the largest hot desert in the world.

Sahel A strip of grassland to the south of the Sahara. It is relatively dry and suffers from frequent droughts, which are devastating for the population who farm the land.

St Lawrence A river that flows from Lake Ontario northeastwards about 1200 km (744 miles) to meet the Atlantic Ocean at the Gulf of St Lawrence. It forms part of the St Lawrence Seaway, a system of canals, locks and channels that links all the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

St Petersburg A city in northwestern Russia. Once Russia’s capital, it is its second largest city, with a population of 5 million.

Sakhalin A large island off the eastern coast of Russia and just north of Japan.

Salween A river that flows 2815 kilometres (1750 miles) from China, through Myanmar to the sea, cutting through deep, narrow gorges.

Samarkand One of the oldest cities in the world, located in eastern Uzbekistan.

San Francisco A city in California. It is part of a larger urban area that has a population of 9.2 million people. San Francisco grew rapidly as a result of the Gold Rush of 1849. It was partly destroyed by the 1906 earthquake and fire. San Francisco and other cities of the Bay Area are home to the leading high technology companies in the world.

São Paulo The largest city in Brazil and in South America. The population of its urban area is 21.5 million people. Around the edge of the city, poor people live in crowded shantytowns known as favelas.

Scandinavia The countries of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Together with Finland, Greenland and Iceland, they form the Nordic countries.

Seattle The largest city in the northwest USA. The population of its urban area is more than 4 million people.

Seine The second longest river in France, flowing 776 kilometres (482 miles) through Paris and emptying into the English Channel.

Seoul The capital of South Korea. Surrounded by a mountainous landscape, Seoul's urban area has a population of 23.2 million—around half of South Korea's entire population.

Shanghai China’s largest city, situated on the east coast. Its urban area has a population of about 29.6 million. It is one of the largest ports in the world and is a major commercial centre of China.

Shenzhen A city that has grown up on the Chinese mainland close to Hong Kong and is now one of the world’s largest centres of manufacturing. Its urban area has a population of around 13.5 million.

Siberia The Asian portion of Russia, lying between the Ural Mountains in the west and the Pacific Ocean in the east. It is sparsely populated but is rich in coal, oil, gas and metal ores.

Sierra Madre Two mountain ranges—the Occidental to the west and the Oriental to the east—that bound the Central Mexican Plateau. Their highest peak, Cerro San Rafael, is about 3700 metres (12,100 feet) high.

Sierra Nevada A mountain range in eastern California, USA. Its highest point, Mount Whitney, is 4421 metres (14,505 feet) high.

South America The continent of South America reaches from the tropical coast of the Caribbean to the icy seas of the Southern Ocean, north of Antarctica. Running the length of the continent in the west are the Andes Mountains.

Southern Alps The Southern Alps (Ka Tiritiri o te Moana in the Maori language) is a mountain range that stretches the length of New Zealand's South Island, a distance of around 500 kilometres (300 miles). Its tallest peak is Mount Cook (Aoraki), the highest point in New Zealand at 3724 metres (12,218 ft).

Southern Ocean The southernmost ocean in the world, and the fourth largest after the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans. Surrounding Antarctica, it consists of all the ocean waters south of 60°S latitude. A cold ocean current flows clockwise around Antarctica all year round, keeping warm waters away. Pack ice spreads out across the Southern Ocean in winter.

Sudd A large swamp in South Sudan formed by part of the River Nile. It is so thick with floating vegetation that some boats carry saws in order to clear a channel.

Sudetes A mountain range stretching from eastern Germany to the Czech Republic. The highest peak, Snezka, is 1602 metres (5260 feet).

Suez Canal A canal, opened in 1869, that cuts across the narrow strip of land dividing the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.

Superior, Lake The largest lake in North America and the deepest of the Great Lakes.

Sydney The largest city in Australia, on the southeast coast around a natural harbour. It has a population of around 5.4 million.

Syr Darya A river stretching 2212 kilometres (1375 miles) from the Tian Shan Mountains to the Aral Sea.

T

Takla Makan A large desert in the Tarim Basin in northwestern China. It has a cold climate and is almost entirely covered in sand. Its name means “abandoned place”.

Tanganyika, Lake One of the African Great Lakes, Lake Tanganyika is divided between Tanzania, DR Congo, Burundi and Zambia. It is the longest freshwater lake in the world, at 673 kilometres (418 miles) long.

Tarim Basin A vast area of low-lying land in northwestern China, drained by the Tarim River and surrounded by the Kunlun, Pamir and Tian Shan mountains. The Takla Makan occupies much of the basin.

Tashkent The capital of Uzbekistan, in the foothills of the Tian Shan Mountains.

Tasmania Tasmania is an island state of Australia, separated from its southeastern coast by the Bass Strait. Much of the island is still covered by temperate rainforest.

Taurus Mountains A mountain range in Turkey, bordering the Anatolian Plateau.

Tehran The capital of Iran, in the foothills of the Elburz Mountains. Its urban area has a population of around 16.8 million.

Tenasserim Hills A mountain range that runs 1700 kilometres (1000 miles) along the border between Myanmar and Thailand and down the length of the Malay Peninsula.

Thar Desert A large desert in northwest India and Pakistan, also known as the Great Indian Desert. Much of it is covered by sand dunes.

Three Gorges Dam A dam across the River Yangtze in China. It controls flooding downstream and uses the river’s power to generate electricity. It is one of the largest dams in the world.

Tian Shan A mountain range, stretching 2400 kilometres (1500 miles) from Kyrgyzstan eastwards into northern China. Its highest point, Jengish Chokusu, is 7439 metres (24,406 feet) high.

Tibesti Mountains A mountain range in the Sahara. The highest peak is the volcano Emi Koussi, which is 3445 metres (11,302 feet) high.

Tibetan Plateau The largest and highest area of raised land in the world. The Tibetan Plateau has an average height of 4500 metres (14,760 feet). It is sometimes called “the roof of the world”.

Tierra del Fuego An island off the southernmost tip of South America, separated from the mainland by the narrow Strait of Magellan. Tierra del Fuego is divided between Chile and Argentina. The name, meaning "Land of Fire", comes from sightings of the bonfires that the natives once built.

Tigris A river that flows 1850 kilometres (1150 miles) from the Taurus Mountains to southern Iraq, where it meets the River Euphrates and empties into the Persian Gulf.

Titicaca, Lake The largest lake in South America, lying between Peru and Bolivia. Lake Titicaca is 3811 metres (12,500 feet) above sea level. It is the highest lake in the world that can be navigated by large ships.

Tokyo The capital of Japan on the Pacific coast of the main island, Honshu. Together with its port Yokohama and surrounding urban area, it is the third largest city in the world, with a population of around 33.4 million.

Tonlé Sap A lake in central Cambodia. During the dry season, the lake is small, but after the monsoon rains in the autumn, water from the Mekong fills it to more than seven times its normal size.

Toronto The largest city in Canada, with a population of 6.2 million. It is built on the northwest shore of Lake Ontario.

Trans-Siberian Railway A railway line stretching 9289 kilometres (5772 miles) from Moscow to Vladivostok in Russia. It is the longest railway in the world; a journey from one end to the other takes nearly eight days.

U

Uluru A large rock formation in Northern Territory, central Australia. Uluru, once known as Ayers Rock, is a sacred place to Australia’s Aboriginal Australians.

Ural Mountains A mountain range running 2500 kilometres (1560 miles) through Russia. It marks the boundary between Europe and Asia. The highest peak, Mount Narodnaya, is 1895 metres (6217 feet) high.

Urmia, Lake A saltwater lake in northwest Iran. It is the largest lake in the Middle East.

V

Van, Lake The largest lake in Turkey, in the far east of the country.

Vatican City The smallest independent state in the world, with a population of 882. Lying within the city of Rome, Vatican City is home to the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church.

Venice An Italian city built on islands in a shallow bay. Instead of streets it has canals, and instead of cars, water buses and gondolas ferry people from place to place.

Victoria Falls A waterfall on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, where the River Zambezi drops 108 metres (354 feet). The Victoria Falls are known to the local people as Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning “the smoke that thunders”.

Victoria, Lake One of the African Great Lakes, Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa. It is shared between Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. The White Nile flows out of it.

Volga The longest river in Europe. It flows 3668 kilometres (2780 miles) through western Russia to the Caspian Sea.

Volta, Lake The largest reservoir by surface area in the world, built in Ghana in the 1960s. It is filled with water from the White and Black Volta Rivers, held back by the Akosombo Dam.

W

Warsaw The capital of Poland. Its population is about 1.9 million people.

Washington, D.C. The capital city of the United States of America and the home of the US government. It is not a part of any US state, but located in the District of Columbia (D.C.). Its urban area has a population of more than 6 million people.

West Indies A group of island nations around the eastern Caribbean Sea, so-called because European explorers originally thought they were part of Asia. The West Indies include the Lesser and Greater Antilles and the Bahamas.

White Sea Part of the Arctic Ocean, almost entirely enclosed by northwestern Russia.

Y

Yangtze The longest river in Asia and the third longest in the world, flowing 6300 kilometres (3910 miles) from the Tibetan Plateau across China to empty into the East China Sea near Shanghai.

Yenisei A river flowing 5539 kilometres (3442 miles) from Lake Baikal in Russia, north to the Arctic Ocean.

Yucatán Peninsula A wide peninsula in southeastern Mexico, separating the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea.

Z

Zagros Mountains A mountain range running 1500 kilometres (930 miles) along the Iran–Iraq border. The highest point, Zard Kuh, is 4200 metres (13,780 feet) high.

Zambezi A river in Southern Africa. Measuring 2574 kilometres (1600 miles) in length, it flows through Zambia, along the Zambia-Zimbabwe border and into Mozambique before reaching the Indian Ocean. On its way the Zambezi tumbles over the Victoria Falls. The Kariba Dam and Cahora Bassa Dam provide power to the countries of southern Africa.

Consultant: Nicholas Harris