The 1998 Winter Olympic Games took place in Nagano, Japan. Nagano is a landlocked, mostly mountainous prefecture in the central part of Honshu, Japan’s largest island. The prefecture’s landscape makes it an ideal location for skiing and other winter sports, while the region’s many rivers are an important source of hydroelectricity for Japan. Nagano is located about 150 miles from Tokyo and can easily be reached via shinkansen, or bullet train.

Argentina is divided into 23 provinces and an autonomous city (the capital, Buenos Aires). Provinces can make their own laws and constitutions, but they must also follow the federal constitution of Argentina. La Rioja, in the west, and La Pampa, in the central grasslands (known as pampas), are among the country’s least-populated provinces — home to about 380,000 and 350,000 people, respectively.

The city of Pompeii was destroyed in 79 CE when nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted. Today, the ash-preserved ruins are one of Italy’s major tourist attractions. Pompeii is part of the Campania region, which includes the city of Naples, as well as the provinces of Avellino, Benevento, Caserta, and Salerno. It is a mountainous, volcanic area. Fishing, farming, and winemaking are the main industries, although Naples is also a center for textiles, manufacturing, and shipbuilding.

Egypt is divided into 27 governorates. Four of these are cities, including capital city Cairo and Alexandria. Each governorate has a governor appointed by the Egyptian president. The governor has authority over all administrative personnel, but not over the judiciary. There is then a governorate council in each area. The governorate of New Valley is in the southwestern part of Egypt and covers approximately half of the country’s land area.

The Republic of Maldives is a chain of about 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean. Of these, about 200 are inhabited, with many serving as popular tourist resorts. Since there are so many islands, they are divided into atolls for administrative purposes. A minimum of two representatives from each atoll are elected to the national legislature, which is called the People’s Majlis. The exact number per atoll is determined by population.

Built in the 17th century by Emperor Shah Jahan as a monument to his wife, the famous Taj Mahal is located in the city of Agra in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. The state was named in 1950 when India became an independent republic. (Uttar Pradesh translates to “Northern State.”) The state capital is Lucknow, a city of about 4 million people.

Since 1994, South Africa has consisted of nine provinces. The Northern Cape is the largest province by area and accounts for almost one-third of the total land area of South Africa. The Eastern Cape lies on the Indian Ocean and is known for its natural beauty, including a rugged coastline and tropical forests. The Western Cape is at the tip of the country, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. There is no Southern Cape.

One of Australia’s most famous natural landmarks is Uluru, the Aboriginal name for what was once known as Ayers Rock. The world’s largest sandstone monolith, it is located in the country’s Northern Territory, a vast region covering roughly 520,000 square miles. Darwin is the territory’s capital, home to about 130,000 residents.

To Germans, it is Bayern, but most English speakers know this region of Germany as Bavaria. Bavaria is the largest state in the country, bordering Austria, Czechia, and Switzerland. It is a mountainous region that is home to Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain. The capital city is Munich, famous for its breweries and home to the annual Oktoberfest celebration. Another famous regional export is the BMW car (BMW translating to Bavarian Motor Works).

Local government in France is organized into 13 administrative regions. Each region comprises multiple departments, of which there are 101 in France. The Paris Region, formally known as Ile-de-France, is the country’s primary business and tourism center. Normandy is also popular with tourists, and is the nation’s premier cheese-making region. Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur also attracts many visitors as it includes the coastal resorts of Nice and Marseilles.

Cornwall, Kent, and Northumberland are all counties in England. Each county has its own history and its own county day. Cornwall also has its own language, although it is now all but extinct. Kent was once an ancient kingdom, and, because of its proximity to mainland Europe, it is where many invaders landed. Meanwhile, Northumberland borders Scotland and historically was the site of many battles between the two countries.

Thirty-one states and a Federal District make up Mexico. Much like the United States, the central government is divided into the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. States have their own constitutions and an elected governor, who can only serve one six-year term in office. Six Mexican states border the U.S. Of these, Baja California is the northernmost, covering the top half of the Baja Peninsula.

Prince Edward Island is the smallest Canadian province in terms of area, but it has a population of over 170,000 people. Conversely, Nunavut is by far the largest territory, covering a land area of 734,000 square miles — equivalent to 21% of Canada’s total land area. However, it is also the most sparsely populated. The entire population of Nunavut, which covers much of the Canadian Arctic, is just over 40,000 people.

Sydney may be Australia’s largest city by population, but it is not the capital — that honor goes to Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory. However, Sydney is the capital of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), located in the southeastern part of the country. Many tourists travel here to see landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

The landlocked country of Switzerland is divided into 26 districts, known as cantons. Each canton has a large amount of autonomy and manages its own taxation, healthcare, education, and law enforcement. Essentially, anything not explicitly mentioned in the Federal Constitution is in the hands of the canton government. Each canton is further subdivided into communes, which equate to an individual town or municipality.

The People’s Republic of China covers more than 3.7 million square miles, which are divided into 31 distinct districts. These 31 districts comprise 22 provinces, four major metropolitan areas, and five autonomous regions. There are also two special administrative regions: Hong Kong and Macao. Hunan, Hainan, and Henan are all provinces. Hainan, in the southernmost part of China, is the newest province; it was part of Guangdong until 1988.

The constituent countries of the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) are divided into counties. Each county has its own administrative, political, and judicial bodies. However, it can get a little confusing, as many historical counties have changed names or boundaries over time. While they may no longer reflect current divisions, historical counties are still used in some sports, such as cricket, and can be an important part of regional and cultural identity.

Japan is divided into 47 “ken,” or prefectures. Each prefecture has its own administration and governor, who is elected for a four-year term. Of the four main islands, Hokkaido is the only one that is not divided into smaller prefectures; rather, the entire island is a prefecture in its own right. Tokyo Metropolitan Area is also its own prefecture and is by far the largest in terms of population, with nearly 14 million residents.

Catalonia is one of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions, bordering Andorra and France in the northeastern Iberian Peninsula. Within the region are four provinces. Its capital, Barcelona, is located in a province of the same name and is the second-largest city in Spain. Catalonia has its own cultural identity and language, Catalan, which is part of the reason there is a growing movement for independence from the rest of Spain.

Ontario is Canada’s second-largest province in terms of area, after Quebec. In terms of population, however, Ontario is the largest province, home to more than one-third of Canadians, as well as Ottawa, the national capital. Toronto is the provincial capital and Canada’s most populous city. Ontario shares borders with the neighboring provinces of Manitoba and Quebec, and with the United States. It covers an area of 416,000 square miles.

India may fall behind China as the second-most populous country in the world, but it can claim the honor of being home to the world’s single most populous state within a country. Nearly 228 million people call the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh home. To put that in perspective, the entirety of the United States is home to around 330 million people.