A Political World Gazetteer

by John Knouse

This is an outline of the world's political divisions, organized by 1) continent; 2) area of continent if relevant; 3) nation; 4) national subdivision (province, state, department); 5) further subdivisions if they exist.

Index

Caribbean: North/Bahamas-----Caribbean: Greater Antilles
Caribbean: Lesser Antilles-----Mexico-----Central America

>

Anguilla---Antigua and Barbuda---Aruba---Bahamas---Barbados
Belize---Bonaire---British Virgin Islands---Cayman Islands--Costa Rica
Cuba---Curaçao---Dominica--El Salvador---Grenada
Guadeloupe---Guatemala---Haiti---Honduras---Jamaica
Martinique---Mexico---Montserrat---Nederlanden Antillen---Panama
Puerto Rico---Republica Dominicana---Saba---St. Kitts and Nevis---St. Lucia
St. Thomas---St. Vincent and the Grenadines---Turks and Caicos Islands---US Virgin Islands

CARIBBEAN-Northern (Bahamas)

BAHAMAS

Formerly a colony of the United Kingdom
Official Name: Commonwealth of the Bahamas
Origin of Name:
Country Code: BS
Capital: Nassau (on Nassau Island)
Origin of Capital Name:
Language: English
Currency: Bahamian Dollar
Telephone Country Code:

Districts:

  1. Acklins Island
  2. Andros
  3. Cat Island
  4. Eleuthera
  5. Grand Bahama
  6. Great Abaco
  7. Great Exuma
  8. Great Inagua
  9. Long Island
  10. Nassau
  11. San Salvador

Turks & Caicos Islands (UK)

Official Name: Colony of Turks and Caicos Islands
Origin of Name:
Country Code: TC
Capital: Cockburn Town
Origin of Capital Name:
Language: English
Currency: US Dollar

Islands:

CARIBBEAN-Greater Antilles

CUBA

Pronunciation: KOO - bah
Origin of Name: Ancient Native American (Arawak) name for the island; meaning unknown
Country Code: CU
Capital: La Habana (Havana)
Origin of Capital Name:
Language: Spanish
Currency: Cuban Peso; CUP
Telephone Country Code: 53

Ciudad:

Provincias:

  1. Camagüey: Camagüey
  2. Ciego de Vila: Ciego de Vila
  3. Cienfuegos (Hundred Fires): Cienfuegos
  4. Granma: Bayamo
  5. Guantánamo: Guantánamo
  6. Holguín: Holguín
  7. La Habana (includes la Isla de la Juventud, meaning island of youth, formerly Isla de los Pinos, or island of the pines): La Habana
  8. Las Tunas: Las Tunas
  9. Matanzas (slaughters or murders): Matanzas
  10. Pinar del Río (Pinewoods of the River): Pinar del Río
  11. Sancti-Spíritus (Sacred Spirit): Sancti Spíritus
  12. Santiago de Cuba (Santiago is a contraction of Santo Diego, or Saint James): Santiago de Cuba
  13. Villa Clara: Santa Clara

Cayman Islands (UK)

Official Name: Colony of the Cayman Islands
Origin of Name:
Country Code: KY
Capital: Georgetown
Origin of Capital Name:
Language: English
Currency: Cayman Islands Dollar
Telephone Country Code:

JAMAICA

Pronunciation: jah MAY kuh
Origin of Name: From Xamaika, an ancient Arawak name for the island; meaning unknown
Country Code: JM
Capital: Kingston
Origin of Capital Name:
Official Language: English
Telephone Country Code:
Jamaica lies south of Cuba and west of Hispaniola.

Provinces:

  1. Hanover
  2. Manchester
  3. Portland
  4. St. Ann
  5. St. Andrew
  6. St. Catherine
  7. St. Elizabeth
  8. St. James
  9. St. Mary
  10. St. Thomas
  11. Trelawney
  12. Westmoreland

HAITI

The western half of the island of Hispaniola; La Republica Dominicana occupies the eastern half.
Pronunciation: HAY tee
Origin of Name: From Native American term for the entire island, now called Hispañola, meaning "highlands"
Country Code: HT
Capital: Port-au-Prince (Port of the Prince)
Official Language: French, a Creole also very important
Telephone Country Code: 509
Haiti occupies the western portion of the island of Hispaniola, with the Republica Dominicana occupying the eastern portion.

REPUBLICA DOMINICANA

The eastern half of La Isla Española (Hispaniola); Haiti occupies the western half.
Origin of Name: Spanish for the Dominican Republic
Country Code: DO
Capital: Santo Domingo
Origin of Capital Name:
Language: Spanish
Telephone Country Code:

Puerto Rico

Possession of USA
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Origin of Name: Rich Port
Country Code: US[PR]
Capital: San Juan (St. John)
US Postal Code: PR
FIPS: 72
Telephone Country Code: 1

Municipios:

  1. Adjuntas (Adjoining Places) FIPS: 001
  2. Aguada (Water-Hole) FIPS: 003
  3. Aguadilla (Little Water-Hole) FIPS: 005
  4. Aguas Buenas (Good Waters) FIPS: 007
  5. Aibonito (?How Pretty!) FIPS: 009
  6. Anasco FIPS: 011
  7. Arecibo FIPS: 013
  8. Arroyo (Gully or Stream) FIPS: 015
  9. Barceloneta (Little Barcelona) FIPS: 017
  10. Barranquitas (Small Gullies) FIPS: 019
  11. Bayamon FIPS: 021
  12. Cabo Rojo (Red Cape of Land) FIPS: 023
  13. Caguas FIPS: 025
  14. Camuy FIPS: 027
  15. Canovanas FIPS: 029
  16. Carolina (Carolina) FIPS: 031
  17. Catano FIPS: 033
  18. Cayey FIPS: 035
  19. Ceiba FIPS: 037
  20. Ciales FIPS: 039
  21. Cidra (Citron) FIPS: 041
  22. Coamo FIPS: 043
  23. Comerio FIPS: 045
  24. Corozal FIPS: 047
  25. Culebra (Snake) FIPS: 049
  26. Dorado (Golden) FIPS: 051
  27. Fajardo (Meat Pie) FIPS: 053
  28. Florida (Flowery; after the Feast of Flowers, or Easter) FIPS: 054
  29. Guanica FIPS: 055
  30. Guayama FIPS: 057
  31. Guayanilla FIPS: 059
  32. Guaynabo FIPS: 061
  33. Gurabo FIPS: 063
  34. Hatillo FIPS: 065
  35. Hormigueros (Ant-Hills) FIPS: 067
  36. Humacao FIPS: 069
  37. Isabela (Elizabeth) FIPS: 071
  38. Jayuya FIPS: 073
  39. Juana Diaz FIPS: 075
  40. Juncos FIPS: 077
  41. Lajas FIPS: 079
  42. Lares FIPS: 081
  43. Las Marias (The Marys) FIPS: 083
  44. Las Piedras (The Feet) FIPS: 085
  45. Loiza FIPS: 087
  46. Luquillo FIPS: 089
  47. Manatí (after the Manatí River, named after the manatee) FIPS: 091
  48. Maricao FIPS: 093
  49. Maunabo FIPS: 095
  50. Mayagüez FIPS: 097
  51. Moca FIPS: 099
  52. Morovis FIPS: 101
  53. Naguabo FIPS: 103
  54. Naranjito (?little Orange Tree) FIPS: 105
  55. Orocovis FIPS: 107
  56. Patillas (?Small Feet) FIPS: 109
  57. Penuelas FIPS: 111
  58. Ponce FIPS: 113
  59. Quebradillas (Brooks or Ravines) FIPS: 115
  60. Rincón (Place or Nook) FIPS: 117
  61. Rio Grande (Big River) FIPS: 119
  62. Sabana Grande (Big Prairie) FIPS: 121
  63. Salinas (Salts) FIPS: 123
  64. San German (St. Jermaine) FIPS: 125
  65. San Juan (St. John) FIPS: 127
  66. San Lorenzo (St. Lawrence) FIPS: 129
  67. San Sebastian (St. Sebastian) FIPS: 131
  68. Santa Isabel (St. Elizabeth) FIPS: 133
  69. Toa Alta (High Rope) FIPS: 135
  70. Toa Baja (Low Rope) FIPS: 137
  71. Trujillo Alto FIPS: 139
  72. Utuado FIPS: 141
  73. Vega Alta (High Plain) FIPS: 143
  74. Vega Baja (Low Plain) FIPS: 145
  75. Vieques FIPS: 147
  76. Villalba (White Village) FIPS: 149
  77. Yabucoa FIPS: 151
  78. Yauco FIPS: 153

CARIBBEAN-Lesser Antilles
Leeward Islands

US Virgin Islands

Possession of the US
Official Name: Virgin Islands of the United States
Country Code: US [VI]
Capital: Charlotte Amalie
Language: English, Spanish, French and Creole
Currency: US Dollar
US Postal Code: VI
FIPS: 78
Telephone Country Code: 1

Islands:

  1. St. Croix FIPS: 010
  2. St. John FIPS: 020
  3. St. Thomas FIPS: 030
  4. Also around 50 small islands

British Virgin Islands

Possession of the UK
Official Name: Colony of British Virgin Islands
Country Code: VG
Capital: Road Town
Language: English
Currency: US Dollar
Telephone Country Code: 1

Islands:

  1. Anelgada
  2. Anguilla
  3. Tortola ("Turtle," from the profile of the island)
  4. Virgin Gorda ("Fat Virgin")
  5. Also about 36 small islands

Saba

Possession of the Nederland, part of the Nederlanden Antillen
Telephone Country Code:

Anguilla
Possession of the UK
Official Name: Dependent Territory of Anguilla
Country Code: AI
Capital: The Valley
Language: English
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar
Telephone Country Code:

ST. KITTS & NEVIS

Official Name: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
Country Code: KN
Capital: Basse-Terre
Language: English
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar
Telephone Country Code:

Islands:

  1. Nevis
  2. St. Kitts (St. Christopher)
  3. Sombrero ("Hat")

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

Origin of Name:
Country Code: AG
Capital: St. John's
Language: English
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar
Telephone Country Code:

Islands:

  1. Antigua
  2. Barbuda
  3. Redonda (uninhabited)

Montserrat

Possession of the UK
Official Name: Colony of Montserrat
Country Code: MS
Capital: Plymouth
Language: English
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar
Telephone Country Code:

Guadeloupe

Possession of France
Country Code: GP
Capital: Basse-Terre
Language: French
Currency: French Franc
Telephone Country Code: 596

Islands:

  1. Basse-Terre ("Lower Land")
  2. Grande-Terre ("Big Land")
  3. Marie Galante

CARIBBEAN-Lesser Antilles-Windward Islands

DOMINICA

Official Name: Commonwealth of Dominica
Pronunciation: doh MEE nee kah
Origin of Name: "Discovered" by Cristobal Colombo (Christopher Columbus) on a Sunday, thus given the name of the Italian word for Sunday, Domenica
Country Code: DM
Capital: Roseau
Language: English and French dialect
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar
Telephone Country Code:
Possession of France
Official Name: Department de Martinique
Country Code: MQ
Capital: Fort-de-France
Language: French and Creole
Currency: French Franc
Telephone Country Code: 596

ST. LUCIA

Country Code: LC
Capital: Castries
Language: English and French dialect
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar
Telephone Country Code:

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

Country Code: VC
Capital: Kingstown
Language: English
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar
Telephone Country Code:

BARBADOS

Barbados is not in the main chain of Antilles but an isolated island to the East.
Country Code: BB
Capital: Bridgetown
Language: English
Currency: Barbados Dollar
Telephone Country Code:

GRENADA

Country Code: GD
Capital: St. George's
Language: English
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar
Telephone Country Code:

Netherlanden Antillian

Nederland possession
Country Code: AN
Capital: Willemstad (Williamstown)
Language: Dutch, Spanish, English
Currency: Nederlanden Antillian Guilder
Telephone Country Code: 599

Aruba

Nederland possession
Country Code: AW
Capital: Oranjestad (Orangetown)
Language: Dutch, Papiamento
Currency: Aruba Guilder
Telephone Country Code: 599

Other NEDERLAND POSSESSIONS

Telephone Country Code: 599
  1. Bonaire
  2. Curaçao

MÉXICO

MÉXICO

Pronunciation: MEH - hee - ko
Name: From the Mehika people, the group of Aztecs who occupied Tenochtítlan and ruled the Aztec Empire.
Country Code: MX
Capital: Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal
Languages: Spanish; English also important in some areas, especially along US border, some native languages
Telephone Country Code: 52

Federal District

Estados (States):

  1. Aguascalientes
    Pronunciation: AH - guahs - kah - lee- EN - teece (the "g" is pronounced softly, but like g, not j)
    Origin of Name: Named after its capital city
    Capital: Aguascalientes
    Origin of Capital Name: Spanish for "Hot Waters" because of natural hot springs
  2. Baja California (Norte)
    Pronunciation: BAH - hah - kah- lee - FOR - nyah
    Origin of Name: Spanish meaning "Lower California"
    Capital: Mexicali
    Origin of Capital Name:
  3. Baja California Sur
    Pronunciation: BAH - hah - kahl - ee- FOR - nyah - SUR
    Origin of Name: Spanish meaning "South Lower California"
    Capital: La Paz
    Origin of Capital Name: Spanish for "The Peace"
  4. Campeche
    Pronunciation: kahm - PECH - eh
    Origin of Name: After the ancient pre-Columbian state of Kimpech
    Capital: Campeche
    Origin of Capital Name: Same as name of state
  5. Chiapas
    Pronunciation: chee - AH - pahs
    Origin of Name:
    Capital: Tuxtla Gutiérrez
    Also simply called "Tuxtla"
    Origin of Capital Name:
  6. Chihuahua
    Pronunciation: chee - WAH - wah
    Origin of Name: From the name of the capital
    Capital: Chihuahua
    Origin of Capital Name:
  7. Coahuila
    Pronunciation: kwah WEE lah
    Origin of Name:
    Capital: Saltillo
    Origin of Capital Name: Spanish for "Little Jump"; probably actually a diminutive of Salta in Argentina
  8. Colima
    Colima is a very small state on the Pacific coast
    Pronunciation: koh LEE mah
    Origin of Name:
    Capital: Colima
    Origin of Capital Name:
  9. Durango
    Pronunciation: dooh RONG goh
    Origin of Name: Named after its capital city
    Capital: Durango
    Also called Victoria de Durango
    Origin of Capital Name:
  10. Guanajuato
    Pronunciation: gwan ah WAH toh
    Origin of Name: After the capital city
    Capital: Guanajuato
    Origin of Capital Name: After the Guanajuato people, a group of Native Americans
  11. Guerrero
    Pronunciation: gheh RERR o
    Origin of Name: After Vicente Guerrero, a Mexican revolutionary hero
    Capital: Chilpancingo
    Origin of Capital Name:
  12. Hidalgo
    Pronunciation: ee DAHL go
    Origin of Name: Spanish for "Noble"
    Capital: Pachuca
    Origin of Capital Name:
  13. Jalisco
    Pronunciation: hall EES koh
    Origin of Name:
    Capital: Guadalajara
    Origin of Capital Name: After the Spanish city of the same name, in turn named from the Arabic "Wad al Hadjarah," meaning "River of Stones"
  14. México (Estado de)
    Pronunciation: MEH hee koh
    Origin of Name: After the Mehika Aztecs who lived at Tenochtitlan
    Capital: Toluca
    Origin of Capital Name:
  15. Michoacán
    Pronunciation: mee choh wah KAHN
    Origin of Name:
    Capital: Morelia
    Origin of Capital Name: After José María Morelos y Pavón, hero of the Mexican Revolution; previously called Valladolid
  16. Morelos
    Pronunciation: moh - RAY - loce
    Origin of Name: After José María Morelos y Pavón, hero of the Mexican Revolution
    Capital: Cuernavaca
    Origin of Capital Name:
  17. Nayarit
    Formerly the territory of Tepic; Nayarit since 1917
    Pronunciation: nah - YAR - eet
    Origin of Name:
    Capital: Tepic
    Origin of Capital Name:
    Includes the Pacific Ocean Tres Marís islands
  18. Nuevo Leon
    Pronunciation: NWAY - voh - leh - OHN
    Origin of Name: After the Leon province of Spain, literally meaning "New Lion"
    Capital: Monterrey
    Origin of Capital Name:
  19. Oaxaca
    Pronunciation: wah HAW kah
    Origin of Name: After capital city
    Capital: Oaxaca
    Origin of Capital Name: Originally Oaxaca de Juárez
  20. Puebla
    Pronunciation: PWAY blah
    Origin of Name: After capital city
    Capital: Puebla
    Origin of Capital Name: Means "the People" or "the Community"
  21. Querétaro
    Pronunciation: keh - RET - ah - roh
    Origin of Name: Named after its capital city
    Capital: : Querétaro
    Origin of Capital Name: The city was already ancient at the time of Cristobal Colombo; meaning is uncertain
  22. Quintana Roo
    Pronunciation: keen - TAH - nah - ROH
    Origin of Name: ?After Manuel José Quintana, Spanish poet (1772-1857)
    Capital: Chetumal
    Origin of Capital Name:
  23. San Luis Potosí
    Pronunciation: sahn - loo - EES - poh - toh - SEE (the u in Luis is very short)
    Origin of Name: From the name of the capital city
    Capital: San Luis Potosí
    Origin of Capital Name: After the old Spanish mission founded at this location, San Luis Rey (Saint Louis the King), and after a nearby hill, Cerro de Potosí (Hill of Potosí), famed for its silver mines, which in turn is named after the Potosí area of Bolivia (then part of Perú), which also was a mining district of renown.
  24. Sinaloa
    Pronunciation: SEE - nah - loh - ah
    Origin of Name:
    Capital: Culiacán
    Origin of Capital Name:
  25. Sonora
    Pronunciation: soh - NOH - rah
    Origin of Name: After a native marble which can be used to make chimes, producing a true ring; thus, "Sonora" means "sonorous"
    Capital: Hermosillo
    Origin of Capital Name: Spanish for "Little Beautiful [handsome] One"
  26. Tabasco
    Pronunciation: tah - BAHS - koh
    Origin of Name: From the Tabasco River (Río Tabasco), now called the Río Grijalvo
    Capital: Villahermosa
    Origin of Capital Name: Spanish for "Beautiful Village"
  27. Tamaulipas
    Pronunciation: tah - mah - oo - LEE - pahs
    Origin of Name:
    Capital: Ciudad Victoria
    Origin of Capital Name: Spanish for "Victoria City"
  28. Tlaxcala
    Pronunciation:
    Origin of Name: From the ancient Aztec province of Tlaxcala, largely comprising the same area
    Capital:Tlaxcala
    Origin of Capital Name: Same as the estado name
  29. Veracruz
    Pronunciation: BEHR - ah - krooce
    Origin of Name: Spanish for "True Cross"
    Capital: Jalapa
    Also called Jalapa Enríquez
    Origin of Capital Name:
  30. Yucatán
    Pronunciation: yoo- kah - TAHN
    Origin of Name: Native American language meaning "What did you say?" The story goes that when the Spaniards first waded ashore on the Yucatán Peninsula, they asked the Native Americans watching, "What is this place?" The Native Americans, not understanding Spanish, asked "What did you say?" The Spanish, in their arrogance, assumed that anyone would understand their meaning, and took it to be the name.
    Capital: Mérida
    Origin of Capital Name: Named after the Spanish town of the same name, originally (in Latin) Augusta Emerita
  31. Zacatecas
    Pronunciation: sah - kah - THE - kahs
    Origin of Name: Named after its capital city
    Capital: Zacatecas
    Origin of Capital Name: After the native Zacatec Indians, who in turn apparently took their name from the native Zacate grass

CENTRAL AMERICA

GUATEMALA
Pronunciation: gwah - teh - MAH - lah; the initial g is not fully sounded
Origin of Name: An ancient Native American name, meaning either "land of trees" or "mountain that vomits water"
Country Code: GT
Capital: (Ciudad de) Guatemala
Language: Spanish
Telephone Country Code: 502

Departamentos:

  1. Alta Verapaz (High True Peace): Cobán
  2. Baja Verapaz (Low True Peace): Salamá
  3. Chimaltenango: Chimaltenango
  4. Chiquimula: Chiquimula
  5. Ciudad Vieja (old City)
  6. El Progreso (The Progress): El Progreso
  7. Escuintla: Escuintla
  8. Guatemala: (Ciudad) Guatemala
  9. Huehuetenango: Huehuetenango
  10. Izabal: Puerta Barrios
  11. Jalapa: Jalapa
  12. Jutiapa: Jutiapa
  13. Petén: Flores
  14. Quezaltenango: Quetzaltenango
  15. Quiché: Santa Cruz del Quiché
  16. Retalhuleu: Retalhuleu
  17. Sacatepéquez: Antigua Guatemala
  18. San Marcos (St. Mark): San Marcos
  19. Santa Rosa (St. Rose): Cuilapa
  20. Sololá: Sololá
  21. Suchitepéquez: Mazatenango
  22. Totonicapán: Totonicapán
  23. Zacapa: Zacapa

BELIZE
Formerly British Honduras, a colony of the United Kingdom; claimed by Guatemala as part of its territory
Official Name: Belize
Pronunciation: beh LEES
Origin of Name: After the Belize River, which in turn was named for Wallace (or Wallis or Ballis), an early Scots explorer; spelled Belice in Hispanic nations
Capital: Belmopán (in Cayo)
Official Languages: English
Telephone Country Code: 501

Districts:

  1. Belize City: Belize City
  2. Cayo: San Ignacio
  3. Corozal: Corozal
  4. Orange Walk: Orange Walk
  5. Stann Creek: Dangrigá (formerly Stann Creek)
  6. Toledo: Punta Gorda (Fat Point)

HONDURAS
Official name: Republica del Honduras
Pronunciation: ohn - DOO - ross; the r is a Spanish clicked r
Name: Depths (Spanish), for the deep water off the coast
Capital: Tegucigalpa
Language: Spanish
Telephone Country Code: 504

Departamentos:

  1. Atlantida (Atlantica)
  2. Choluteca: Choluteca
  3. Colón
  4. Comayagua: Comayagua
  5. Copán
  6. Cortés: Sa Pedro Sula
  7. El Paraíso (The Paradise): Yuscaran
  8. Francisco Morazán: Tegucigalpa
  9. Gracias a Dios (Thanks to God): Puerto Lempira
  10. Intibucá: La Espiranza (Hope)
  11. La Paz (The Peace): La Paz
  12. Lempira: ?Gracias
  13. Ocotepeque
  14. Olancho: Juticalpa
  15. Santa Barbara (St. Barbara): Santa Barbara
  16. Valle (Valley): Nacaome
  17. Yoro: Yoro

EL SALVADOR
Official name: Republica del Salvador
Pronunciation: ell SAHL - bah - dor; the r is a Spanish clicked r
Meaning of name: The Savior or Republic of the Savior
Capital: San Salvador (Saint Savior)
Language: Spanish
Telephone Country Code: 503

Divisions:

  1. Ahuachapán: Ahuachapán
  2. Cabañas: Sensuntepeque
  3. Chalatenango: Chalatenango
  4. Cuscatlán: Cojutepeque
  5. La Libertad (The Freedom): Nueva San Salvador
  6. Morazán: San Francisco (Gotera)
  7. La Paz (The Peace): Zacatecoluca
  8. Santa Ana (Saint Ann): Santa Ana
  9. San Miguel (Saint Michael): San Miguel
  10. San Salvador (Saint Savior): San Salvador
  11. San Vicente: San Vicente
  12. Sonsonate: Sonsonate
  13. La Unión: La Unión
  14. Usulatán: Usulatán

NICARAGUA
Official name: Republica del Nicaragua
Pronunciation: NEE - kahr - RAG - wah; the g is often barely pronounced; the r is the Spanish clicked r
Origin of name: A name made by the early Spanish from Nicarao, the name of a Native American leader, and the Spanish word agua, meaning water, applied as a name for Lake Nicaragua and by extension for the land around it
Capital: Managua
Language: Spanish
Telephone Country Code: 505

Departamentos:

  1. Boaco: Boaco
  2. Carazo: Jinotepe
  3. Chinandega: Chinandega
  4. Chontales: Juigalpa
  5. Estelí: Estelí
  6. Granada (after Spanish city of Granada): Granada
  7. Jinotega: Jinotega
  8. León (Lion): León
  9. Madriz: Somoto
  10. Managua: Managua
  11. Masaya: Masaya
  12. Matagalpa: Matagalpa
  13. Nueva Segovia (New Segovia): Ocotal
  14. Río San Juan (St. John River)
  15. Rivas (Riverbanks): Rivas
  16. Zelaya (after José Santos Zelaya, Nicaraguan president at turn of 20th century): Bluefields

COSTA RICA
Official name: Republica del Costa Rica
Pronunciation: KOSE - tah REE - kah; the r is a Spanish clicked r
Origin of name: Rich Coast or Republic of the Rich Coast; name was given by Columbus when he was the first European to land here, expecting riches which never materialized
Country Code: CR
Capital: San José
Origin of Capital Name: Spanish for Saint Joseph
Language: Spanish
Currency: Costa Rican Franc; CRC
Telephone Country Code: 506

Provincias:

  1. Alajuela: Alajuela
  2. Cartago: Cartago
  3. Guanacaste: Liberia
  4. Heredia: Heredia
  5. Limón (Lemon): Limón
  6. Puntarenas: Puntarenas
  7. San José (St. Joseph): San José

PANAMÁ
At one time part of Costa Rica, then part of Colombia; split from Colombia with US assistance
Pronunciation: pah - nah - MAH
Official name: Republica del Panamá
Origin of name: After the Panamá tree, the name of which in turn means either a group of fish or a group of butterflies
Capital: (Ciudad de) Panamá
Origin of Capital Name: Same as the national name
Official and Principal Language: Spanish
Telephone Country Code: 507

Provincias:

  1. Bocas del Toro (Mouths of the Bull)
  2. Chiriquí
  3. Coclé
  4. Colón
  5. Darién
  6. Herrera
  7. Los Santos (The Saints)
  8. Panamá (Same as nation): Panamá
  9. San Blas
  10. Veraguas
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