Rivers, lakes, seas, coasts, mountains, valleys, deserts, and more—concise explainers and case studies with maps, cross-sections, and quick facts.
The Caspian Sea sits between the Caucasus and Central Asia and touches Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan. It behaves like a lake, is called a sea, and keeps changing shape as water levels rise and fall, which is exactly why it matters physically, economically, and politically. What does it actually mean? The Caspian Sea […]
The Caucasus sit between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, a rugged bridge where empires, languages, and tectonic plates meet. Stretching roughly 750 miles (1,200 kilometers), the Greater Caucasus wall has long tempted mapmakers to use it as the seam between Europe and Asia. Are the Caucasus Located in Europe or Asia? The Caucasus […]
Just east of Yerevan, a river canyon slices through a 127,000-year-old lava flow and reveals an organ-pipe wall of stone. Locals call it the “Basalt Organ,” others the “Symphony of Stones.” Above the cliffs, the 1st-century Temple of Garni watches over a landscape where geology, history, and daily life meet. What is Garni Gorge? Garni […]
Lake Sev (Armenian: Սև լիճ, romanized: Sev lich; Azerbaijani: Qaragöl; both meaning “black lake”) is a lake situated on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The majority of the lake lies within the Syunik Province of Armenia, while a smaller portion is located in the Lachin District of Azerbaijan. Geography Lake Sev is positioned to […]
Lake Parz (Armenian: Պարզ լիճ, romanized: Parz lich, lit. ‘Clear Lake’) is a small, serene lake located in the Dilijan National Park, situated east of the town of Dilijan in Armenia’s Tavush region. Resting at 1334 meters above sea level, the lake is a notable geographic feature. Geographical and Physical Characteristics Lake Parz spans a surface area of […]
Lake Kari (Armenian: Քարի լիճ, K’ari lich, literally “Stone Lake”) sits high on the southern slopes of Mount Aragats in Armenia, a compact alpine lake framed by moraines and perennial snow. Its shore is a launch point for hikers and a neighbor to a storied cosmic-ray station. What is Lake Kari? Lake Kari is a […]
Lake Arpi (Armenian: Արփի լիճ, romanized: Arp’i lich; Turkish: Arpa Göl) is a significant natural reservoir located in the Shirak Province of Armenia. Positioned on the Ashotsk plateau in the northwestern part of the country, it sits at an altitude of 2,025 meters and spans an area of 20 km^2. The lake serves as the primary […]
From the sacred springs of Lake Victoria in East Africa to the glittering sands of Egypt’s Mediterranean delta, the Nile has woven its way through millennia of civilization. This exploration peels back layers of geography, history, and modern science to reveal exactly why the Nile holds the title of the world’s longest river.What makes it […]
Lake Akna (Armenian: Ակնա;) is a crater lake situated in the eastern part of the Kotayk Province in Armenia, lying within the boundaries of the Gegham mountains. This article delves into the geographical features, history, and ecological aspects of Lake Akna, providing a comprehensive understanding of its significance in the Armenian landscape. Geography Located on the […]
Lake Geneva, or Lac Léman, is a substantial body of water situated on the northern side of the Alps, straddling the borders of Switzerland and France. Renowned as one of the largest lakes in Western Europe and the largest along the course of the Rhône, Lake Geneva encompasses a total area of 582 km². Approximately 60% […]
