A - Z of Geographical Place Names

Post Reply New Topic

Point Roberts, Washington

Point Roberts is located at the tip of a peninsula just south of Vancouver just south of the 49th parallel. At one time it was thought to be in Canada but a more accurate survey showed it to actually be in the US. On the US side of the line, it is entirely surrounded by water -- the only possibility of driving anywhere involves crossing into Canada. The local school is just grades 1-3. For the children in the higher grades to go to school, the school bus crosses into Canada and then back into the United States a few miles to the east. Similarly, the residents have to cross into Canada and back into the US for most shopping purposes. Because of the border checks, it is one of the safest communities in the US and is reported to host a large number of people in the witness protection program.

Qalansawa, an Arab city in Israel.

R - The Rape of Hastings - One of the subdivisions of Sussex County in England that predates the Norman Conquest.

Sangha-Mbaére - one of the two economic prefectures of the Central African Republic.

Torpenhow Hill - A rumored hill in England. One translation of "Torpenhow" is "hill hill hill"

United Downs, a hamlet in the parish of Gwennap, Cornwall, England.

Vanatu - a group of islands of volcanic origin in the South Pacific

Wales.

Xanadu, China aka Shangdu - the summer capital of Kublai Khan's Yuan empire

Yearngill, a hamlet in Cumbria, England.

Z - Mount Zulia in Uganda

Alberta, a western province of Canada.

Banff National Park - British Columbia - Canada's oldest national park (I think).

Alaska, a U.S. state situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent.

Ummm, we're suppose to be on "C".....

Catonsville (long "a"), MD - A very old, historic, wonderful village, in Baltimore County; southwest of Baltimore City.

Denali - Also known as Mount McKinley. The tallest mountain in the United States. In terms of height above the surrounding area, it is apparently the tallest mountain in the world by one criteria -- the height above the surrounding landscape.