An alphabetical guide to continents, countries, cities, states, and natural features, with historical and population information, fact profiles for each U.S. state, unofficial place names, and quick-reference tables of rivers, mountains, volcanoes, and other geographic features. All current as of 1999.

Introduction and how to use this book -- Pronunciation key -- Oxford essential geographical dictionary -- Appendixes : Oceans and seas of the world -- World land area by continent -- World population by continent -- Major mountains of the world -- Major volcanoes of the world -- Major natural lakes of the world -- Major rivers of the world -- Largest metropolitan areas of the world.