Arlington (USA): Location of the Pentagon. National Cemetery built in 1864, where prominent Americans have been buried.

Ashanti (Ghana): A kingdom of the Ashanti people annexed to the British colony of Gold Coast (Ghana) in 1901. Now a province with capital at Kumasi.

Astana (Kazakhstan): Capital of Kazakhstan. Its name was Akmola until 1961 and from 1994 to ’98. From 1961 to 1994 it was Tselinograd. Until 1998 the name was Alma Ata, Since 1998, present name.

Asti (Italy): Town known for its sparking white wine, Asti Spumante.

Aswan (Egypt): City on the bank of the Nile, Aswan High Dam was built (1960-1970) with Soviet aid.

Atacama Desert (Chile): The most arid region in the world, Stretches about 1000 km.

Atlanta (USA): Capital of Georgia. Founded in 1837, originally called Terminus, Marthasville in 1845, and Atlanta in 1947, Headquarters of Coca Cola. Hosted 1996 summer Olympic Games.

Auschwitz (Poland): Notorious as Nazi Germany’s largest concentration camp and extermination camp. Between 1m. and 2.5 m. people are believed to have died here.

Axum or Aksum (Ethiopia): Centre of N.Ethiopian empire, 1st-8th c. Kings converted to Christianity in 4th c. It is believed that the Arc of the covenant was brought here from Jerusalem and placed in church of St.Mary of Zion where the emperors of Ethiopia were crowned.

Babylon(Iraq): It was the capital of the Babylonian empire on the Euphrates river, ruler was Nebuchadnezzer (605-562 B.C). hanging gardens were on of the seven wonders. Babylon fell in 538 B.C.