What Every Country's Name Literally Means (2024)

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The natives of Guatemala, located in Central America, are said to have named the country, although there is a debate as to which word is behind the name. An Aztec version of Quauhtemallan means \"lands of trees,\" while another is Guhatezmalha means \"mountain of vomiting water.\"

There are plenty of trees, along with several volcanos throughout the country, so either definition works!

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As with Equatorial Guinea, the definition of the name remains the same.

However, this land was under French control as French Guinea, only releasing it to the people in 1958.

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The land now known as Guinea-Bissau was under Portuguese rule from when the explorers discovered the islands and land in the 1400s into the 1970s.

To separate it from the other countries with similar names, it added the name of its capital city, Bissau. The port city was a Portuguese trading center, established in 1687.

","embed":null}]},{"index":73,"title":"Guyana: Land of Many Waters","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790805,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/d3/fc/d3fc006a9d3d48b3a452aab779094691.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/guyana/TAkjGQ2XzNK5sdCyEA_zqruCgDc=/800x599/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d3/fc/d3fc006a9d3d48b3a452aab779094691.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/guyana/eFaSGYXnkZlXPOvSqDD07p1_qSQ=/480x359/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d3/fc/d3fc006a9d3d48b3a452aab779094691.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/guyana/q8yF3_9yZ7WpWdWLK7mWLuyna_w=/800x599/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d3/fc/d3fc006a9d3d48b3a452aab779094691.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/guyana/LUii_v12qlcIdSKEJD-prHoSQlM=/480x359/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d3/fc/d3fc006a9d3d48b3a452aab779094691.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:47.754020Z","height":599,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.335559265442404,"title":"Guyana","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The native peoples of the land called Guyana were the bearers of the South American nation's name. Their word, guiana, means \"lands of water,\" which works well due to the Amazon River making its way through part of the country.

Colonized by both the Dutch and English, who kept the name, Guyana has been independent since 1966 and is the only English-speaking country on the continent.

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The Taíno people living on the island of Hispaniola (the aforementioned \"discovered\" country Christopher Columbus named) called their land Haiti. Columbus' brother first built a settlement that was named Santo Domingo, so when the French colonized the other half of the island, the French name was Saint Dominique.

A slave rebellion on the island, ironically inspired by the French Revolution, ended French authority in 1803, and the newly independent country was renamed Haiti.

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Christopher Columbus did not always encounter good weather when sailing around the Caribbean in search of the New World. Upon an exploration in 1502, a storm raged over the waters when Columbus found Honduras. The story goes that he uttered, \"Gracias a Dios que hemos salido de estas honduras!\" or \"Thank God we've escaped these treacherous depths!\"

He named the cape where he sought shelter Gracias a Dios and the land Honduras.

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Although the name may lead some to believe Hungary is named for Huns, it is the Magyars for whom the land is named. Existing during the time of the Huns and Turks, the Magyars existed in the Eastern European and Russian areas and were as fierce as warriors as the others.

The name descends from the word onogur, which was an alliance of 10 tribes during the fifth century. Westerners eventually added the \"h.\"

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The green and fertile land that was Iceland is, as one would think by its location, often covered with ice and snow during the winter months. It is said it was Norseman Flóki Vilgeroarson who named the island Iceberg when seeing icebergs that filled a fjord.

Before Vilgeroarson, Norwegian Naddoour Ásvaldsson called it Snaeland (Snowland) after experiencing snow during the summer. The island wasn't officially named until 874. Interestingly enough, in Icelandic, Iceland means \"island.\"

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The Indus River, one of the largest in Asia, had numerous names. The Greeks called it Sinthos, the Chinese called it Shendu, the Urdu called it Indus, and in Sanskrit, it was known as Sindhu for a \"large body of water.\"

Earning its name from the river, the land beyond the Indus River was simply Indía in Greek, meaning \"Indian Land.\" The French called it Inde, which appears as a name in the works of William Shakespeare, but by the 17th century, it returned to India, as it remains today.

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As the islands that make up modern-day Indonesia lay beyond the Indus River, so, too, did they receive Indian Land designation by the Greeks. As they were islands, they added nésos, meaning \"island,\" to the name. With the French calling the land Indie in following centuries, spice traders to the islands called them the East Indies. (The Caribbean islands earned the moniker the West Indies.)

Held under Dutch colonial rule until 1949, the nation dropped its Dutch East Indies name for its original Indonesia.

","embed":null}]},{"index":80,"title":"Iran: Land of the Aryans","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790812,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/53/0d/530d04a59c204a9d840feccb8d56e6b9.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/iran/8mS5r1o99QrZZftOrUzTLJQ0vEs=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/53/0d/530d04a59c204a9d840feccb8d56e6b9.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/iran/OO8bIyvpQjASFUAMqC_F3Qgzmlg=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/53/0d/530d04a59c204a9d840feccb8d56e6b9.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/iran/XHEb3eWlTjB6yPJROlFc6pHEgaI=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/53/0d/530d04a59c204a9d840feccb8d56e6b9.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/iran/jToTIv1LlP1iew_tBayfV0U-OJo=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/53/0d/530d04a59c204a9d840feccb8d56e6b9.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:47.846404Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Iran","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The people of the kingdom once referred to as Persia were actually living in the Achaemenid Empire. Referring to themselves in names that came from the word Aryan, it meant the people who spoke an Indo-European language. (Nothing to do with the Nazi version of the word, by the way.)

One name for the Aryan included Iranshahr. It was the Romans who mistakenly called the land Persia after an area within the Achaemenid Empire. It took 1,000 years, but in 1935, the Shah of Persia asked the world to refer to it as Iran. It wasn't fully adopted until the 1970s.

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Like Iran, the land where Iraq rests was formerly called a different name for centuries: Mesopotamia. Greek for \"between two rivers,\" the land encompassed the Arabian land between the Euphrates and the Tigris Rivers.

At one point, it fell under the Persian Empire and eventually the Ottoman's, but it was not until World War I and the fall of the Ottoman Empire when the country known as Iraq was created. The name comes from a mixture of Arabic words that translate back to its original name.

","embed":null}]},{"index":82,"title":"Ireland: Land of the Eiru","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790814,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/95/07/950761c9df014fddbe87f336a0d14609.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/ireland/eOGctoSnAS1GDajaqzjFLAAQ4OU=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/95/07/950761c9df014fddbe87f336a0d14609.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/ireland/IoQIufOJkc9XcdhQN93Q3lfBdI0=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/95/07/950761c9df014fddbe87f336a0d14609.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/ireland/yKHwmOj9z1lV8nf0vgTd4g_-lR8=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/95/07/950761c9df014fddbe87f336a0d14609.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/ireland/8FFhzLo0BLMWPGrZLvU8yK_gax8=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/95/07/950761c9df014fddbe87f336a0d14609.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:47.872695Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Ireland","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The goddess of the island we call Ireland was called Éiru. Long before Christianity swept across the isle, the people of the island believed in their sovereign and called the land Éire and themselves the Éiru.

Still, there is mention in Norse history of referring to the island as the \"westland isle,\" or Inis na Fidbadh, but Ireland is far easier to pronounce! Éire is still in use in the country today.

","embed":null}]},{"index":83,"title":"Israel: He That Striveth With God","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790815,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/cd/7a/cd7a27459c2a4d109da3a13c4cca0db6.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/israel/RYv4QS00bEC9oRx6KePWfQ-Hbcg=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/cd/7a/cd7a27459c2a4d109da3a13c4cca0db6.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/israel/6hFaSJrAv9Gmmgot0H1II2GngeM=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/cd/7a/cd7a27459c2a4d109da3a13c4cca0db6.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/israel/6WQMRrgeGFDbD3_mB-q7w85Tfuc=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/cd/7a/cd7a27459c2a4d109da3a13c4cca0db6.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/israel/8KX6DwuWy67GMH6DLNrc_7bqCHY=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/cd/7a/cd7a27459c2a4d109da3a13c4cca0db6.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:47.886077Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Israel","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Israel's name can be found in the Old Testament when Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, was given the new name directly by God after wrestling God all night. According to Genesis 32:28, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.”

The name means \"struggles, or strives with God.\" It did not become the State of Israel until after World War II.

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You would think a country that formed such a strong empire and bestowed names to various countries in the world would have a name of strength or be called Romania. But before the Roman Empire grew, the land was ripe for farms and ranches. Italia, as it is called in Italy, descends from víteliú, which means \"land of young cattle.\" (It is the name of veal, vitello, in Italian.)

Emperor Augustus used the name for the entire peninsula we know as Italy to this day.

","embed":null}]},{"index":85,"title":"Jamaica: Land of Wood and Water","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790817,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/61/40/6140826a937a49b29cc4488c4feba6c5.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/jamaica/dOtY7lWUCi1ZR7P9X9z97RhEx2M=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/61/40/6140826a937a49b29cc4488c4feba6c5.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/jamaica/bb_5PhzSZRNtvSiMFWy-8NQYRUU=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/61/40/6140826a937a49b29cc4488c4feba6c5.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/jamaica/cieMSj8hfrE1XnBbmq6-SB_l6Pw=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/61/40/6140826a937a49b29cc4488c4feba6c5.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/jamaica/1D7W6AI8F0tsXWBthgZDtEL2Izc=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/61/40/6140826a937a49b29cc4488c4feba6c5.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:47.912492Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Jamaica","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The indigenous people of Jamaica, the Tainos (also known as the Arawaks) called their island Xaymaca. Meaning \"land of wood and water\" for plentiful rainforests and rivers, Christopher Columbus sought out the island in hopes of finding gold. He never found his precious metal but did claim the land for Spain during the 1500s.

The English came along a hundred years later and took over the island, keeping its name Jamaica.

","embed":null}]},{"index":86,"title":"Japan: Origin of the Sun","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790818,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/90/51/90517214fa124ded8e452518a8eaa8a4.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/japan/DB7CPaE0dB8u7MdKz2oMfWAN2kw=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/90/51/90517214fa124ded8e452518a8eaa8a4.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/japan/VyV-Cwpx_okigzJf4uMI7FAxwhg=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/90/51/90517214fa124ded8e452518a8eaa8a4.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/japan/PLlXk4f1pQtiLriOeoaL9LIcBAU=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/90/51/90517214fa124ded8e452518a8eaa8a4.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/japan/stKQz8kzHzLqQl4LS7z-vidfr8w=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/90/51/90517214fa124ded8e452518a8eaa8a4.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:47.924925Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Japan","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

In Japanese, the country name is Nippon or Nihon, which means \"origin of the sun.\" Located to the east of China, and the first to see the sunrise, the name was used by the Chinese as \"land of the rising sun\" or Zipang or Cipangu.

Although Marco Polo never traveled to Japan, he learned about the country, pronounced Ji-pang, through his travels to Southern China and brought the name back to the west.

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Jordan's name comes from its river of the same name. Descending to the Dead Sea, to cross the river Jordan meant you would be entering the land that was the Kingdom of Jordan.

The river received its name from the Greeks who called it Aulon (\"channel\").

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The people who live in this remote region of Asia were deemed Kazakhs by the ancient Turks. The name means \"free man\" or \"secessionist\" as the people broke away from the Uzbek khan.

In the Persian dialect, stan means \"place of\" making the combination the Place of the Free Man. The name was picked up by the western nations and Kazakhstan has been recognized since the 17th century.

","embed":null}]},{"index":89,"title":"Kenya: Mountains of Whiteness","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":3384788,"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/safari-car-is-waiting-for-crossing-elephants-in-kenya/vluciXtYYW49K7medugrT2sWyGE=/141x0:1255x835/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/90/e3/90e331744598431fbd08f6cfcf02e007.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/safari-car-is-waiting-for-crossing-elephants-in-kenya/QFzqi08evAzVgujeQROTXxyliGw=/141x0:1255x835/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/90/e3/90e331744598431fbd08f6cfcf02e007.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/safari-car-is-waiting-for-crossing-elephants-in-kenya/wlcdUfg40fQIDQIevduObnXiCJM=/141x0:1255x835/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/90/e3/90e331744598431fbd08f6cfcf02e007.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/safari-car-is-waiting-for-crossing-elephants-in-kenya/vluciXtYYW49K7medugrT2sWyGE=/141x0:1255x835/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/90/e3/90e331744598431fbd08f6cfcf02e007.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/safari-car-is-waiting-for-crossing-elephants-in-kenya/wr1QtYpJhRbuInaKlAIm5GGEGis=/141x0:1255x835/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/90/e3/90e331744598431fbd08f6cfcf02e007.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2023-07-27T21:26:00.954491Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Safari car is waiting for crossing Elephants in Kenya","credit":"guenterguni","source":"Getty Images","source_url":null,"caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Africa's second-highest mountain peak, Mount Kenya, earned its name from the native people who called it Kirinyaga or Kerenyaga. This name, meaning mountain of whiteness, was bestowed due to its snowcap.

When the Brits came along to colonize the land, they could not pronounce the name and instead called it Mount Kenya, as well as the land around it.

","embed":null}]},{"index":90,"title":"Kiribati: Gilbert Islands","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790822,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/09/d8/09d8796e5ba14edb87c4dbdebe648e43.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/kiribati/VYkP6i4nc02_V7f0pMjekWGWGH0=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/09/d8/09d8796e5ba14edb87c4dbdebe648e43.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/kiribati/sRoMWGrOboOu9YCpMwV_hfXmRKg=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/09/d8/09d8796e5ba14edb87c4dbdebe648e43.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/kiribati/MCqVMo6qSyLe1Zpj7CyBL2hBFYc=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/09/d8/09d8796e5ba14edb87c4dbdebe648e43.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/kiribati/KizaEm-dAnLgicx3l_PscoZVjAM=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/09/d8/09d8796e5ba14edb87c4dbdebe648e43.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:47.975119Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Kiribati","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Formerly called the Gilbert Islands, Kiribati was named for Thomas Gilbert, a British captain who discovered the islands. The people of the island, known as the Gilberts, pronounced it Kiribati.

When granted independence in 1979, the people decided to use their pronunciation for the country and abandoned the English version.

","embed":null}]},{"index":91,"title":"Korea: Goryeo Kingdom","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790823,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/e6/6a/e66ae30ac4f7409181188a1684ed0ef1.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/changdeokgung-palace-in-seoul-south-korea/EKx9O3oyIH1kkC4vnqRyh1tarZ0=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e6/6a/e66ae30ac4f7409181188a1684ed0ef1.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/changdeokgung-palace-in-seoul-south-korea/wI56Yqe2btxLDyc_wPxlmsWzQXg=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e6/6a/e66ae30ac4f7409181188a1684ed0ef1.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/changdeokgung-palace-in-seoul-south-korea/_uyhUwJrphfTNcjk1qvvo_8wIoI=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e6/6a/e66ae30ac4f7409181188a1684ed0ef1.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/changdeokgung-palace-in-seoul-south-korea/VgmZsUzO9AKoJPTSw148m5vJ4T8=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e6/6a/e66ae30ac4f7409181188a1684ed0ef1.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:47.988544Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul, South Korea","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Before Korea was divided by north and south into two countries, it was one kingdom of people who called it Goryeo. A passage along the Silk Road, Marco Polo's version of the word became Cauli. Eventually, the English took the word and made it Corea, so it's a series of transliterations that resulted in the current name.

Today, South Korea calls itself Hanguk, which means \"the country of the Han\" and North Korea calls itself Joseon Democratic People’s Republic. Joseon was the name of the dynasty that ruled the region for 543 years before the Japanese colonized it in 1910.

","embed":null}]},{"index":92,"title":"Kuwait: The Fortress","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790824,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/55/ad/55ad96a29e644bda870a87c97abb1802.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/kuwait/kAr5kKoviSqZ5b19_BOyqp3UCEc=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/55/ad/55ad96a29e644bda870a87c97abb1802.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/kuwait/m2NdjeH9hc0KWBZpAcUIwXSbAyk=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/55/ad/55ad96a29e644bda870a87c97abb1802.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/kuwait/wN0au04dYvShQuQvJFUW8NY3V6I=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/55/ad/55ad96a29e644bda870a87c97abb1802.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/kuwait/RNymhQXhMKqVLnBvErp_BM-0gEY=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/55/ad/55ad96a29e644bda870a87c97abb1802.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.001699Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Kuwait","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Kuwait is derived of the Arabic word for \"fort,\" or kut. An apropos name as it served as a fort to protect the sheikdom existing here in the mid-1700s.

But before, it was Kuwait it was part of the Sassanid Empire of Persia and called Meshan or Mesene until the Banu Utub people arrived.

","embed":null}]},{"index":93,"title":"Kyrgystan: Land of 40 Tribes","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790825,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/9a/35/9a351dfb5fa44855a4a76743529fabb9.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/kyrgystan/JR-L2hGfSoFn_aLmU-joEGTHhu4=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/9a/35/9a351dfb5fa44855a4a76743529fabb9.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/kyrgystan/lP9xFp3CJXTAI_pI5j-DQZUJnso=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/9a/35/9a351dfb5fa44855a4a76743529fabb9.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/kyrgystan/Nir-rwevsU4HJcRGRrZbcyKjhvU=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/9a/35/9a351dfb5fa44855a4a76743529fabb9.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/kyrgystan/fctCKWk4vwyohCIUfzoNdzeKpwA=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/9a/35/9a351dfb5fa44855a4a76743529fabb9.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.014792Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Kyrgystan","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The Kyrgyz for which the country is named were a large tribe of people spanning across the modern-day areas of China, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, earning them the name 40 tribes.

In ancient Turk language, Kyrg means \"40\" and gyz means \"tribe.\"

","embed":null}]},{"index":94,"title":"Laos: Kingdom of Three Laos","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790826,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/96/1c/961c6cc0a950436b83eed9e9164e42fe.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/laos/KwgiJTOObselSMEAxI21HL3wufY=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/96/1c/961c6cc0a950436b83eed9e9164e42fe.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/laos/kBqLjLQc2jyHtQSQ2qkJKUynBow=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/96/1c/961c6cc0a950436b83eed9e9164e42fe.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/laos/_2Jyq_1oPWHWGjKs27hiOWxwKu0=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/96/1c/961c6cc0a950436b83eed9e9164e42fe.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/laos/iwj6fzHuCG_9H7Lh_1FqxNz3HVw=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/96/1c/961c6cc0a950436b83eed9e9164e42fe.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.027726Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Laos","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Laos began as the Lan Xang Kingdom, which lasted nearly 400 years. The name meant \"million elephants.\" When the kingdom was broken into three different states, the Siamese swooped in and took control of all three and moved them into modern-day Central Thailand.

Another century nearly passed, and France fought Siam for control of the land, uniting with the kingdom and giving the people their independence as Laos.

","embed":null}]},{"index":95,"title":"Latvia: Home of the Forest Clearers","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790827,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/e6/b0/e6b00ccf56e74b36be3da7a9aa632e78.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/latvia/_GhBBiVMSKXlQKIwZ9NTM_01uKU=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e6/b0/e6b00ccf56e74b36be3da7a9aa632e78.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/latvia/yqqUlDH7_xTy1zlTF_Wu6S7d1hU=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e6/b0/e6b00ccf56e74b36be3da7a9aa632e78.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/latvia/y0_l0imUOhAnkLr3mBVyiAzn8SI=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e6/b0/e6b00ccf56e74b36be3da7a9aa632e78.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/latvia/cfnKkiG0vQ6FJnSQYpvzFaQcVfM=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e6/b0/e6b00ccf56e74b36be3da7a9aa632e78.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.040687Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Latvia","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The land of Latvija was home to the Baltic tribe of Latgalians. The name meant \"forest clearers\" (Latvis). The Baltic tribe joined with the Germans during the medieval times but was divided by Poland and Sweden in the mid-1500s. By the 18th century, however, Russia annexed the country.

It received its independence in 1918 — short-lived as Russia claimed it again following WWII. It received its current independence in 1990.

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The ancient Phoenicians, so called because of the phoinikies purple dye they made and sold, were the first to live in Lebanon.

Although the Greeks called them Phoenicians, they were a Semitic tribe of people who called themselves \"Men of Sidon\" and their land \"Lebanon\" (white mountain), due to its snow-capped mountain of the same name. It did not become a country until 1944.

","embed":null}]},{"index":97,"title":"Lesotho: Land of the Sotho","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790829,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/b9/ff/b9ffdd6d47b744179d78c9f43748a61b.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/lesotho/YlzgGdrGLYiYZT7hVQd9Wfh5Jos=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/b9/ff/b9ffdd6d47b744179d78c9f43748a61b.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/lesotho/5Z0ip1QHrO1AVQmkOVmyaj511Js=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/b9/ff/b9ffdd6d47b744179d78c9f43748a61b.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/lesotho/uzcZ4PxuSdF7JOGflfxCf3biTOE=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/b9/ff/b9ffdd6d47b744179d78c9f43748a61b.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/lesotho/2Kqk74LXLW6H31Mj9OlVKvpHxNY=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/b9/ff/b9ffdd6d47b744179d78c9f43748a61b.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.066227Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Lesotho","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

A small, landlocked country in southern Africa, Lesotho was formerly called Basutoland and then baSotho, home to the Sotho.

As a kingdom, the people are close relatives to the Bantu and regained independence from Dutch and British colonization in 1966.

","embed":null}]},{"index":98,"title":"Liberia: Land of Freedom","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790830,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/67/d6/67d60d17103d41afa3240b932091a64a.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/liberia/bZmK55MwRmp8-dzjXMwjgo7eG64=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/67/d6/67d60d17103d41afa3240b932091a64a.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/liberia/L25DQRw6sGIFktc8czu71A354T4=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/67/d6/67d60d17103d41afa3240b932091a64a.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/liberia/geSV6p3fGC6rA4ULjZe2ARTdoJ0=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/67/d6/67d60d17103d41afa3240b932091a64a.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/liberia/B2FdrD0CUvIq7lnajoNHXyWE5-k=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/67/d6/67d60d17103d41afa3240b932091a64a.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.078846Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Liberia","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Americans play a part in the creation of Liberia. Formed as a colony in 1820, the African nation served as a settlement for African American freed slaves to return their motherland and was deemed the \"Land of Freedom.\"

Taking their cue from the United States, the people drafted their own Declaration of Independence and became a free nation.

","embed":null}]},{"index":99,"title":"Libya: Land of the Libu","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790831,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/df/d6/dfd68800cd154fd4a8c6603849eb21bd.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/libya/TNlu-fXNN7b4MZdyRShZxodDkyk=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/df/d6/dfd68800cd154fd4a8c6603849eb21bd.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/libya/pdYXmtyZcCqNeHvZ0mpglbgUXVw=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/df/d6/dfd68800cd154fd4a8c6603849eb21bd.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/libya/BzxGSBFXqMqBpJv4spXPAzZPiZg=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/df/d6/dfd68800cd154fd4a8c6603849eb21bd.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/libya/DVxmvuQS3ybqMZUdhGCrPs7T4WU=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/df/d6/dfd68800cd154fd4a8c6603849eb21bd.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.093364Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Libya","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Not to be confused with Liberia, Libya is on the opposite side of the continent and was not named for liberation. In fact, Libya is an ancient land that stretched across much of North Africa's coastline as home of the Berber tribe, also called the Libu.

It was called Libya by ancient Greeks and Romans, but it did not become a country until 1947.

","embed":null}]},{"index":100,"title":"Liechtenstein: Light Stone","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790832,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/5c/69/5c695af5f0d14c49998f2098d24938ad.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/liechtenstein/w6STLvVHZVhLCaqtS8E2McFpg3A=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/5c/69/5c695af5f0d14c49998f2098d24938ad.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/liechtenstein/I65QizFOh551UfziCD9fLVgaOX4=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/5c/69/5c695af5f0d14c49998f2098d24938ad.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/liechtenstein/PSa2gS4ecbdDDzPS3bjiyPtYMgY=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/5c/69/5c695af5f0d14c49998f2098d24938ad.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/liechtenstein/ngjc1lb74DGjtkwVUiWHsmKmgO0=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/5c/69/5c695af5f0d14c49998f2098d24938ad.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.106325Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Liechtenstein","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The small nation bordering Switzerland and Austria bears a German name. Liecht, meaning \"light,\" and Stein, meaning \"stone,\" Liechtenstein was the name of the family dynasty that has claimed this land since the Middle Ages.

The Holy Roman Emperor granted the title of principality in the name of Anton Florian of Liechtenstein in 1719.

","embed":null}]},{"index":101,"title":"Lithuania: Shoreland","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790833,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/1e/c0/1ec0533338284137b7722d51ccc80cb2.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/lithuania/M0bPj5dKQKaXPDdRLPGXQmcttsw=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/1e/c0/1ec0533338284137b7722d51ccc80cb2.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/lithuania/7sm8gGdayrcQJvL6VscKUsR6C8w=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/1e/c0/1ec0533338284137b7722d51ccc80cb2.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/lithuania/NyXNJwar5Tj-PbdedDLEsA6A-xc=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/1e/c0/1ec0533338284137b7722d51ccc80cb2.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/lithuania/z00aKFmqa2gn3_u24ECZ3Zsrqp4=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/1e/c0/1ec0533338284137b7722d51ccc80cb2.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.119737Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Lithuania","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Another of Europe's Baltic tribes, the Lithuanians date back to Medieval times. It is thought the name Lietuva descended from the Latin litus, which means \"shore.\"

Located near Poland, the two territories were united and allies through most of the 1700s until Russia annexed it at the end of the century. The country did not get its independence back for nearly 200 years.

","embed":null}]},{"index":102,"title":"Luxembourg: Little Fortress","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790834,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/2d/94/2d94dff8e1ff402b994328803946f939.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/luxembourg/8gj14IAEYryhaMM33R7U0BvD_U0=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/2d/94/2d94dff8e1ff402b994328803946f939.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/luxembourg/ugPEnoXh9zb0FLRH4TlL3BSj7B4=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/2d/94/2d94dff8e1ff402b994328803946f939.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/luxembourg/cplnnb0O8NU-EE1d6EctbXf7W-I=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/2d/94/2d94dff8e1ff402b994328803946f939.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/luxembourg/DOWZovkLdVQ-j6fQvP-ZKxrOW3U=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/2d/94/2d94dff8e1ff402b994328803946f939.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.132760Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Luxembourg","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Another principality nestled between two European countries, Luxembourg is also a medieval land.

Named Lucilinburhuc, which means \"Little Fortress,\" the territory began with Lucilinburhuc Castle and developed into the city and one of the world's smallest countries.

","embed":null}]},{"index":103,"title":"Madagascar: Great Red Island","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790835,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/fd/04/fd04fc9308b24de9b65df92969c65eab.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/madagascar/-UkcRtKcDg8ZvQ71eOKaTfpEixw=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/fd/04/fd04fc9308b24de9b65df92969c65eab.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/madagascar/cPnw7-KMtpLIAy5wNupaaaMGFvs=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/fd/04/fd04fc9308b24de9b65df92969c65eab.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/madagascar/e02keccZ8wm6CoQMjgdSK8D7RR8=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/fd/04/fd04fc9308b24de9b65df92969c65eab.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/madagascar/z-SbSYsmMdB_4o1IQgjMz9LkttY=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/fd/04/fd04fc9308b24de9b65df92969c65eab.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.145640Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Madagascar","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

It is said Marco Polo named the large island off the eastern coast of Africa during his travels. Although he never visited the island, Polo heard of a \"great red island\" and deemed it Madagascar, although the rumor is he mistook it for Mogadishu in Somalia.

The first Europeans to visit were the Portuguese, using the name they had heard it called for generations.

","embed":null}]},{"index":104,"title":"Malawi: Land of Flames","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790836,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/20/27/20271f28da3249068c1aa321df923edf.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/malawi/qyK1yWo62sn1I_lUqDsIvcju4Vs=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/20/27/20271f28da3249068c1aa321df923edf.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/malawi/qxksve6xflmGGZlTspTdoe7hVW8=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/20/27/20271f28da3249068c1aa321df923edf.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/malawi/4BvfpoyQMHqRHIgr1YQey4xY8ys=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/20/27/20271f28da3249068c1aa321df923edf.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/malawi/mLN4yW3Q9CY-s9nmRZc1RNQvUGE=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/20/27/20271f28da3249068c1aa321df923edf.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.158863Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Malawi","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The ancient African Kingdom of Maravi existed in the 1400s and took its name from the sun rising over its lake.

As the lake turned red with the sun, its rays were said to look like fire rising off of it in flames, and thus began the name. Malawi translates into \"fire flames,\" and the country's flag features a fiery red sun and lake.

","embed":null}]},{"index":105,"title":"Malaysia: Land of Mountains","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790837,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/9f/84/9f84df868d784a28b539a617d4c0ed88.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/malaysia/omIwYxPNGj11zHr6U5mPM1xlzb8=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/9f/84/9f84df868d784a28b539a617d4c0ed88.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/malaysia/oE3V3JiQqu2fnYFQI773sRikOHQ=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/9f/84/9f84df868d784a28b539a617d4c0ed88.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/malaysia/TASRsRlZK_wNgwnzyw1UX56-kx8=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/9f/84/9f84df868d784a28b539a617d4c0ed88.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/malaysia/KpjA8SjU7qR_UFaeDyigI9wNUBE=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/9f/84/9f84df868d784a28b539a617d4c0ed88.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.172044Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Malaysia","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

For the mountainous islands that makeup Malaysia, not officially a country until 1963, its name translates into the perfect descriptor. \"Land of Mountains\" was used by Indian traders who visited, recognizing the Titiwangsa Mountains that dissect the country. The word melayu. comes from the ancient Sanskrit.

The traders referred to the land as Malayadvipa.

","embed":null}]},{"index":106,"title":"Maldives: Garland of Islands","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790838,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/ee/1a/ee1a2dc817c745659cfb72abc6e49b32.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/maldives/YlewQ8nL18MirPP2h26I0lzc-rg=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/ee/1a/ee1a2dc817c745659cfb72abc6e49b32.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/maldives/rJ1dwcqwxqiUnAYdbO8QARTt82g=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/ee/1a/ee1a2dc817c745659cfb72abc6e49b32.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/maldives/sR6BkDK1995qDKRxuERYZVdIIqo=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/ee/1a/ee1a2dc817c745659cfb72abc6e49b32.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/maldives/GQJLCZXSPzeoyLJWPX1nv5oOynE=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/ee/1a/ee1a2dc817c745659cfb72abc6e49b32.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.185550Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Maldives","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The Indian Ocean islands — nearly 1,200 of them!—are officially called Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa, which is quite a mouthful.

Another Sanskrit name was used for this atoll: maladvipa, which means \"garland of islands.\"

","embed":null}]},{"index":107,"title":"Mali: Hippopotamus","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":3384790,"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/sangha-river-in-mali/WjEcBzwGc7A8i-wV9sDCngh8hgA=/87x0:1186x824/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d2/d2/d2d24268ba864277a53e02bcebb73da5.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/sangha-river-in-mali/5EEkvBla0ANWY-Z7sRRDSEKWkbE=/87x0:1186x824/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d2/d2/d2d24268ba864277a53e02bcebb73da5.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/sangha-river-in-mali/V9-iNE0-0BCpSImQmOKlrNui-HQ=/87x0:1186x824/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d2/d2/d2d24268ba864277a53e02bcebb73da5.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/sangha-river-in-mali/WjEcBzwGc7A8i-wV9sDCngh8hgA=/87x0:1186x824/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d2/d2/d2d24268ba864277a53e02bcebb73da5.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/sangha-river-in-mali/8L3-TwrSlhUIfVZQqlXM4E_ClZE=/87x0:1186x824/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d2/d2/d2d24268ba864277a53e02bcebb73da5.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2023-07-27T21:38:55.978459Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Sangha River in Mali","credit":"USO","source":"Getty Images","source_url":null,"caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Some say the African land known as Mali was named for the animals roaming freely on it. Hippopotamus (Bambara mali) comes from the native tongue and the folklore of Mali Sadio.

The country's national animal is a hippo, as well, but some argue the name comes from the word that means \"where the king resides.\" The Mali Empire was quite large in West Africa, and the powerful beast's name became the name of the kingdom.

","embed":null}]},{"index":108,"title":"Malta: Place of Refuge","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790840,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/70/c1/70c1f93fe1634e748a3bb3ba8a030ad0.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/malta/oV79qgtKuX7NgcU_lmp9bLPDEWQ=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/70/c1/70c1f93fe1634e748a3bb3ba8a030ad0.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/malta/nVo7A8JgyfLF8M7lmJQ3JDDlzVI=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/70/c1/70c1f93fe1634e748a3bb3ba8a030ad0.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/malta/26BU2wkZyzNb7XRFN_k6jNyrzxU=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/70/c1/70c1f93fe1634e748a3bb3ba8a030ad0.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/malta/YAjllJmGU5CgUr1X3mw9dQSaupI=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/70/c1/70c1f93fe1634e748a3bb3ba8a030ad0.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.211577Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Malta","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Between North Africa and Europe lies an island nation that has long been a stopping point for seafarers maneuvering across the Mediterranean Sea.

The Phoenicians are credited with naming the island Maleth, meaning \"refuge.\" It was a safe place between warring nations to trade and harbor.

","embed":null}]},{"index":109,"title":"Marshall Islands: Island of John Marshall","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790841,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/63/0f/630f9fa31a46476d83b8bcafdf6ac5ce.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/marshall-islands/JHcbhNlxPdIGvRAkmyC5UUc5i8k=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/63/0f/630f9fa31a46476d83b8bcafdf6ac5ce.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/marshall-islands/fKneIuo8QeCYg1-CBoHyW4Cwkjg=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/63/0f/630f9fa31a46476d83b8bcafdf6ac5ce.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/marshall-islands/d_4pqgVDngA5_4hVtKrxhFihDNc=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/63/0f/630f9fa31a46476d83b8bcafdf6ac5ce.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/marshall-islands/8gF2n2LDJ43NNTcx7D4x9SEfBI0=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/63/0f/630f9fa31a46476d83b8bcafdf6ac5ce.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.224518Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Marshall Islands","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

When British naval Captain John Marshall set foot on the islands in the South Pacific he gave them his name in 1788. It didn't matter tht he wasn't the first to visit or name the islands.

Micronesian sailors called them their own as well: Aelon Kein Ad. Marshall's name stuck, however, and it wasn't until 1982 they became the Republic of the Marshall Islands and an independent nation.

","embed":null}]},{"index":110,"title":"Mauritania: Land of the Mauri","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790842,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/d7/9e/d79e436e9d044c478a516a82c909ffbb.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/mauritania/8aWelcd5Tc9AdY8wPRWvxb1FdBY=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d7/9e/d79e436e9d044c478a516a82c909ffbb.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/mauritania/_cv6LI41Afro6Isp0SgdK7DcnxU=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d7/9e/d79e436e9d044c478a516a82c909ffbb.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/mauritania/Vw1Cu5490lTr5Aa506FWd5Abz3g=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d7/9e/d79e436e9d044c478a516a82c909ffbb.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/mauritania/XDidI7ajx2zR1HxJusVlHYaKcvw=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d7/9e/d79e436e9d044c478a516a82c909ffbb.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.238088Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Mauritania","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

It's the Mauri people who called the land home for which Mauritania is named. Originally an ancient kingdom, known as Mauretania, it was home to Berber and Arab tribes.

The French established colonies and took control during the mid-19th century but granted the nation its independence in 1960.

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Not to be confused with Mauritania, Mauritius is an island nation that received its name from explorers. When the Dutch sought a trading route in the Indian Ocean, they found one particular land to be named for their royal family.

Prins Mauritz van Nassaueiland of the House of Nassau, son of William the Silent, became the namesake of the island kept in Dutch possession until 1710. The French and then the British eventually took control, but the island earned its independence in the 1940s.

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Before there was a country, there was an Aztec city named in honor of the god of war: Mexitli. His name was a combination of metztli (moon) and xictli (navel).

Literally, it means \"in the navel of the moon,\" but it more commonly means \"child of the moon.\" By the time the Spanish arrived, Mexico-Tenochtitlan was the capital of the Mexica empire.

","embed":null}]},{"index":113,"title":"Micronesia: Small Islands","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790845,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/3f/5f/3f5fdd45dde84b70936517349ee8f39e.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/micronesia/_WfRVfZjezIC6bs6BUTNyUS7nRg=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/3f/5f/3f5fdd45dde84b70936517349ee8f39e.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/micronesia/d_dOYZgQezvrg4THHPVryhoffKI=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/3f/5f/3f5fdd45dde84b70936517349ee8f39e.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/micronesia/gDB5VLcNVygloaz-gchuf3V-ADs=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/3f/5f/3f5fdd45dde84b70936517349ee8f39e.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/micronesia/5hsPQBNXuUL1pMBqi-lwgoLTTCs=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/3f/5f/3f5fdd45dde84b70936517349ee8f39e.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.278120Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Micronesia","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

With thousands of islands, it became easier to classify them as one geographical unit. That's exactly what French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville did in 1831 when he suggested Micronesia become the name of the islands stretching from Polynesia to Melanesia. (He also classified those as well as Malasisia.)

The islands became the Federated States of Micronesia in 1979.

","embed":null}]},{"index":114,"title":"Moldova: Dark River","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790846,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/10/6f/106f29294be84269a3626058405cb59e.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/moldova/E8Mck86i7LlMmcDAgk5VTYemeg4=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/10/6f/106f29294be84269a3626058405cb59e.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/moldova/y9xKYRYYic59GKdVatSAn5qXqCs=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/10/6f/106f29294be84269a3626058405cb59e.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/moldova/2GQPWmKaAS4WjXKWAab7gK7sSbc=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/10/6f/106f29294be84269a3626058405cb59e.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/moldova/799sjfzlE-AF58CjnO4Suxno2-4=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/10/6f/106f29294be84269a3626058405cb59e.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.291048Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Moldova","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Long entwined in the Ottoman and Russian Empires, Moldova received its independence in 1991. A Slavic nation, its name comes from the language's mold, a word for spruce and fir trees and was first given to the Moldova River that runs through today's Romania. (Ova at the end of the word is commonly used as a Slavic suffix as ownership.)

Although it may seem to indicate its name is \"Land of the Trees,\" the dark evergreen needles often meant the river was referred to as black. (The river was called \"Black Wallachia\" or Valahia Neagrain Romania.)

","embed":null}]},{"index":115,"title":"Monaco: Single House","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790847,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/df/9a/df9a0e2c5f5246c6b07f1cd85abd178f.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/monaco/EM5eIRyO50r1gSo2dQyiAS5xcPQ=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/df/9a/df9a0e2c5f5246c6b07f1cd85abd178f.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/monaco/N30T_a9XGpCnUC-j4jbXGXZPGnw=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/df/9a/df9a0e2c5f5246c6b07f1cd85abd178f.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/monaco/zfWHoDyXE8YepJIJoMbWScJ8Yvo=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/df/9a/df9a0e2c5f5246c6b07f1cd85abd178f.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/monaco/k6DJaGb56Y-DT1pSkpBUaStKLUI=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/df/9a/df9a0e2c5f5246c6b07f1cd85abd178f.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.303797Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Monaco","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

A small sovereign state remains a lone wolf. Monaco's name dates back to the ancient Phocaean Greeks who colonized the area. They named the land Monoikos, which means \"single or alone house.\"

This was meant to showcase its independence and self-reliance, which very much remains intact after nearly half a century.

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The largest empires in the history of the world was that held by the Mongols, a nomadic tribe that was led most famously by Genghis Khan. Expanding across most of Asia during its 1200s heyday, the empire was divided into four dynasties after Khan's death.

His grandson Kublai Khan ruled what is now China and Mongolia. The Chinese overthrew the Mongols in 1368, reducing the Khan dynasty to just Mongolia. (\"Just\" being nearly 1 million square miles.)

","embed":null}]},{"index":117,"title":"Montenegro: Land of the Black Mountain","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790849,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/95/5e/955e37d1b27e4edc98afab86ee7c8b48.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/montenegro/V8Zsynva06uVqCJinTPeN25D_Xk=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/95/5e/955e37d1b27e4edc98afab86ee7c8b48.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/montenegro/WBfu8MIT0ADfYTHQohMRmp_nsAg=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/95/5e/955e37d1b27e4edc98afab86ee7c8b48.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/montenegro/oDo4YPCUlaiVByxhwwfv_R4cqEA=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/95/5e/955e37d1b27e4edc98afab86ee7c8b48.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/montenegro/RNg9skCUVIywxL0s-zDKce6G9vE=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/95/5e/955e37d1b27e4edc98afab86ee7c8b48.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.329686Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Montenegro","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The Slavic King of Serbia, King Milutin, called the land where Montenegro rests Crna Gora.

But with its mountain dense with forests, it was the invading Romans that christened it \"Black Mountain\" (Montenegro).

","embed":null}]},{"index":118,"title":"Morocco: The Furthest West","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790850,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/b1/f3/b1f39bfd236246cf81182343a4450cc6.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/morocco/2ykUaNsr59gG7OPm9fCah90IKos=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/b1/f3/b1f39bfd236246cf81182343a4450cc6.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/morocco/3GOMAHnmYTEoLeLAAOV1WFWsH20=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/b1/f3/b1f39bfd236246cf81182343a4450cc6.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/morocco/XKVn8mTsU8o-h9Sl_3Siof3A-pk=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/b1/f3/b1f39bfd236246cf81182343a4450cc6.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/morocco/NSbLWqnqIyovngC0VyfAHn9RoJM=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/b1/f3/b1f39bfd236246cf81182343a4450cc6.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.343373Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Morocco","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Home to the Berber tribe, the name of the largest city in the North African land flanked by both the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea is Marrakesh, a word derived from Amurakuc, meaning \"Sacred Land.\"

As the \"furthest west,\" \"Kingdom of the West\" and \"Kingdom where the sun sets,\" Morocco was a further deviation of Marrakesh, in Arabic al-Maghrib al-Aqsa. The Portuguese and Spanish translation followed by the English attempts at translating resulted in Morocco becoming the country's true name.

","embed":null}]},{"index":119,"title":"Mozambique: Land of Musa al Biq","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790851,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/b8/4e/b84effc70cf040ccad3bbb3c15954818.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/mozambique/yZdaYoV-e0rL3Cykiy4WBQgesWc=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/b8/4e/b84effc70cf040ccad3bbb3c15954818.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/mozambique/r3zy370u3PhuixWtUUhucXHvGlo=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/b8/4e/b84effc70cf040ccad3bbb3c15954818.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/mozambique/SMe3ersg6arDFpZi6NRCcq_-rmU=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/b8/4e/b84effc70cf040ccad3bbb3c15954818.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/mozambique/XfXjzcp97idJXt-kRIPHw7woYUg=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/b8/4e/b84effc70cf040ccad3bbb3c15954818.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.356738Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Mozambique","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The large stretch of coastal land of eastern Africa was claimed by Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, who called his \"found\" land Portuguese Guinea and Portuguese East Africa.

But it was an Arabian chief who lived on the island of Mozambique, derived from Arabic Mussa Bin Bique, that inspired the country's name.

","embed":null}]},{"index":120,"title":"Myanmar: Swift and Strong","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790852,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/a4/b6/a4b65249c5b04696b37f3fb8f51c649c.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/myanmar/DH5N5Lsj18Kuocqft7OcPh1a__s=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/a4/b6/a4b65249c5b04696b37f3fb8f51c649c.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/myanmar/VNHJH2JYbstyme281dGcPI0vSWg=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/a4/b6/a4b65249c5b04696b37f3fb8f51c649c.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/myanmar/yZpK8BkLPe-g-WrBqtxPRQ_fUR0=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/a4/b6/a4b65249c5b04696b37f3fb8f51c649c.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/myanmar/Sfj22WJ_VIWzrHs4-Tzwu5J3BtQ=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/a4/b6/a4b65249c5b04696b37f3fb8f51c649c.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.369574Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Myanmar","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Before it was Myanmar, the British called this land Burma (and still do, despite the country's official name). The country earned back its independence from Britain in 1989, having been called Burma by the colonists since the mid-1700s.

It was the Portuguese that bestowed the name, however, arriving before the English and calling it Birmania. The word stood for the Bama, the largest of aboriginal people. But even Bama comes from the name Myanma or Mranma, a name used in ancient periods, and the people chose to return to its original name.

","embed":null}]},{"index":121,"title":"Namibia: The Vast Place","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790853,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/50/23/5023d2e1993146e6a24ea3f6c2ec5f49.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/nambia/B3zEYGa6RkUovN-yGw_CSVVTWu0=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/50/23/5023d2e1993146e6a24ea3f6c2ec5f49.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/nambia/YoyJtINo5JGPTf8B9X1my60ClCo=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/50/23/5023d2e1993146e6a24ea3f6c2ec5f49.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/nambia/9_jmdTsvdKFJY0s-rysNzzy1b3s=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/50/23/5023d2e1993146e6a24ea3f6c2ec5f49.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/nambia/JM1bjdLHf4_8IS35Efz6lSBUd2c=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/50/23/5023d2e1993146e6a24ea3f6c2ec5f49.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.382811Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Nambia","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Once called South West Africa (SWA), it was a professor who was instrumental in the change of Namibia's name. Professor Mburumba Kerina inspired the people of SWA to the Republic of Namib.

In 1977, South Africa conceded and agreed to annex the land made up of the vast Namib Desert, which already had its name from the Khoekhoegowab as the fitting \"vast place.\"

","embed":null}]},{"index":122,"title":"Nauru: I Go to the Beach","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790854,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/bc/04/bc0431821dad46f2a7a5b4fbd4ca3c3d.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/nauru/pqdxJ8N6Zz7q4m7i0PGUjKlmFb8=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/bc/04/bc0431821dad46f2a7a5b4fbd4ca3c3d.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/nauru/871FLUs-VHw2iYb-VKcjpgxYu60=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/bc/04/bc0431821dad46f2a7a5b4fbd4ca3c3d.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/nauru/LVVH0SgMmrNbOzL0Ko4cgo9afrw=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/bc/04/bc0431821dad46f2a7a5b4fbd4ca3c3d.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/nauru/tinB2-uterhMDawJnQNsEjlu_Z8=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/bc/04/bc0431821dad46f2a7a5b4fbd4ca3c3d.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.396317Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Nauru","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The Oceania island Nauru, south of the Marshall Islands, was settled by people from Polynesia and Micronesia. The British were the first from the West to find the island in 1798 and called it \"Pleasant Island.\"

Germany annexed the island nearly 100 years later and chose to use the name of the people, calling it Nawodo or Onawero. It is said the now self-governing island's name means \"I go to the beach.\"

","embed":null}]},{"index":123,"title":"Nepal: The Country Looked After by Ne","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790855,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/d1/e8/d1e8644e472942d1ab81005bd928de1d.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/nepal/8dR5GhO7lR9YhWn1apxX2BGyBVc=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d1/e8/d1e8644e472942d1ab81005bd928de1d.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/nepal/19moDKbeAslpghrtZGTwh4l2_tg=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d1/e8/d1e8644e472942d1ab81005bd928de1d.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/nepal/4zABmwe0ib_VuLJ3aQVe-rq0bHw=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d1/e8/d1e8644e472942d1ab81005bd928de1d.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/nepal/xXOjloTiNGiJalML_mNwnxjAP0E=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d1/e8/d1e8644e472942d1ab81005bd928de1d.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.409009Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Nepal","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The Hindu sage Ne, sometimes called Nemi or Ne Muni, looks over the land of Nepal, according to its people. The Sanskrit pal means \"tented house,\" and the name Nepal indicates it is the home of Ne.

That isn't the only theory on the country's long-established name. Another Sanskrit name, Nipalaya, means \"at the foot of the mountains\" while the word Nep means \"cow herders\" — either is a proper description of the country.

","embed":null}]},{"index":124,"title":"Netherlands: Lowlands","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790856,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/c7/c1/c7c1329bb44a489c8a412020c6b013f9.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/the-netherlands/OZfa*g-61WYTmQkefbz4FLd5sTZI=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/c7/c1/c7c1329bb44a489c8a412020c6b013f9.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/the-netherlands/y7aIdRsRb59lyJZnvkqnyUVHtng=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/c7/c1/c7c1329bb44a489c8a412020c6b013f9.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/the-netherlands/5PGEhPUnnQKnTBB4ED9J58uJQO0=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/c7/c1/c7c1329bb44a489c8a412020c6b013f9.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/the-netherlands/yCuO2jZzImZw2cQwA-xkZ4gh8Rc=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/c7/c1/c7c1329bb44a489c8a412020c6b013f9.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.422046Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"The Netherlands","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Another apropos name of a country is the Netherlands, which means \"low-lying country.\" (Originally called Holland, the word Houtland meant \"wooded land.\")

One-third of the country is so low it is below sea level, and the country's highest point is just 1,000 feet above it.

","embed":null}]},{"index":125,"title":"New Zealand: Sealand","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790857,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/27/84/2784032c24214a298992cae0ebeae765.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/new-zealand/mM7NylQnOAj1Nk1J1IU1SFyiRZQ=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/27/84/2784032c24214a298992cae0ebeae765.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/new-zealand/1fgJumjcBBap8hLC7TohOOTvrug=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/27/84/2784032c24214a298992cae0ebeae765.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/new-zealand/igB4qPWXdSdMdcRFgKMfecj0jgc=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/27/84/2784032c24214a298992cae0ebeae765.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/new-zealand/rLfPj-puUAQcPI7Wsec8zS9f7-4=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/27/84/2784032c24214a298992cae0ebeae765.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.434995Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"New Zealand","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

New Zealand was named by the Dutch explorers who discovered the islands in Oceania. Abel Tasman named it Nieuw Zeeland for a province in Holland. (New Holland was given to Australia. Zeeland is Dutch for \"Sealand.\")

But the Maori who lived on the islands, like many indigenous people, had their own name to their home: Aotearoa. This name means \"Land of the Long White Cloud.\"

","embed":null}]},{"index":126,"title":"Nicaragua: Land by the Water","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790858,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/ca/6e/ca6eb83f314443ada5129a9c834e5398.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/nicaragua/Awku-FsbD1GLmTyW4XYZOhPAwJQ=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/ca/6e/ca6eb83f314443ada5129a9c834e5398.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/nicaragua/Rve0gGJnuDXMgEYk7s6PfqMCub0=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/ca/6e/ca6eb83f314443ada5129a9c834e5398.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/nicaragua/2PWskbw9qArz-UU4JvMvsuLO-mc=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/ca/6e/ca6eb83f314443ada5129a9c834e5398.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/nicaragua/-x84R6NbscssaGBta01jCB4-p5Q=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/ca/6e/ca6eb83f314443ada5129a9c834e5398.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.447872Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Nicaragua","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The aboriginal people in the Central American country of Nicaragua were able to keep the name (somewhat) of their land when the Spanish explorers settled. The tribe of people around Lake Nicaragua called the land Nicarao in Nahuatl.

The Spanish added Agua (water) after discovering an abundance of lakes.

","embed":null}]},{"index":127,"title":"Niger: River Among Rivers","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790859,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/5a/1e/5a1e1002c61a4ed89484bcadc0fa63b7.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/niger/EE0c6fB992GmbSpBYXz83Xw372A=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/5a/1e/5a1e1002c61a4ed89484bcadc0fa63b7.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/niger/4Vfz6ERvTABFg3s9ff16yi2ugCw=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/5a/1e/5a1e1002c61a4ed89484bcadc0fa63b7.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/niger/P91ka1_XGb1iTvajNY3YbZ8DU3s=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/5a/1e/5a1e1002c61a4ed89484bcadc0fa63b7.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/niger/uO0E-YE68p2mh_b6rRgpyWO86zw=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/5a/1e/5a1e1002c61a4ed89484bcadc0fa63b7.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.460341Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Niger","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Niger's name comes from its river, known as \"river among rivers.\" The name comes from gher n-gheren in the native tribal Tamashek language.

The river stretches 2,600 miles and serves as a water source for the Sahara.

","embed":null}]},{"index":128,"title":"Nigeria: Land of the Niger River","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790860,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/d8/0e/d80e7be7750e4f3ab90e71d4488de93f.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/nigeria/xIZ4qBJXQuyF1_q2Aji0LyzXOVw=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d8/0e/d80e7be7750e4f3ab90e71d4488de93f.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/nigeria/9ySfW508k6bkmXrTQATbJve9p60=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d8/0e/d80e7be7750e4f3ab90e71d4488de93f.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/nigeria/ilGxBfpGUe9mBaSUpY1-51JkHzI=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d8/0e/d80e7be7750e4f3ab90e71d4488de93f.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/nigeria/RrHP4Y-tKNXBOhXKxAXRUpvWd9Q=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d8/0e/d80e7be7750e4f3ab90e71d4488de93f.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.473926Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Nigeria","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Like Niger, Nigeria took its name from the river.

The countries share a borderas well, albeit one created during the colonial era.

","embed":null}]},{"index":129,"title":"North Macedonia: Land of Tall People","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790861,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/4d/fb/4dfb3a3633584e74a972aa74f9a2bdcd.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/macedonia/wJN1ms_NPDe1QzNmO9prduwwWqA=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/4d/fb/4dfb3a3633584e74a972aa74f9a2bdcd.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/macedonia/9tM_znxUrL3OzDp-vJ9u3_jzMlo=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/4d/fb/4dfb3a3633584e74a972aa74f9a2bdcd.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/macedonia/YD4VktBnCudkqXBX-2IKLpsaXWI=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/4d/fb/4dfb3a3633584e74a972aa74f9a2bdcd.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/macedonia/DeBosUV1e6BKzl3iZnAkrzIeU8E=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/4d/fb/4dfb3a3633584e74a972aa74f9a2bdcd.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.486957Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Macedonia","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Macedonia was an ancient — and very large kingdom — well before the Byzantine era. In fact, Alexander the Great ruled this land. The word is also ancient, deriving from the Greek makednós, which means \"tall,\" and makednoi, which meant to come from the mountains. Translation: Tall people from the mountains.

Long embattled with Greece as to its identity, in February 2019, the country changed its name to the Republic of North Macedonia.

","embed":null}]},{"index":130,"title":"Norway: Northern Way","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790862,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/cf/e2/cfe2148db9cc40dcb8bedd48cdac77fc.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/norway/ngO723gYnTLJYWbHllh1aqAeE8c=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/cf/e2/cfe2148db9cc40dcb8bedd48cdac77fc.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/norway/_OKEXQ6zkshAhm9Kzs5y8I161oI=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/cf/e2/cfe2148db9cc40dcb8bedd48cdac77fc.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/norway/7FJc2ctCfqJsLVF1sqLmtHi87kQ=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/cf/e2/cfe2148db9cc40dcb8bedd48cdac77fc.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/norway/07nhRyUTqJlUf11aqKSLYt2VzwQ=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/cf/e2/cfe2148db9cc40dcb8bedd48cdac77fc.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.499700Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Norway","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Norway's location in Northern Europe makes its name an easy one: It's the Northern Way. Explorers and seamen traveling the Atlantic Ocean's northernmost reaches knew of the land by its Old English name, Norpweg, which translates into \"northern way\" or \"way leading to the north.\" The name has been recorded since 880.

There are contradictory claims that the name does stem from ancient Norwegian people. The Old Norse definition for \"narrow inlet or channel\" comes from the word nór. The country's fjords could be the result of this name.

","embed":null}]},{"index":131,"title":"Oman: Land of Oman","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790863,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/69/a6/69a69afb4bbb4487a21f631093d8da5b.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/oman/uiXGp5N_8rAbCv7JnlpX6kIc1TY=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/69/a6/69a69afb4bbb4487a21f631093d8da5b.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/oman/m3AOLM11zdX7hgcGkrjCET7Ez20=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/69/a6/69a69afb4bbb4487a21f631093d8da5b.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/oman/tij_waWx7wXpVbQ6hzmtiYyuWrQ=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/69/a6/69a69afb4bbb4487a21f631093d8da5b.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/oman/iuFJ5a_2opuNJBFtJfbTx2_SlYg=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/69/a6/69a69afb4bbb4487a21f631093d8da5b.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.512230Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Oman","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Oman's name is attributed to the sultan who lived and ruled in this East African nation long before western explorers set foot on it.

The country, which dates back to before the Portuguese colonists arrived in the 1500s, has been under the Al Bu Sa'id Dynasty since 1749.

","embed":null}]},{"index":132,"title":"Pakistan: Land of the Pure","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790864,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/35/df/35dfc86faf834f7483212785523ebeee.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/pakistan/ngunoxCXNGJ-1dRP4t0xGJQIQms=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/35/df/35dfc86faf834f7483212785523ebeee.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/pakistan/EHdU36ub0y4nFj8BAekPJsXzxPU=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/35/df/35dfc86faf834f7483212785523ebeee.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/pakistan/ubKReIN-_2zqZ5T9BgY2qR4aqUk=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/35/df/35dfc86faf834f7483212785523ebeee.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/pakistan/z_lazRXdxZKiYMQ_O91fsfgxu5o=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/35/df/35dfc86faf834f7483212785523ebeee.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.524804Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Pakistan","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

In the Urdu and Persian tongue, Pakistan means \"Land of the Pure\" — pak meaning \"pure\" and -stan a suffix to mean \"place of.\" The name is also an acronym for the various regions, Punjab, Afghania, Kashmir, Indus-Sind and Baluchistan (the \"-stan\").

It was created to unite the regions in 1933 and the definition just happened to be a good one.

","embed":null}]},{"index":133,"title":"Palau: The Island Village","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":3384827,"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/streets-of-palau-koror-and-coves-of-coral-reefs/Rm8jdMooyM4wXczkEFB6PBGF7SE=/68x0:1185x837/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/68/d7/68d783e86f91406999fc712464f9eba3.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/streets-of-palau-koror-and-coves-of-coral-reefs/klEiEMTuAWkt-LjAHmf445Z2IRg=/68x0:1185x837/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/68/d7/68d783e86f91406999fc712464f9eba3.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/streets-of-palau-koror-and-coves-of-coral-reefs/aWK2CwRZeSiYFRVqlVehK0P6J5A=/68x0:1185x837/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/68/d7/68d783e86f91406999fc712464f9eba3.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/streets-of-palau-koror-and-coves-of-coral-reefs/Rm8jdMooyM4wXczkEFB6PBGF7SE=/68x0:1185x837/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/68/d7/68d783e86f91406999fc712464f9eba3.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/streets-of-palau-koror-and-coves-of-coral-reefs/1_YnAr35pHkURdjeZVrxYmQYDeM=/68x0:1185x837/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/68/d7/68d783e86f91406999fc712464f9eba3.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2023-07-27T21:42:50.509351Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Streets of Palau Koror and coves of coral reefs","credit":"Norimoto","source":"Getty Images","source_url":null,"caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The Malay people who lived on these Pacific Islands referred to their name as Palau, meaning \"island.\" An English captain was shipwrecked near the islands and uncovered the hidden treasure in the late 1700s and called it Belau.

Spain quickly claimed the island, however, and it continued to be controlled by numerous countries until its independence in 1994.

","embed":null}]},{"index":134,"title":"Panama: Abundance of Fish","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790866,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/c3/17/c31765fef1b5459c8ee40e682eac5292.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/panama/sEWJU2lzpF7DA7zIDKbwrzwtaeE=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/c3/17/c31765fef1b5459c8ee40e682eac5292.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/panama/JjxY6Gj_pgroHrVWhtYHV0YIKp0=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/c3/17/c31765fef1b5459c8ee40e682eac5292.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/panama/jzDdP-rpUFBtCwIew_BR1fOSzRM=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/c3/17/c31765fef1b5459c8ee40e682eac5292.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/panama/MxJgsQekJRCbeB_VVcclICJ6cfQ=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/c3/17/c31765fef1b5459c8ee40e682eac5292.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.550096Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Panama","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The original people of Panama lived in small villages. They called their land Panama, meaning an \"abundance of fish.\"

Times were good in a country blessed with natural resources, and before long, the Spanish came to explore and colonize it. Panama was free of Spain by 1821 and independent of Colombia by 1903.

","embed":null}]},{"index":135,"title":"Papua New Guinea: New Land of the Blacks","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790867,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/aa/91/aa91e178650342fe9f6ad1802946819a.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/papua-new-guinea/bt11nrg6-Z5vn7P7w8Zsgx5brQE=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/aa/91/aa91e178650342fe9f6ad1802946819a.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/papua-new-guinea/7AqjpABoijPWAKeQ6tKB1QPNFpo=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/aa/91/aa91e178650342fe9f6ad1802946819a.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/papua-new-guinea/bD4dXwc54Z69G3YhpXeKlfkXQSY=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/aa/91/aa91e178650342fe9f6ad1802946819a.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/papua-new-guinea/wS7cRzkyYbluIfuMw1O_Sik3_rY=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/aa/91/aa91e178650342fe9f6ad1802946819a.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.562982Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Papua New Guinea","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

It is said Ynigo Ortiz de Retez, the Spanish explorer who came to the islands in the South Pacific, called the land Nueva Guinea based on the resemblance of the people to those he encountered in Africa. The islands experienced many European settlers claiming control, and the northern half joined with Germany by 1884 while the British held Papua.

By 1972, the combination became its own nation.

","embed":null}]},{"index":136,"title":"Paraguay: People Born Along the River","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790868,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/06/8d/068de695a22544d481bc7931ad2a8eb0.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/paraguay/i-rXeEob0XaUaAZJYsPacF-RW0A=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/06/8d/068de695a22544d481bc7931ad2a8eb0.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/paraguay/rKpExHGDhVcG3j9bNjjyyK4bfzM=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/06/8d/068de695a22544d481bc7931ad2a8eb0.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/paraguay/CXETnnsUHaSRPJXIn2pQChq1PK4=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/06/8d/068de695a22544d481bc7931ad2a8eb0.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/paraguay/0OOeQhCJlj_Iaun1lxVk6sscYNw=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/06/8d/068de695a22544d481bc7931ad2a8eb0.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.575360Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Paraguay","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Named for the 1,600-mile Paraguay River that runs through the nation, Paraguay referred to the people who lived along the river.

Natives known as the Payaguas were peaceful and welcomed the Spanish explorers in the 1500s.

","embed":null}]},{"index":137,"title":"Peru: Land of the River","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790869,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/4d/83/4d83d4841bbc4653a4bae165034f3558.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/peru/ng9ME5qJUmDIqqebNpnLSUJfxw8=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/4d/83/4d83d4841bbc4653a4bae165034f3558.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/peru/_VDJk6FcaR1H7xeBcG8fzXJzIp8=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/4d/83/4d83d4841bbc4653a4bae165034f3558.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/peru/_1AqkcPMYo5KgaGacLs59zNQBj8=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/4d/83/4d83d4841bbc4653a4bae165034f3558.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/peru/TC5kzK5O3Sj3zzWgmq9jI190Hxg=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/4d/83/4d83d4841bbc4653a4bae165034f3558.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.589147Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Peru","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Peru's name does not come from a tribal language but instead from a tribal ruler. Known as Birú, who lived in Panama, the land known as Peru was given the name, Viceroyalty of Peru, by the Spaniards.

Another theory to the name is the Spanish met a man by the name of Berú who stood in the river, or Pelú. Asking for the name of the land, the misinterpretation resulted in Peru. Either way, after fighting for its independence from Spain in the 1800s, Peru became the Republic of Peru and has kept its name for centuries.

","embed":null}]},{"index":138,"title":"Philippines: Philip's Land","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790870,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/16/ad/16add4b2db3949afb83d0130a1a3d917.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/philippines/mPU3qcDcjnYgzeKn6g1cOl1w4U8=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/16/ad/16add4b2db3949afb83d0130a1a3d917.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/philippines/4d9A0pna6QvucUxbTqtqCgjYDjM=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/16/ad/16add4b2db3949afb83d0130a1a3d917.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/philippines/jV_9JCUKI6lEG2GxeVPgCGS82Rw=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/16/ad/16add4b2db3949afb83d0130a1a3d917.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/philippines/HdImLx6zvXDiYaE3Bno65NOymS8=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/16/ad/16add4b2db3949afb83d0130a1a3d917.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.602768Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Philippines","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

A ruler's name is also the meaning behind the Philippines. Spanish explorers encountering the island nation in Oceania in the 1500s named them in honor of King Philip II of Spain, deeming the land Las Felipinas.

Over the centuries, the people have considered new names for their land, but nothing has taken effect since independence was achieved in 1946.

","embed":null}]},{"index":139,"title":"Poland: People of the Fields","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790871,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/49/17/4917d6489e5b47e884f538a29b64a895.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/poland/q8EAWPbzfzbb0eJB5WVRUmRLKgU=/800x599/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/49/17/4917d6489e5b47e884f538a29b64a895.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/poland/W-EWpYl4kCCVgMWSv9t769e7Pok=/480x359/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/49/17/4917d6489e5b47e884f538a29b64a895.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/poland/F6xSTSSsw3Zcb2uPZQSiLK4MbXg=/800x599/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/49/17/4917d6489e5b47e884f538a29b64a895.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/poland/76EYqcKtH-nAkVMUAT8GWmVG55A=/480x359/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/49/17/4917d6489e5b47e884f538a29b64a895.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.615939Z","height":599,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.335559265442404,"title":"Poland","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

A Slavic tribe who lived near the Warta river basin was known as Polans or Polanie. The word derived from the word pole, meaning \"field.\"

During the medieval period, Poland became a kingdom, a dynasty that lasted more than 500 years.

","embed":null}]},{"index":140,"title":"Portugal: Warm Port","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790872,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/b5/ea/b5ead55a08794bea991445fd0c41cc53.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/portugal/Nkk2puC2WfAannoXWTg_PQt5Yzc=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/b5/ea/b5ead55a08794bea991445fd0c41cc53.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/portugal/F0BJ6XGYEdjEQ5V6eRT_OKstOCM=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/b5/ea/b5ead55a08794bea991445fd0c41cc53.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/portugal/K7QHjGHtq9jN5jM-Y78-kabESaQ=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/b5/ea/b5ead55a08794bea991445fd0c41cc53.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/portugal/O7f98Su1B0nCSOt4N4c0rC72TXQ=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/b5/ea/b5ead55a08794bea991445fd0c41cc53.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.638836Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Portugal","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

As you may imagine with a name like Portugal, the country on the Iberian Peninsula is named for a port. Given the name Portus Cale in Latin, the name translates into \"warm port.\"

Cale were also known as the early settlers around the Douro River, where a warm port was offered to traders and explorers. It is said their name comes from the Greek \"beautiful,\" which was used to describe the river. The name evolved into Portugale and then Portugal.

","embed":null}]},{"index":141,"title":"Qatar: Land of Rain","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790873,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/10/aa/10aa64a356f84a66a4385db40ebaeec0.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/qatar/KRtNLucyBfhP5jE_T_3ZcP6ksuQ=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/10/aa/10aa64a356f84a66a4385db40ebaeec0.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/qatar/XQpssZ8WemnLvt-OweiyOoPpxus=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/10/aa/10aa64a356f84a66a4385db40ebaeec0.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/qatar/Y2-07lsOx4s50GJSN1h8XEXFjYg=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/10/aa/10aa64a356f84a66a4385db40ebaeec0.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/qatar/kpLpMVPHQG27qYBbM_7MLoAVhpY=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/10/aa/10aa64a356f84a66a4385db40ebaeec0.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.651486Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Qatar","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Qatar's name and background are a bit more fuddled as the land was home to Bedouin nomads before the 18th century. In that century, the Al Khalifah migrated into the area and created settlements and ruled the land until sheikhs took over in the 20th century.

The meaning of the name has yet to be determined. Some say it is Arabic for \"raindrop\" or \"rain\" or simply \"land.\"

","embed":null}]},{"index":142,"title":"Romania: Citizens of Rome","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790874,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/6b/a0/6ba0519c98e54a0da9f8dff2bb9c2a70.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/romania/1QY2c6lckhZllMfYmhzk6UFQw9c=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/6b/a0/6ba0519c98e54a0da9f8dff2bb9c2a70.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/romania/EnSnO7BYRBWuKvLY_ByiEehQpbw=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/6b/a0/6ba0519c98e54a0da9f8dff2bb9c2a70.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/romania/m0N0xEhg6VbP_XFmGcprSSzq8eU=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/6b/a0/6ba0519c98e54a0da9f8dff2bb9c2a70.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/romania/w1VbdXjEnk64qh5tnUkFMP9sYZg=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/6b/a0/6ba0519c98e54a0da9f8dff2bb9c2a70.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.665416Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Romania","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

When the Roman Empire moved through Europe, conquering lands, it deemed a large chunk of it Romanus, meaning \"Citizen of the Roman Empire.\"

Romania, as it became, was also known as Vlachs, which was a Germanic word describing Romance-speaking people.

","embed":null}]},{"index":143,"title":"Russia: Land of the Rus","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790875,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/35/51/3551a8dc3f5b40d0a3059ba5e4067b10.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/russia/6iBffUrKoMbVRCo5GHdB9a4V2-U=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/35/51/3551a8dc3f5b40d0a3059ba5e4067b10.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/russia/Nc-bkxAQCYjzEkclnWamw1lTO8k=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/35/51/3551a8dc3f5b40d0a3059ba5e4067b10.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/russia/KksXQ7l3fxEl9PAzB4DJDZBFGGY=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/35/51/3551a8dc3f5b40d0a3059ba5e4067b10.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/russia/RFmWRw9xpA3XPvWSb6tbQDTVOvA=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/35/51/3551a8dc3f5b40d0a3059ba5e4067b10.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.678344Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Russia","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The Slavic people called their eastern state Rus. It is said this name actually came from the Old Norse who used it to describe \"men who row.\"

The Greek for Rus is Rossiya, which became Russia or Russkaya Zemlya (Land of the Rus), and has been in use since the 15th century.

","embed":null}]},{"index":144,"title":"Rwanda: Domain","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790876,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/9d/90/9d9001739f274befb400e7e3ddfbaa72.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/rwanda/RRnk5Tz0qDyPbTjEp1t-rIPe1kw=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/9d/90/9d9001739f274befb400e7e3ddfbaa72.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/rwanda/YO_a-Kum6_enWqjmBEXTvwFAIjg=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/9d/90/9d9001739f274befb400e7e3ddfbaa72.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/rwanda/-Vl05yw-k_vntNv1H97rBxZjwTE=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/9d/90/9d9001739f274befb400e7e3ddfbaa72.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/rwanda/OGEE5QWlcyskeYRfGQkox1NbWds=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/9d/90/9d9001739f274befb400e7e3ddfbaa72.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.691286Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Rwanda","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Rwanda was home to three different tribes: the Twa, Hutu and Tutsi. When Europeans arrived in the area, it was the German people who first colonized it in the late 1800s, just as the tribes had divided their land.

Rwanda, a Kinyarwanda word, means \"domain,\" and the strife that followed between the people even after it became an independent country in 1962 included genocide that lasted into the 1990s.

","embed":null}]},{"index":145,"title":"St. Kitts and Nevis: St. Christopher's and Our Lady of the Snows","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790877,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/e0/01/e001fdd33a914e609fe1ce053e38a6d0.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/saint-kitts/JfZnnq0OlEqKJGySqZGGeqw2wCo=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e0/01/e001fdd33a914e609fe1ce053e38a6d0.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/saint-kitts/ZCCkoT2_R0yF8HFKmQt0IyWlTnk=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e0/01/e001fdd33a914e609fe1ce053e38a6d0.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/saint-kitts/QCmi5BQUOS01q-cX3EQaZnhwrh4=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e0/01/e001fdd33a914e609fe1ce053e38a6d0.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/saint-kitts/pcj1skjE_MGOCIGSa_Ax4i51zVE=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e0/01/e001fdd33a914e609fe1ce053e38a6d0.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.703873Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Saint Kitts","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The islands of St. Kitts and Nevis are an adjoined nation that both received names in passing by Christopher Columbus. The former is said to have received the former name due to its shape. The story goes that Columbus sailed by the island and felt it looked like St. Christopher carrying the Christ child, giving it the name St. Christopher. Over the course of time, the name was shortened as a nickname that stuck.

The smaller neighboring island of Nevis earned the name Nuestra Senora de Las Nieves (\"Our Lady of the Snows\") due to the cloud-capped mountain peak Columbus could see from his ship.

The two islands did have names before Columbus though. The people of St. Kitts called their land Liamuiga, or \"fertile land.\" On the isle of Nevis, the Arawaks called it Dulcina, or \"Sweet Island,\" and the Caribs called it Oualie, or \"Land of Beautiful Waters.\"

","embed":null}]},{"index":146,"title":"St. Lucia: Land of Saint Lucy","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790878,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/8d/74/8d74c6c8a16548ae9776f29b1b0335d0.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/st-lucia/d8D8hl1sG8Kuhzjul8IBnraVpMA=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/8d/74/8d74c6c8a16548ae9776f29b1b0335d0.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/st-lucia/qb-tkPMePVxDjrm629WW1Sj9w6A=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/8d/74/8d74c6c8a16548ae9776f29b1b0335d0.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/st-lucia/5W3-Fkz4Jfx5ABg23uGxIS7hWdo=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/8d/74/8d74c6c8a16548ae9776f29b1b0335d0.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/st-lucia/lw7IdsnE0WzFphY4yWc1hgyiG4A=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/8d/74/8d74c6c8a16548ae9776f29b1b0335d0.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.716585Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"St. Lucia","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

A French pirate was the first foreigner to live on the island of St. Lucia, with the Dutch, English and French all claiming the island referred to by its native people as Iouanalao, \"Land of the Iguanas.\"

The French had the most influence and named the isle for the patron St. Lucy of Syracuse.

","embed":null}]},{"index":147,"title":"St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Isle of Saint Vincent","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790879,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/e6/c1/e6c17efb30d84ad1bc2b6c49ff6c6007.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/st-vincent/xgvFdiCm0CkhgVnn8JEuEuTq-Lk=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e6/c1/e6c17efb30d84ad1bc2b6c49ff6c6007.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/st-vincent/Op8PpiClw4nNQpyMHktveMDrw_k=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e6/c1/e6c17efb30d84ad1bc2b6c49ff6c6007.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/st-vincent/SyQWalba7Uz4-yd7cfZeYhzi6ME=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e6/c1/e6c17efb30d84ad1bc2b6c49ff6c6007.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/st-vincent/vE-EQmYGBt8ehqjUzMBnyx7xikM=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e6/c1/e6c17efb30d84ad1bc2b6c49ff6c6007.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.729246Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"St. Vincent","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

St. Vincent was not the first name bestowed upon these Caribbean islands. The first group of foreigners to arrive came from South America. These Amerindian explorers named St. Vincent Hairoun, which means \"Land of the Blessed.\" When the Europeans arrived in the 1700s after Christopher Columbus spotted the island on his voyages, they christened it as St. Vincent for maps to follow.

The chain of small islands known as the Grenadines, of which half are included under St. Vincent and half to Grenada, get their name from Grenada.

","embed":null}]},{"index":148,"title":"Samoa: Sacred","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790880,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/a3/69/a369c1da3631457f800d544a6cc2eeb8.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/samoa/WT2SwohLbWh5-1SfQVKKKqF5iwU=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/a3/69/a369c1da3631457f800d544a6cc2eeb8.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/samoa/YfF2G-GfRTAlWzhUGgFm8W_GqUM=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/a3/69/a369c1da3631457f800d544a6cc2eeb8.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/samoa/PS7pLV79hs8iU18vNYVGwruDeDY=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/a3/69/a369c1da3631457f800d544a6cc2eeb8.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/samoa/_Ub6mJ5ti5hZv0aR38VLWjaDgsE=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/a3/69/a369c1da3631457f800d544a6cc2eeb8.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.743254Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Samoa","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The legend of Samoa passed down for generations tells of the god of the universe, Tagaloa, and his two children, Moa and Lu. Lu's son was also named Lu and was taught to put his uncle before him in everything he did.

Fleeing to Earth, he named his new home Sa-ia-Moa, which means Sacred for Moa. To this day, the Manu'a people use Moa as a name for royalty.

","embed":null}]},{"index":149,"title":"San Marino: Land of Saint Marinus","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790881,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/4e/10/4e10cf497c6f4a94872fae9644ccc4ac.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/san-marino/G3nv7elKbQjhiv4cpeWXov9Gesc=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/4e/10/4e10cf497c6f4a94872fae9644ccc4ac.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/san-marino/D6ErD_naP00blyoFxugDKjwKCas=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/4e/10/4e10cf497c6f4a94872fae9644ccc4ac.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/san-marino/f-_qjFM9SLW1Mw2ijhwY5L-H9A8=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/4e/10/4e10cf497c6f4a94872fae9644ccc4ac.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/san-marino/OXr5Bpe7WXIF9x08LUE88aSEAvc=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/4e/10/4e10cf497c6f4a94872fae9644ccc4ac.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.757659Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"San Marino","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

San Marino, the small independent state located on a mountain in Italy, was settled by Christians and Saint Marinus in the fourth century in an attempt to escape persecution.

Their little sanctuary became known as San Marino.

","embed":null}]},{"index":150,"title":"Sao Tome and Principe: Saint Thomas and Prince's Island","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790882,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/d4/b8/d4b80bf9616b4d5fb9c90372f76adaa5.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/principe/Hdut-FwWxDpk7cZLbA_g592ZUEQ=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d4/b8/d4b80bf9616b4d5fb9c90372f76adaa5.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/principe/nLI5L4q28D0rHdiRc1HmYFYfIB8=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d4/b8/d4b80bf9616b4d5fb9c90372f76adaa5.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/principe/_Y0ufGX_i52sx8NlGEt3uRttRSM=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d4/b8/d4b80bf9616b4d5fb9c90372f76adaa5.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/principe/2lOnY-YtJFggYb7CG6U8Go6Elqs=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/d4/b8/d4b80bf9616b4d5fb9c90372f76adaa5.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.771246Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Principe","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Sao Tome and Principe are two islands that joined to become one nation off the coast of West Africa. The names come from the Portuguese influence.

Sao Tome, founded in 1493, is Portuguese for Saint Thomas. Principe, founded in 1500, originally was named Santo Antao for Saint Anthony but changed its name two years later to Prince's Island (Ilha do Principe) because it paid its sugar taxes to the Prince of Portugal.

","embed":null}]},{"index":151,"title":"Saudi Arabia: Kingdom of the House of Saud","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790883,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/20/fa/20fa30d0eabe4269b0eccfe59e7786b2.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/saudi-arabia/kAHk_KMFNu63h9oRVBhJpMt82xY=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/20/fa/20fa30d0eabe4269b0eccfe59e7786b2.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/saudi-arabia/5q2QJpWMcGRygJuptsNA2AWrRPI=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/20/fa/20fa30d0eabe4269b0eccfe59e7786b2.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/saudi-arabia/1U9DySCKle_Xa4viUeAzGLShsOA=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/20/fa/20fa30d0eabe4269b0eccfe59e7786b2.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/saudi-arabia/TpLy6gEAq0F3s_mDnnm9jtpFaCQ=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/20/fa/20fa30d0eabe4269b0eccfe59e7786b2.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.784364Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Saudi Arabia","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

For the Arabic nation that occupies much of the Arabian peninsula, the show of power is evident with a name taken from the Al-Saud monarchy.

The family traces its roots back to the 1700s but didn't take control of the land in 1824. Abdul Aziz bin Saud became king of Saudi Arabia in 1932, and his family continues the monarchy.

","embed":null}]},{"index":152,"title":"Scotland: Land of the Scots","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790884,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/a2/26/a2269c5e9cb64f38a2ae1dbd0307e932.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/scotland/316D3SC8zCNhOEVT4hI_ovmtTaA=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/a2/26/a2269c5e9cb64f38a2ae1dbd0307e932.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/scotland/vsiBTWytcnZUQUHZuoBGdg9JMqw=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/a2/26/a2269c5e9cb64f38a2ae1dbd0307e932.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/scotland/yT8ovpluBauQYAm3wCGZC-_A4xA=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/a2/26/a2269c5e9cb64f38a2ae1dbd0307e932.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/scotland/rShWUocger6SoRzeBKgV7zVocMY=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/a2/26/a2269c5e9cb64f38a2ae1dbd0307e932.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.797331Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Scotland","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

For the Scots and the land named for them, the Romans came up with the name. The Gaels (as in Gaelic) were called Scoti/Scotti, whichdates back to the fourth century.

The word wasn't meant to be a feel-good one, though, as the Romans considered the Gaels to be pirates and raiders.

","embed":null}]},{"index":153,"title":"Senegal: Our Canoe","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790885,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/a7/39/a7398395b9aa4abba21fe79e1805377b.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/senegal/0dmPLZzk1IiI0aglrLGTibOaSD4=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/a7/39/a7398395b9aa4abba21fe79e1805377b.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/senegal/Y1J8Z3NRgbp3Fs6cB1YEuhg5Q8E=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/a7/39/a7398395b9aa4abba21fe79e1805377b.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/senegal/xkX7BtiE0NrtIEjOCXZdpppQdlA=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/a7/39/a7398395b9aa4abba21fe79e1805377b.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/senegal/k3pxq8iI_4zmD_OqK2fW6oS8qPo=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/a7/39/a7398395b9aa4abba21fe79e1805377b.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.810772Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Senegal","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Senegal is blessed with both an Atlantic Ocean coastline and rivers flowing through its interior, so it's no wonder fishing is a way of life for many of its people. The 675-mile Senegal name is credited for bearing the country's name.

The word Senegal itself is said to come from the Wolof language's Sunu gaal, which means \"our canoe.\" This symbol of the country has been challenged, as some claim Portuguese explorers heard the Berber people calling the river Senega, named for the Zenega people.

","embed":null}]},{"index":154,"title":"Serbia: Land of Serbs","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790886,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/1f/2f/1f2fa55dc31149cc96920c417bc37823.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/serbia/O4bLJiCiYX-N2l5ufw95UVQH148=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/1f/2f/1f2fa55dc31149cc96920c417bc37823.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/serbia/icuIZaAhcKKI7Jl74--vDQZer0c=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/1f/2f/1f2fa55dc31149cc96920c417bc37823.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/serbia/UtWeWZ8nlWNH_w5PICnFRxdZ8vs=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/1f/2f/1f2fa55dc31149cc96920c417bc37823.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/serbia/e983Z2b3d2nz_o0ExdWjU51HNyg=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/1f/2f/1f2fa55dc31149cc96920c417bc37823.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.823903Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Serbia","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The Serbs are a branch of the Slavic people of Europe. Dating back to the sxith century, the Serbs settled into areas that became known as Yugoslavia, the \"Land of the South Slavs\" (Jugoslavija).

The former country of Yugoslavia became Serbia and Montenegro in 2003, although the Serbian Empire existed long before Yugoslavia.

","embed":null}]},{"index":155,"title":"Seychelles: Republic of Seychelles","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790887,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/90/6d/906d3dfedee04488af9f702103c4bc6d.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/seychelles/gDdhA3BEZTZQU54vzovvql9ZvJ4=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/90/6d/906d3dfedee04488af9f702103c4bc6d.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/seychelles/8ymg4BQV2eJRlujZvc9tqhjQoo4=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/90/6d/906d3dfedee04488af9f702103c4bc6d.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/seychelles/4k5bZI8E2Lww5JNMPlB5Hl0OphU=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/90/6d/906d3dfedee04488af9f702103c4bc6d.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/seychelles/zPO8rpBUMJLKMYcCFFf6THL-c1w=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/90/6d/906d3dfedee04488af9f702103c4bc6d.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.836660Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Seychelles","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The name may sound like \"shells\" and seem the appropriate title for islands in the Indian Ocean, but the country name is a French one. Jean Moreau de Séchelles, in fact.

The Minister of Finance for King Louis XV and a Viscount received the honor of having this colonial land named for him in 1756.

","embed":null}]},{"index":156,"title":"Sierra Leone: Lion Mountains","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790888,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/96/6b/966b43ca387847ef9337cfe0fa915934.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/sierra-leone/zMjK2TzJmDxt6yZOkBHsUABBd_A=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/96/6b/966b43ca387847ef9337cfe0fa915934.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/sierra-leone/TKWwaqnW93DwwpFN6lc5QmKIbaw=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/96/6b/966b43ca387847ef9337cfe0fa915934.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/sierra-leone/EEHrWP8ZjlTLA78fcLdJxE1SFfM=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/96/6b/966b43ca387847ef9337cfe0fa915934.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/sierra-leone/OyuVOrHaFWUzaDolLbncBWVFixY=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/96/6b/966b43ca387847ef9337cfe0fa915934.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.849119Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Sierra Leone","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The Portuguese exploring Africa's West Coast christened Sierra Lorne during the 15th century.

Calling it Serra Lyoa (\"Lion Mountains\") for the mountains around the harbor, the British liked the name and kept it when they colonialized it in the late 18th century.

","embed":null}]},{"index":157,"title":"Singapore: Lion City","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":3384828,"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/marina-bay-sands-in-singapore/MtFghs5mEj6_XPsl0Sy3YfOlybI=/100x0:900x600/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/46/6e/466e7c14dc744cca9039bc9ba849ea27.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/marina-bay-sands-in-singapore/S4GTnbBBEas_4TDiuX8cwtYdVsA=/100x0:900x600/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/46/6e/466e7c14dc744cca9039bc9ba849ea27.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/marina-bay-sands-in-singapore/F28sUlvaVN4m616tmg6yYNVb5hM=/100x0:900x600/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/46/6e/466e7c14dc744cca9039bc9ba849ea27.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/marina-bay-sands-in-singapore/MtFghs5mEj6_XPsl0Sy3YfOlybI=/100x0:900x600/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/46/6e/466e7c14dc744cca9039bc9ba849ea27.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/marina-bay-sands-in-singapore/PW8XrG_IFNcn2yy50o_sykA7gYg=/100x0:900x600/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/46/6e/466e7c14dc744cca9039bc9ba849ea27.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2023-07-27T21:47:17.748373Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Marina Bay Sands in Singapore","credit":null,"source":"Getty Images","source_url":null,"caption":null},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Another lion-inspired name was given to Singapore. The Malay tell the story of a Sumatran prince landing on Temasek and seeing a lion — voila! He named it Singapura as Singa means \"lion\" in Malay.

As Temasek, the land comes from the Javanese name for \"Sea Town.\" This name is still prominent around Singapore, even after its 14th-century name change, but the lion remains a symbol of the small nation.

","embed":null}]},{"index":158,"title":"Slovakia: Land of the Slovaci","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790890,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/cc/15/cc15f22d2327499c92b59941120d3ae0.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/slovakia/iP3s5fs5x2mQ47M7jZFty_OU3m4=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/cc/15/cc15f22d2327499c92b59941120d3ae0.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/slovakia/BofmikPV8Y9wgnup4bzuaGShpL4=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/cc/15/cc15f22d2327499c92b59941120d3ae0.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/slovakia/DOzSYJk63FatcLuATYpSsZrfcEc=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/cc/15/cc15f22d2327499c92b59941120d3ae0.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/slovakia/TFUifggn3JVgxcGP7RCTy6eevzk=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/cc/15/cc15f22d2327499c92b59941120d3ae0.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.875287Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Slovakia","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The West Slavic group of people are known as the Slovaks. During the Austria-Hungarian Empire, this minority of people were poorly treated and called the land formed as Czechoslovakia home after the 1918 Treaty of Versailles.

Taken behind the Iron Curtain, the country became an independent state in 1993.

","embed":null}]},{"index":159,"title":"Slovenia: Land of People Who Speak the Same Language","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790891,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/cc/4d/cc4d7b5ed0474964860694dc144b9e8a.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/slovenia/N4YZNr3YSuBAz9KF1xYy_ML4Jrs=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/cc/4d/cc4d7b5ed0474964860694dc144b9e8a.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/slovenia/M3fRcRUqepl05S9D5K1Oi1QYSJA=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/cc/4d/cc4d7b5ed0474964860694dc144b9e8a.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/slovenia/FSNJNejGUldTujQU_MBWgClBUys=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/cc/4d/cc4d7b5ed0474964860694dc144b9e8a.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/slovenia/ATAFrwpNCSUfpvspPkHjifvjK0s=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/cc/4d/cc4d7b5ed0474964860694dc144b9e8a.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.888067Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Slovenia","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Like Slovakia existing as part of Czechoslovakia, the people of Slovenia suffered the same fate. United as Yugoslavia in 1945, the area was home to the South Slavic people, once again a minority to the Austria-Hungarians.

Becoming an independent country in 1918, it was forced into Yugoslavia and then the Iron Curtain before once again regaining independence in 1991.

","embed":null}]},{"index":160,"title":"Solomon Islands: King Soloman Islands","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790892,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/e9/66/e966977854484525b0df18144d2eaa1f.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/solomon-islands/LKMQBKPa4FIOIuJ9YH4iLhygfmM=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e9/66/e966977854484525b0df18144d2eaa1f.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/solomon-islands/biRXzn_b5a6Mb79MRYy7ssbc4Yg=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e9/66/e966977854484525b0df18144d2eaa1f.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/solomon-islands/e2bwqHYMRr4wpyfbA5cFndrfh6I=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e9/66/e966977854484525b0df18144d2eaa1f.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/solomon-islands/sI37TH2dRHQF_wVRFgHMwABk0F0=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/e9/66/e966977854484525b0df18144d2eaa1f.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:48.901114Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Solomon Islands","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Spanish explorers yet again turned to Christianity to name the island archipelago in the South Pacific, this time taking the biblical King Solomon's name.

The Spanish were searching for King Solomon's gold and believed them to be in the islands they called Islas Salomón. When the country gained its independence in 1978, they changed the name to the English version.

","embed":null}]},{"index":177,"title":"Tunisa: Land of Tunis","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790909,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/1f/d4/1fd43c93296e43499995b01605402f63.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/tunisa/idV5xt67-MbjG8DBdkRC-Sf_Q7Q=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/1f/d4/1fd43c93296e43499995b01605402f63.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/tunisa/sOySURE75CdZo2VCpidH0YeqLAE=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/1f/d4/1fd43c93296e43499995b01605402f63.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/tunisa/W-cs0XbDk4DPoelBE7TkIH7jkJs=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/1f/d4/1fd43c93296e43499995b01605402f63.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/tunisa/KzOxUQiNUeN8o6CVOvDPkMrJ7dw=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/1f/d4/1fd43c93296e43499995b01605402f63.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:49.122812Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Tunisa","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The Tunis people are a branch of Berber tribes so named for the city in which they lived. Tunis was actually Tunes during ancient times and was Berber meaning \"encampment\" — thus the city name.

Europeans who visited adopted the name Tunisia as \"Land of the Tunis.\"

","embed":null}]},{"index":178,"title":"Turkey: Land of the Turks","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790910,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/34/9f/349f69bf6089415380ef8899c2bcbdc1.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/turkey/s7B5fTxsFj08ZlB-OqgPwQYNilo=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/34/9f/349f69bf6089415380ef8899c2bcbdc1.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/turkey/Ph54nRqVa4C8PFo8bRJeAlO7rd4=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/34/9f/349f69bf6089415380ef8899c2bcbdc1.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/turkey/2aUt73kMpaCbFBlX_c8xyIuDZZs=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/34/9f/349f69bf6089415380ef8899c2bcbdc1.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/turkey/OhKL2N0anNyAwx733r9z8HR4zmM=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/34/9f/349f69bf6089415380ef8899c2bcbdc1.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:49.135710Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Turkey","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The Turks are one of the oldest tribes known to man, and one of the dominant during the Ottoman Empire.

The name meant \"strong and powerful,\" which they most definitely were. Now, the country is pushing to change its international name to Turkiye.

","embed":null}]},{"index":179,"title":"Turkmenistan: Land of the Turkmen","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790911,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/48/54/48545efd1d8e4d72aae3a095df8b9c2a.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/turkmenistan/KXNSdmmXF08S_H0eOzv2GQAgyTs=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/48/54/48545efd1d8e4d72aae3a095df8b9c2a.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/turkmenistan/w6H55IxEzfp9tfj-iQJz20WDdKM=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/48/54/48545efd1d8e4d72aae3a095df8b9c2a.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/turkmenistan/ij4qsCi00Zi1JyarveRkaTz4Kjw=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/48/54/48545efd1d8e4d72aae3a095df8b9c2a.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/turkmenistan/uPtSoQC518jdQYzfVk9tGXhQXIE=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/48/54/48545efd1d8e4d72aae3a095df8b9c2a.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:49.148670Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Turkmenistan","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Another tribe of Turks living in a different region as the result of the similarly named country. (Although the Turks of Turkey will claim they are the better and stronger of the two.)

The Persian stan for \"land of\" was used for this country in Central Asia.

","embed":null}]},{"index":180,"title":"Tuvalu: Eight Standing Together","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":3384831,"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/beach-in-tuvalu/mXD_IiklOVaUZDXCUmfeiTKP7LA=/83x0:1185x826/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/7c/25/7c25066ce25f438e8a3c2aa290020e78.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/beach-in-tuvalu/1RIKmygPi3z-cay5HX1pLKfIjnk=/83x0:1185x826/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/7c/25/7c25066ce25f438e8a3c2aa290020e78.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/beach-in-tuvalu/Qp8wh8-QX_YOKmiUf9dygIzUem8=/83x0:1185x826/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/7c/25/7c25066ce25f438e8a3c2aa290020e78.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/beach-in-tuvalu/mXD_IiklOVaUZDXCUmfeiTKP7LA=/83x0:1185x826/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/7c/25/7c25066ce25f438e8a3c2aa290020e78.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/beach-in-tuvalu/SfbUqfkbjRH9Nl20IyPxWbeS4Ek=/83x0:1185x826/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/7c/25/7c25066ce25f438e8a3c2aa290020e78.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2023-07-27T21:51:43.368694Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"beach in Tuvalu","credit":"oversnap","source":"Getty Images","source_url":null,"caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

As a collection of nine islands in Oceania, only one was inhabited by people. The name given by those people is Tuvalu, meaning \"eight standing together.\"

The English eventually took control and called the islands Ellice, or Lagoon, Islands, but the country has been independent since 1978.

","embed":null}]},{"index":181,"title":"Ugana: Land of the Ganda People","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790913,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/3f/80/3f8094256be640b28aa7514d2506c9b6.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/uganda/01tT-37-MOfQa3PY1nqKAkxVyw4=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/3f/80/3f8094256be640b28aa7514d2506c9b6.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/uganda/bnoeR8B8i4eQ1O-aoZR6b3Y5wCU=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/3f/80/3f8094256be640b28aa7514d2506c9b6.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/uganda/KwvHjNDSkyzZBn1qy9aBSaO1ZjI=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/3f/80/3f8094256be640b28aa7514d2506c9b6.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/uganda/-BqNLjy07BTN10RAeivHh-dfoHM=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/3f/80/3f8094256be640b28aa7514d2506c9b6.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:49.173952Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Uganda","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Winston Churchill called Uganda the \"Pearl of Africa,\" but its name simply comes from the people who lived there.

Hunters and gathers, the land was part of the Buganda kingdom and the home of the Gandan people.

","embed":null}]},{"index":182,"title":"Ukraine: Borderland","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790914,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/7e/3b/7e3b6aae58bb41e3944e1f9a837babac.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/ukraine/uilhOkMMekOpN86F1YqpJmfanrY=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/7e/3b/7e3b6aae58bb41e3944e1f9a837babac.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/ukraine/fHIiA7KE_OFr34lLynKm7H407-c=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/7e/3b/7e3b6aae58bb41e3944e1f9a837babac.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/ukraine/fxFJc-4IQjfgWK0XVn7zzIY-p4c=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/7e/3b/7e3b6aae58bb41e3944e1f9a837babac.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/ukraine/X_HTCu9Kf2EkBzRNyMiQVvkOs7o=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/7e/3b/7e3b6aae58bb41e3944e1f9a837babac.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:49.186896Z","height":600,"width":799,"aspect_ratio":1.3316666666666668,"title":"Ukraine","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Bordering Russia, the Slavic nation of Ukraine literally meant just that: \"borderland.\" It began as a definition of the land between the Kievan Rus border, but when its border met with the Polish Kingdom, Ukraina was used.

However, oukraina has been found mentioned as far back as the late 1100s and meant \"outskirts.\"

","embed":null}]},{"index":183,"title":"United Arab Emirates: United Arab Kingdom","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790915,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/03/b6/03b69cf0a04a4133a69ee4c32e0b2e0e.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/uae/KuRj50e11kFapRz9umcYQkI_WUo=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/03/b6/03b69cf0a04a4133a69ee4c32e0b2e0e.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/uae/a9MpAFeW9nt-Wzki0TJoxN7DGDE=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/03/b6/03b69cf0a04a4133a69ee4c32e0b2e0e.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/uae/EuXnkOnt7MWR7cMjg68aW6BhI-o=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/03/b6/03b69cf0a04a4133a69ee4c32e0b2e0e.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/uae/I95AB1zL3PF6uPNBa2gzvuH86DI=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/03/b6/03b69cf0a04a4133a69ee4c32e0b2e0e.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:49.200171Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"UAE","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Just as the United States (coming up next), took a name that showed the uniting of its states, so, too, did the United Arab Emirates. A federation of seven emirates, or kingdoms, the country emerged in 1971.

Its seven emirates include Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaywayn, Ra's al-Khaymah and Al-Furjayrah.

","embed":null}]},{"index":184,"title":"United States of America: United States of Amerigo","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790916,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/78/a5/78a527f1e4b64ddab5be90b433c70d3f.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/boston/jSBOZ8MPpXhSWMawzcShFY89X5Q=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/78/a5/78a527f1e4b64ddab5be90b433c70d3f.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/boston/hwr067LGUtKUBp3YSuiMs6M9Wzg=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/78/a5/78a527f1e4b64ddab5be90b433c70d3f.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/boston/qZgeKCDRHBgfVN04lTPrJXFxwB4=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/78/a5/78a527f1e4b64ddab5be90b433c70d3f.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/boston/J2X_zgsAdh5JHoZXANQ1EzJirYg=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/78/a5/78a527f1e4b64ddab5be90b433c70d3f.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:49.213104Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Boston","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

America received its name centuries before the states began to form. Named after Amerigo Vespucci who found the new continent after Christopher Columbus' Caribbean explorations, the continents in the north and south were both christened America.

It was in 1776 that the Continental Congress replaced the name of its British colonies with United States when declaring independence.

","embed":null}]},{"index":185,"title":"Uruguay: Land of Painted Birds","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790917,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/fd/ef/fdefd7af82dc41a8854214eca01bde99.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/uruguay/Liw5Wjms_cNaPoePNRabfEQlMhQ=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/fd/ef/fdefd7af82dc41a8854214eca01bde99.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/uruguay/XlWPhpdZvW-iniuRP_OSrlLz4Fo=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/fd/ef/fdefd7af82dc41a8854214eca01bde99.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/uruguay/e3X01gDK8B_aVazpuiZXglEYgNw=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/fd/ef/fdefd7af82dc41a8854214eca01bde99.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/uruguay/S3ASR2RQiB2d06TN-nbqlVoKzkU=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/fd/ef/fdefd7af82dc41a8854214eca01bde99.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:49.225878Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Uruguay","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Taking the name of its river, Uruguay, the translation in the Guarani language means \"river of painted birds.\"

The river, which begins in Brazil, creates a border between Argentina and Uruguay.

","embed":null}]},{"index":186,"title":"Uzbekistan: Land of Genuine Men","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790918,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/57/6b/576bf8a69f22410aa88682f185b30b5b.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/uzbekistan/jEB6gLdzCyWW2MgXM0hSrHXvoI4=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/57/6b/576bf8a69f22410aa88682f185b30b5b.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/uzbekistan/ef-oPptyxL1DrnX_KVA9_D7lOjU=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/57/6b/576bf8a69f22410aa88682f185b30b5b.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/uzbekistan/5cQoWpgvyJHm1cDPQruZOqbvZQs=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/57/6b/576bf8a69f22410aa88682f185b30b5b.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/uzbekistan/YTx0hxkaVh9zszhnpJEB3bOITMk=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/57/6b/576bf8a69f22410aa88682f185b30b5b.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:49.238786Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Uzbekistan","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

This \"land of\" (stan) refers to the Uzbeks, the largest ethnic group in the country.

That name was a Turkish name to refer to the people of Uzbekistan and stood for \"genuine man\" after the Mongol khan Oz Beg.

","embed":null}]},{"index":187,"title":"Vanuatu: Our Land Forever","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790919,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/ba/e8/bae847357dd34a1581bfe8379ade4804.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/vanuatu/w4tjBjVvSLYFETOi_JF1z_agJJw=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/ba/e8/bae847357dd34a1581bfe8379ade4804.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/vanuatu/4K0q72Jb82VSwbImUkHS9jyWCZA=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/ba/e8/bae847357dd34a1581bfe8379ade4804.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/vanuatu/Ob9jNycnOsG2Mr1NivUP-lPRkwA=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/ba/e8/bae847357dd34a1581bfe8379ade4804.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/vanuatu/HqCenibuwlEw2TZK7vZ9asfXxAY=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/ba/e8/bae847357dd34a1581bfe8379ade4804.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:49.251641Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Vanuatu","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The island nation of Vanuatu is one of the oldest inhabited islands in the South Pacific. The Portuguese explorers discovered the land, but it was the British's Captain James Cook who named it New Hebrides.

However, the Melanesian people finally received independence in 1980, renaming the country with the apropos \"Our Land Forever.\"

","embed":null}]},{"index":188,"title":"Vatican City: Papal Palace on the Hill","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790920,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/3d/76/3d7695261fb04ee792ba655c54f19c12.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/vatican-city/BmFtVvWJm96XJqdRnYLh1hvPxH4=/800x599/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/3d/76/3d7695261fb04ee792ba655c54f19c12.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/vatican-city/kSZpRf_6e-CElhMFxhoF0ZjvS6Y=/480x359/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/3d/76/3d7695261fb04ee792ba655c54f19c12.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/vatican-city/vF3wH7LpYnejbw0QdS63QjVosos=/800x599/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/3d/76/3d7695261fb04ee792ba655c54f19c12.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/vatican-city/3WWw10E_0E5nw9jcZgEt4l33Fx0=/480x359/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/3d/76/3d7695261fb04ee792ba655c54f19c12.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:49.264773Z","height":599,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.335559265442404,"title":"Vatican City","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

The literal definition of the Latin word Vatican is \"divining serpent.\" St. Peter's Basilica was built on a pagan site that had been called vaticanus mons, which meant \"hill\" or \"mountain of prophecy.\"

As home to the Pope, this hill is now the Papal Palace. The Italians call the city-state Citta del Vaticano, but the Catholic Church calls it the Holy See.

","embed":null}]},{"index":189,"title":"Venezuela: Little Venice","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790921,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/6d/3a/6d3aa6540b5f42eaacf62661e15b3fae.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/venezuela/AqyqUXUje_cLmlf51UQb74urr6w=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/6d/3a/6d3aa6540b5f42eaacf62661e15b3fae.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/venezuela/TRCgLauFX9w7XuvKOcTj77KzYRA=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/6d/3a/6d3aa6540b5f42eaacf62661e15b3fae.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/venezuela/kquKcETMZyvnIha8J4GXF0OzZ_c=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/6d/3a/6d3aa6540b5f42eaacf62661e15b3fae.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/venezuela/s_FfByUGLhYUowgP6p1J7CRFjXk=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/6d/3a/6d3aa6540b5f42eaacf62661e15b3fae.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:49.278280Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Venezuela","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

When Amerigo Vespucci sailed along the coast of South America they saw houses built on stilts.

Reminding them of Venice, Italy, they called the land Veneziela for \"Little Venice.\" (Venice to the Spanish is Venezia.)

","embed":null}]},{"index":190,"title":"Vietnam: Viets of the South","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790922,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/01/d1/01d136230b0541f3a3099150c2ee270d.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/vietnam/QQV8Hz9xRQVzLn11yOuwpGlAytU=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/01/d1/01d136230b0541f3a3099150c2ee270d.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/vietnam/orgzMWkCgC2KIH-epEkCbqq9zIw=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/01/d1/01d136230b0541f3a3099150c2ee270d.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/vietnam/JT6j8EVLdDSMr5Pan_rbapuKCJE=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/01/d1/01d136230b0541f3a3099150c2ee270d.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/vietnam/JmsfdFWWJzfaRLjjeJisST67sRk=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/01/d1/01d136230b0541f3a3099150c2ee270d.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:49.291103Z","height":600,"width":799,"aspect_ratio":1.3316666666666668,"title":"Vietnam","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Vietnam's name was bestowed upon it by the Chinese who used the word Viet to mean \"far off.\" The distant land was granted to Emperor Vu, who controlled China's remote countries 1000 BC.

Eventually, the land was renamed Van Lang to mean \"land of the learned people.\" It went through several new names, with Vietnam being used for the first time in 1802.

","embed":null}]},{"index":191,"title":"Wales: Land of Foreigners","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790923,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/51/b5/51b5ae3b2b7e456aaa9568563540dbf5.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/wales/gHSacYiYHWPDOeqfLpanTrGT1io=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/51/b5/51b5ae3b2b7e456aaa9568563540dbf5.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/wales/dffLA-Roct2WxcAoSPLPmBoP7n0=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/51/b5/51b5ae3b2b7e456aaa9568563540dbf5.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/wales/zojYpBmSLYgqXGe_O89FO6PPqsI=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/51/b5/51b5ae3b2b7e456aaa9568563540dbf5.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/wales/-3LTZwi8YXDr315rpCRuNU73XL4=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/51/b5/51b5ae3b2b7e456aaa9568563540dbf5.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:49.304021Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Wales","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Wales's word for its country is Cymru, Welsh for \"fellow countrymen.\" Yet, its name comes from invading Anglo Saxons, who used it to mean \"foreigners\" — even though the Welsh were there first!

There were other Germanic names that called the people foreigners, but props to the Welsh for making their name something more positive.

","embed":null}]},{"index":192,"title":"Yemen: Land of Happiness","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790924,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/8f/b8/8fb882cf2d0a40a19f86d0669b7d0b95.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/yemen/tExnu2DAzKpW-z8PDufRrQoyuao=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/8f/b8/8fb882cf2d0a40a19f86d0669b7d0b95.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/yemen/regSSijqxoHIlAQ_1va9sd5i3vk=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/8f/b8/8fb882cf2d0a40a19f86d0669b7d0b95.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/yemen/tejedHYiWPMLWYxYM5Z4MXcNF40=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/8f/b8/8fb882cf2d0a40a19f86d0669b7d0b95.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/yemen/PpVgdKlYz6F5z82ay9u9SOFLsko=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/8f/b8/8fb882cf2d0a40a19f86d0669b7d0b95.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:49.317184Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Yemen","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Yemen's original name was Arabia Felix, which in Latin meant \"happy\" or \"fortunate.\" In Arabic \"happiness\" is yumn.

The country was eventually absorbed by the Ottoman Empire in the 1500s, handed to the British in the 1800s, divided into two with two different leading rulers in the 1900s, became unified in 1990 and continues to fall under strife, so that name didn't work out so well.

","embed":null}]},{"index":193,"title":"Zambia: Land of the Great River","blocks":[{"type":"Image","index":0,"image":{"id":790925,"url":"https://media.farandwide.com/02/77/0277e563d56249c4a18363ad5367f66f.jpeg","urls":[{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/zambia/yaAg3IuPdr2FolYtExTr7SywbhA=/800x600/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/02/77/0277e563d56249c4a18363ad5367f66f.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/zambia/rrgWr9EHZsGBKuRgzwHY0Hjxp3w=/480x360/filters:format(webp):quality(80)/granite-web-prod/02/77/0277e563d56249c4a18363ad5367f66f.jpeg","mimetype":"image/webp","max_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/zambia/QYhzSeBn54xc3clmtT6hD19MSe8=/800x600/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/02/77/0277e563d56249c4a18363ad5367f66f.jpeg","min_width":480},{"url":"https://thumbor.bigedition.com/zambia/gZSBf41zFKjtdeWt6gIT8ndmw0Q=/480x360/filters:quality(80)/granite-web-prod/02/77/0277e563d56249c4a18363ad5367f66f.jpeg","max_width":480}],"created":"2020-06-09T04:55:49.330045Z","height":600,"width":800,"aspect_ratio":1.3333333333333333,"title":"Zambia","credit":"Getty Images","source":"","source_url":"","caption":""},"text":"","embed":null},{"type":"Text","index":1,"image":null,"text":"

Home to the Tonga people, Zambia takes its name from its great Zambezi River, the fourth-largest in Africa. Until its independence in 1964, however, it was called Northern Rhodesia and held by South Africa and Britain since 1891.

That name and other areas of Rhodesia came from the white settlers who named \"their\" land after Cecil Rhodes of the British South Africa Company.

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Also part of Rhodesia, Zimbabwe earned its name in 1960. The name is a Shona word for Great Zimbabwe, an ancient city that was enclosed and protected by large stone fortifications.

Theories of the word's origin is that Shona's word dzimba meant \"house,\" and mabwe meant \"stone.\"

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What Every Country's Name Literally Means (2024)

References