The Grammaring Guide to English Grammar with Exercises

The definite article with geographical names

The definite article is used with certain geographical names:

Countries

Names of countries which are collective, plural or modified by an adjective or an of-construction take the definite article the:

the Czech Republic

the Netherlands

the People's Republic of China

the Philippines

the United Kingdom (UK)

the United States of America (USA)

Bodies of water

the Amazon

the Ganges

the (English) Channel

the Panama Canal

the Atlantic (Ocean)

the Pacific (Ocean)

Deserts

the Gobi (Desert)

the Kalahari Desert

the Mojave Desert

the Patagonian Desert

the Sahara (Desert)

Mountain ranges

the Alps

the Andes

the Appalachians

the Great Dividing Range

the Himalayas

Points of the compass

the North

the South

the East

the West

the South Pole

the North Pole

the south of Italy

the Far East

But:

North

America

We were travelling

west

.

Some constellations and other heavenly bodies

the Big Dipper (AmE) / the Plough (BrE)

the Pleiades

the Cigar Galaxy

the Crab Nebula

But:

Orion

Cassiopeia

Related topics:

The zero article with geographical names