Use for: AK

Use for: Republic of Cuba, Cuba, Republic of

• Comprises a large island of the same name and several smaller islands; area was inhabited by Ciboney, Guanahatabey and Taino (Arawaks) when Columbus arrived in 1492; Spanish colonized in 1511, native people soon died; Africans were brought here as slaves for plantations; official language is Spanish.

• Conquered by Romans 1st century CE; ruled by Saracens 10th cen.; under counts of Savoy 1388-1860, although captured and held by French several times; pillaged by Turks 1543; ceded to France 1860; birthplace of Garibaldi; leading resort city of French Riviera.

Use for: Havana

• Chief naval station of Spanish in 16th cen.; captured by British in 1762, restored in 1763; site of initial battle of Spanish-American War in 1898; seat of revolutionary government since 1959; landmarks include 16th-cen. El Morro Castle and la Punta Fort.

Use for: Republic of Fiji

• Comprises over 800 islands; area was settled by Austronesian-speaking people in 2nd millennium BCE; development of pottery by 1300 BCE; sighted by Dutch Tasman 1643, visited by British in 18th century; was haven for escaped convicts from Australia by 1804; official language is English, though most speak Bauan or Hindustani.

Use for: Elbe River

• Empties into the North Sea; is a major river of central Europe; connected by canal to Berlin and other major centers; marked the farthest Roman advance into Germany in 9 BCE; was eastern limit of Charlemagne's conquest.

Use for: 7594545

Use for: Arctic Sea

Use for: Atlantic

• Body of water that separates North and South America from Europe and Africa, covers around 42,000,000 square miles and is on average 12,250 feet deep; may be referred to as divided into North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean.

• Note: Comprises over 7000 islands; area first settled by Negritos (a pygmy group) by 30,000 BCE; later settled by Malayans; Islam introduced by Arabs 14th century; Spanish conquest began 1564, endured conflict with Moros of South and Chinese; revolution 1896-1899; official languages are Pilipino and English.

Use for: Lake Geneva

• Located on French-Swiss border, between Alps & Jura mountains; is traversed by Rhone river, which exits at Geneva; has been long famed for clear, blue waters & picturesque surroundings.

Use for: USSR, U.S.S.R., Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Soviet Union

• Former northern Eurasian empire that came into being after 1917 Revolution; largest country in the world when it existed, stretching from Baltic and Black seas to the Pacific Ocean; very diverse with over 100 distinct nationalities; most of population East Slavs; had authoritarian and highly centralized government dominated by Communist Party; political and economic changes began late 1980s and the USSR ceased to exist in 1991; in its final years it consisted of 15 republics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belorussia (now Belarus), Estonia, Georgia, Kazakstan, Kirgiziya (now Kyrgyzstan), Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia (now Moldova), Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.