From Tintern Abbey to Timbuktu, Loch Ness to the Limpopo River, the ABC Islands to the Zuider Zee--Oxford's Dictionary of the World is a testament to the fascinating diversity of the planet Earth.

Combining the expertise of one of the world's foremost gazetteer compilers with that of the Oxford dictionaries department, it is the most up-to-date world geographic dictionary available today. Fourteen regional geographical experts vetted the text to ensure its authority and accuracy and both text and maps reflect the latest political realities, including the new nations of Slovakia, Eritrea, and the states of the former USSR and Yugoslavia. Indispensable for up-to-the-minute reference, and a fascinating browse for the armchair traveller, the Dictionary of the World covers:

* Countries (profiles of every nation, dependency, and area of special sovereignty in the world)

* Regions

* Peoples, languages, and religions

* Cities and major towns

* Natural features (such as rivers and mountains)

* Famous buildings, sites, and monuments (The Taj Mahal, Hyde Park, The Empire State Building)

* Ancient sites (Troy, Masada, Stonehenge)

Each of the 15,000 entries incorporates detailed statistics and descriptions of population, topography, history, industry, and special features of interest.