Beirut (Lebanon): Capital. At the foot of Lebanon Mountains. It was the chief banking and cultural centre of the Middle East. Heavily damaged in civil war 1979-90.

Belgrade (E.Europe): Formerly capital of Yugoslavia and of the kingdom of Serbia, A important commercial centre in the Balkans. Suffered under Nazi occupation (’41-’44). Kosovo conflict hit Belgrade. Now, capital of Serbia-Montenegro.


Belitung or Billiton (Indonesia): An island in the Javasea, whose tin mines have attracted large Chinese community.

Belmopan (Belize): Made capital of Belize in 1970, following major hurricane damage to Belize city in 1961.

Belorussia (Central Europe): Modern name Belarus. Was part of USSR, now member, CIS.

Benin Kingdom (Africa): A historic kingdom (13th-19th C.) Trade centre for ivory and slaves. Later became part of British Nigeria.

Berchtesgaden (Germany): Aresort in the Bavarian Alps, the site of Hitler’s fortified mountain retreat, the Beghof.

Bering Sea (Pacific Ocean): Its islands include the Pribilofs, Aleutians, Nunivak, etc. Discovered by Danish explorer Vitus Bering, The Bering strait is said to have formed a land bridge by which on final inhabitants of N. America arrived from Asia.

Berlin (Germany): Capital. Founded 13th c., capital of Prussia of German empire (1871). In 1948 Soviet-controlled East Berlin and West Berlin (controlled by US, UK, France) were born. The airlift, following WWII, after Soviet attempts to isolate the city from the West is known as Berlin Airlift. The blocked was lifted in 1949. Berlin Wall was built by East German government (1961) to seal off E.Berlin from W.Berlin to prevent illegal migration. Wall was opened in 1989.

Bermuda (West Atlantic): A British overseas territory. Old name: Somers Islands. Bermuda, the Greater Antilles and the US coast make (Bermuda Triangle’, an area where aircraft are reported to have vanished mysteriously.