# Geography & Places Categories From world capitals to neighborhood streets, from mountain ranges to ocean depths, geography provides rich material for Connections puzzles. This guide will help you navigate every location-based category, whether you're a world traveler or an armchair explorer. ## Countries & Capitals ### 🌍 World Capitals ### 🗺️ Country Groupings

Common Country Categories

By Region

• G7 Nations: USA, UK, FRANCE, GERMANY
• BRICS: BRAZIL, RUSSIA, INDIA, CHINA
• Island Nations: JAPAN, ICELAND, CUBA, FIJI

By Feature

• Landlocked: SWITZERLAND, AUSTRIA, NEPAL, BOLIVIA
• Peninsulas: ITALY, SPAIN, KOREA, FLORIDA
• Archipelagos: INDONESIA, PHILIPPINES, JAPAN, GREECE

## U.S. Geography ### 🇺🇸 States & Cities

American Locations

State Capitals

ALBANY, AUSTIN, DENVER, SALEM

Often NOT the largest city!

Major Cities

CHICAGO, HOUSTON, PHOENIX, PHILADELPHIA

State Nicknames

EMPIRE, GOLDEN, LONE STAR, SUNSHINE

### ⚠️ Tricky State Abbreviations

Double Meaning Alert!

State abbreviations that are also common words:

• ME - Maine OR personal pronoun
• OR - Oregon OR conjunction
• IN - Indiana OR preposition
• OK - Oklahoma OR approval
• HI - Hawaii OR greeting

## Natural Features ### 🏔️ Mountains & Ranges

Elevation Categories

• Mountain Ranges: ALPS, ANDES, ROCKIES, HIMALAYAS
• Famous Peaks: EVEREST, DENALI, FUJI, MATTERHORN
• Volcanoes: VESUVIUS, ETNA, KILAUEA, ST. HELENS

### 🌊 Bodies of Water ## Urban Geography ### 🏙️ City Features

Urban Elements

NYC Boroughs

MANHATTAN, BROOKLYN, QUEENS, BRONX

(Staten Island often excluded)

Famous Streets

BROADWAY, MAIN, ELM, PARK

Common across many cities

### 🌉 Landmarks & Monuments

Famous Structures

• Bridges: GOLDEN GATE, BROOKLYN, TOWER, SYDNEY
• Towers: EIFFEL, PISA, SEARS, SPACE NEEDLE
• Ancient Sites: PYRAMIDS, COLOSSEUM, STONEHENGE, MACHU PICCHU

## Regional & Cultural Geography ### 🌎 Regions & Areas

Geographic Regions

U.S. Regions

MIDWEST, SOUTH, NORTHEAST, WEST

Global Regions

SAHARA, AMAZON, ARCTIC, OUTBACK

Historical Regions

MESOPOTAMIA, GAUL, PRUSSIA, BYZANTIUM

### 🏝️ Islands & Archipelagos

Island Categories

• Caribbean: CUBA, JAMAICA, HAITI, BARBADOS
• Mediterranean: SICILY, CRETE, CYPRUS, MALTA
• Pacific: HAWAII, TAHITI, FIJI, GUAM

## Tricky Geography Categories ### 🎯 Places That Are Also...

Multiple Meanings

TURKEY

Country OR bird OR bowling term

CHINA

Country OR dinnerware

JORDAN

Country OR river OR basketball player

GEORGIA

U.S. state OR country OR name

## Quick Reference: Geography Scan

Location Category Checklist

Political Geography

☐ Countries
☐ Capitals
☐ States/Provinces
☐ Cities

Physical Geography

☐ Mountains
☐ Rivers/Lakes
☐ Oceans/Seas
☐ Islands

Human Geography

☐ Landmarks
☐ Neighborhoods
☐ Streets
☐ Regions

## Pro Tips for Geography Categories 1. **Know Your Capitals**: They appear frequently and aren't always obvious 2. **Think Regionally**: Countries/cities often group by continent or region 3. **Consider All Meanings**: Many place names have other meanings 4. **Historical Knowledge Helps**: Ancient civilizations and old place names appear 5. **Size Doesn't Matter**: Small countries/cities are just as likely as large ones ## Read Next

Common Themes & Patterns

See how geography fits into the bigger picture of puzzle patterns.

Double-Meaning Words

Many place names have surprising alternative meanings.