The use of articles with geographical names

    Zero Article Indefinite Article Definite Article
Continents Europe; Asia; Antarctica modified by some descriptive attributes in pre-position*, · North America Central Asia · limitation clear from the context, e.g. It was the Europe of 1600s.
Countries is used if the names consist of one word Ukraine; England; Poland indicates some unusual qualities or mood in the given situation It was a new Italy Marko did not recognize.   is used if the names consist of more than one word · the United States of America · the United Emirates · the United Kingdom indicates traditional use · the Argentine (but Argentina) · the Netherlands · (the) Lebanon; (the) Congo; (the) Senegal; (the) Kameroon; (the) Sudan
Regions and provinces Kharkiv Region,   indicates traditional use · the Lake District · the Caucasus; the Crimea · the Ruhr; the Tyrol; the Riviera; the Transvaal; the Saar
Cities, towns, villages · London (city) · Broadstairs (town) · Middlemead (village) to show some unusual qualities or mood in the given situation It was a different Paris unknown to him. 1. clear from the situation, usually with a limiting attribute, e.g. It was not the France of his youth. 2. with an ‘of-phrase’, e.g. the city of Chester; the village of Amberley 3. an exception - the Hague
Mountains,mountain passes and islands separate mountains, peaks and islands · Snowdon · Mount Everest · Cyprus   mountain chains and groups pf islands · the Rocky Mountains · the Bahamas · the Saint Gottard Pass · the Isle of Man (of-phrase)
Lakes with the word ‘lake’ Lake Michigan; Silver Lake   without the word ‘lake’ the Michigan, the Windermere
Oceans, seas, rivers, straights, channels, canals, waterfalls, bays, gulfs     · the Indian Ocean · the North Sea · the Trent (a river in England) · the Magellan Straits (the Strait of Magellan) · the English Channel · the Panama Canal · the Niagara Falls · North Bay (but the San Francisco Bay) · the Gulf of Mexico
Peninsulas and capes · Hindustan · Labrador · Cape Horn · Cape Province   with the word ‘peninsula’ · the Hindustan Peninsula with ‘of – phrase’ (traditional use) · the Cape of Good Hope
Deserts     the Sahara Desert
Names traditionally used in the plural     · the Midlands · the Netherlands · the Yorkshire Forests
Streets, squares, parks · Baker Street · Drury Lane · Brown Close · Sunset Boulevard · Piccadilly Circus · Hyde Park   traditional use · the Strand (in London) · the High Street · The Main Street · the Mall · the Plaza San Marco

* The descriptive attributes that usually modify geographical names in pre-position are: northern, southern, eastern, western, central, minor, south-west (etc), Latin, ancient, old, new, industrial, medieval, modern,