Geografical names with and without the

Geografical names with and without the

by Rocio Ponce

​UNIT 6

​​"VALORAMOS LAS RIQUEZAS NATURALES, EL MEJOR LEGADO DE NUESTRO PATRIMONIO CULTURAL"

​SESSION 2: Geografical names with and without the

Lake Titicaca

​Lake Titicaca is the largest freshwater lake in South America and the highest of the world's large lakes. Titicaca is one of less than twenty ancient lakes on earth, and is thought to be there million years old. Lake Titicaca sits 3 810 m above sea level and is situated between Peru to the west and Bolivia to the east. Peruvian part is located in Puno department, in Puno and Huancane provinces.

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It covers 3 200 square miles (8 300 square km) and extends in a northwest-to-southeast direction for a distance of 120 miles (190 km). It is 50 miles (80 km) across at its widest point. A narrow strait, Tiquina, separates the lake into two bodies of water.  The smaller, in the southeast, is called Lake Huinaymarca in Bolivia and lake Pequeño in Peru.

​Lake Titicaca lies between Andean ranges in a vast basin (about 22 400 square miles - 58 000 square km in area) that comprises most of the Altiplano (High Plateau) of the northern Andes. In the snow-covered Cordillera Real on the north-eastern (Bolivian) shore of the lake, some of the highest peaks in the Andes rise to heights of more than 21 000 feet (6 400m).

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​Titicaca's level fluctuates seasonally and over a cycle of years. During the rainy season (summer, from December to March) the level of the lake rises, normally to recede during the dry winter months. The average level is 3.810 m.a.s.l.

Geographical Use of the Definite Article (The) With Country Names​

​Typically, the article the is not used before the names of countries and territories:

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Incorrect: Our flight to the China was canceled.

Correct: Our flight to China was canceled.

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However, the is used before countries whose names are plural in form:

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Incorrect: Have you ever been to Netherlands ?

Correct: Have you ever been to the Netherlands ?

​The is also used with countries whose names include the words states, kingdom, or republic:

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Incorrect: My sister lives in United States .

Correct: My sister lives in the United States .

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​Incorrect: My brother lives in United Kingdom .

Correct: My brother lives in the United Kingdom .

​Other Rules for the Geographical Use of the Definite Article, The

​Do not use the before the names of

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-continents (North America, Asia, Africa)

-mountains (Mount Rushmore, Mount Everest)

-islands (Saint Lucia, Antigua, Grenada)

-streets (Broad Street, Wilson Avenue)

-cities and towns (Birmingham, Seattle, Las Vegas)

-states (Alabama, Washington, Nevada)

-lakes (Lake Erie, Lake Kissimmee, Lake Rabun)

​Do use the before the names of

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​-points on the globe (the Equator, the North Pole)

-mountain ranges (the Smoky Mountains, the Andes)

-island chains (the Florida Keys, the Pacific Islands)

-geographical areas (the East, the Midwest)

-rivers, seas, and oceans (the Mississippi River, the Atlantic Ocean, the Nile River)

-deserts and peninsulas (the Mojave Desert, the Balkan Peninsula

-groups of lakes (the Great Lakes)

Multiple Choice

He was born in _________________ New York City.

• No article

• The

Multiple Choice

_________________ Nile is a long African river.

• no article

• The

Multiple Choice

We're going on vacation to _________________ Dominican Republic.

• No article

• The

Multiple Choice

Have you been to _________________ Italy?

• The

• No article

Multiple Choice

Los Angeles is in the state of _________________ California.

• No article

• The

Multiple Choice

_________________ Rocky Mountains are very high.

• No article

• The

Multiple Choice

He lives in _________________ United States.

• No article

• The

Multiple Choice

________________ South Africa is one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

• The

• No article

Multiple Choice

________________ Republic of Ireland is in the European Union.

• The

• No article

Multiple Choice

Have you ever been to _________________ Netherlands?

• No article

• The