Geography & Travel
Planet Earth contains some extraordinarily diverse environments, some of which are easily habitable and some not so much. In different areas of Earth, one might find sweltering deserts, dense tropical rainforests, or bone-chilling tundras. Each biome and habitat comes with its own selection of flora and fauna, and it may include physical features such as canyons, volcanoes, rivers, or caves. Human beings have built homes in many different environments, settling the area and organizing it into units such as cities, states, regions, and countries, each with its own points of interest. Shifting trends in human migration have resulted in a human geography that is profoundly different from that of centuries ago.
Browse Subcategories
Featured content, June 13, 2025
Is "Holland" the Same Place as "the Netherlands"?
Have you been using the wrong name?
8 Amazing Physical Features of Africa
Check out these jaw-dropping physical features of the African continent.
How Do Countries Choose Their Capital Cities?
London, Tokyo, Buenos Aires…How are national capitals chosen?
9 Architectural Landmarks in Buenos Aires
Know before you go.
river
River, (ultimately from Latin ripa, “bank”), any natural stream of water that flows in a channel with defined banks . Modern...
Africa
Africa, the second largest continent (after Asia), covering about one-fifth of the total land surface of Earth. The continent...
language
Language, a system of conventional spoken, manual (signed), or written symbols by means of which human beings, as members...
canals and inland waterways
Canals and inland waterways, natural or artificial waterways used for navigation, crop irrigation, water supply, or drainage....
Geography & Travel Quizzes
Geography & Travel Videos
Image Gallery
Geography & Travel
View Gallery
Geography & Travel Subcategories

Although there isn’t universal agreement on the question of what qualifies as a “country,” it is generally accepted that in order to be a country, a state must be a sovereign unit that has a permanent population, defined territorial boundaries, a government, and the ability to enter into agreements with other states. Even when these conditions are met, however, internationally recognized independence is not a given, and a territorial entity that declares itself to be an independent country is not always recognized as such by the rest of the world.
Articles

This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
-
Auschwitz
concentration camp, Poland
-
Mongol empire
historical empire, Asia
- ancient Egypt

This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
-
Northeast Passage
sea route, Eurasia
-
Appian Way
ancient road, Italy
-
Broadway
street and district, New York City, New York, United...

Since 1945 human geography has contained five main divisions. The first four—economic, social, cultural, and political—reflect both the main areas of contemporary life and the social science disciplines with which geographers interact (i.e., economics, sociology, anthropology, and political science and international relations, respectively); the fifth is historical geography.
Articles
-
Indigenous peoples of the American Southeast
people
-
South American nomad
South American people
-
Australian Aboriginal peoples
people

Language, a system of conventional spoken, manual, or written symbols by means of which human beings, as members of a social group and participants in its culture, express themselves. The functions of language include communication, the expression of identity, play, imaginative expression, and emotional release.
Articles

Earth’s geographic history has been one marked by significant overall change, with ice ages, continental drift, and other major disruptions ultimately shaping Earth's land into the landscape of mountain ranges, deserts, islands, and volcanoes that we see today.
Articles
-
Antarctica
continent
-
South America
continent
-
Africa
continent

Whether it's Lake Michigan, the Gulf of Panama, or the River Thames, bodies of water of all shapes and sizes can be found around the globe, and they play a critical role for human beings, who use such bodies of water as a source of drinking water, a means of transporting both goods and people themselves, or a place to engage in water sports, among a plethora of other possible uses. Additionally, many bodies of water provide striking scenes of natural beauty and house important marine ecosystems. Satiate your thirst for knowledge about Earth's oceans, lakes, seas, rivers, waterfalls, bays, and more.
Articles
-
ocean
Earth feature
- Southern Ocean
- Pacific Ocean

Nature reserves are areas set aside for the purpose of preserving and protecting plants and animals, particularly endangered species. National parks may effectively serve a similar purpose by shielding threatened species from hunters, but these parks can also be created for the purpose of public recreation, affording its visitors a chance to be immersed in a protected natural environment. Many national parks have been created in the last 100 years, including Yellowstone National Park, the oldest and probably the best-known national park in the United States.
Articles
-
Denali National Park and Preserve
national park, Alaska, United States
-
Banff National Park
national park, Alberta, Canada
-
Yosemite National Park
national park, California, United States

Every nation has its own subdivisions to demarcate smaller political units within its territory. Counties, districts, oblasts, polis, nomos, unitary authorities, boroughs, and cities are all examples (among many others) of how land can be organized.
Articles
-
Northern Territory
territory, Australia
-
Victoria
state, Australia
-
Tibet
autonomous region, China

This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
-
San Diego Zoo
zoo, San Diego, California, United States
-
Windsor Castle
castle, England, United Kingdom
-
Notre-Dame de Paris
cathedral, Paris, France

This general category includes a selection of more specific topics.
Articles
-
North Africa
region, Africa
-
Central Asia
region, Asia
-
Silicon Valley
region, California, United States