Salient (geography) explained

A salient, panhandle, or bootheel is an elongated protrusion of a geopolitical entity, such as a subnational entity or a sovereign state.

While similar to a peninsula in shape, a salient is most often not surrounded by water on three sides. Instead, it has a land border on at least two sides and extends from the larger geographical body of the administrative unit.

In American English, the term panhandle is often used to describe a relatively long and narrow salient, such as the westernmost extensions of Florida and Oklahoma, or the northernmost portion of Idaho. Another term is bootheel, used for the Missouri Bootheel and New Mexico Bootheel areas.

Origin

The term salient is derived from military salients. The term "panhandle" derives from the analogous part of a cooking pan, and its use is generally confined to North America.

The salient shape can be the result of arbitrarily drawn international or subnational boundaries, though the location of administrative borders can also take into account other considerations such as economic ties or topography.

Country-level salients

Africa

Cibitoke Province, Burundi
Far North Region, Cameroon
Congo Pedicle, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kongo Central, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Southern Red Sea Region, Eritrea
Gambela Region, Ethiopia
Somali Region, Ethiopia
Nimba County, Liberia
Nsanje District, Malawi
Kayes Region, Mali
Azawad, Mali
Tete Province, Mozambique
Caprivi Strip, Namibia
Casamance, Senegal
Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, South Africa
Upper Nile, South Sudan
Blue Nile, Sudan
Wadi Halfa Salient, Sudan
Kagera Region, Tanzania
Cinkassé Prefecture, Togo

Americas

Misiones, Argentina
Southern Ontario (particularly Ontario Peninsula), Canada
Tatshenshini-Alsek Park, British Columbia, Canada
Madawaska County, New Brunswick, Canada
Leticia Trapeze, Colombia
Southeast Guainía Department, Colombia
Yavaraté, Vaupés Department, Colombia
Petén Department, Guatemala
Tumbes Region, Peru
Southeast Alaska, Alaska, United States (see also Panhandles in the United States)
Amazonas, Venezuela

Asia

Wakhan Corridor, Afghanistan
Chittagong, Bangladesh
Rangpur, Bangladesh
Western Belait District, Brunei
Tanintharyi Region, Burma (Myanmar)
Parrot's Beak, Cambodia
Yadong County (Tibet Autonomous Region), China
Seven Sister States, India (largest in the world)
Sikkim, India
West Timor, Indonesia
Jerusalem corridor, Israel
Galilee panhandle, Israel
Mafraq Governorate, Jordan
Mangystau Region, Kazakhstan
Batken, Kyrgyzstan
Phongsaly Province, Laos
Tfail Salient, Lebanon
North Hamgyŏng, South Hamgyŏng, and Ryanggang, North Korea
Primorsky Krai, Russia
Sughd, Tajikistan
Southern Thailand, Thailand
Aralık, Iğdır Province, Turkey
Hatay Province, Turkey
Jizzakh Region, Sirdaryo Region, Tashkent Region, Tashkent City, Namangan, Fergana and Andijan Regions, Uzbekistan
Surxondaryo Region, Uzbekistan
Tây Ninh Province, Vietnam

Europe

Syunik, Armenia
Tyrol and Vorarlberg, Austria
West Flanders, Belgium
Tamashowka, Belarus
Neum, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Croatia
Ilok, Croatia
Louroujina Salient, Cyprus
Cheb District, Czech Republic
Šluknov Hook, Czech Republic
Laatre, Viljandi County, Estonia
Enontekiö, Finland
Charleville-Mézières, France
Kakheti, Georgia
Western Thrace, Greece
County Donegal, Ireland
County Monaghan, Ireland
Province of Trieste, Italy
Dieveniškės appendix, Lithuania
Castelré, North Brabant, the Netherlands
Limburg, the Netherlands
County Fermanagh, United Kingdom
Pasvikdalen valley, Norway
Bogatynia, Poland
Melgaço and north of Monção and Arcos de Valdevez (Viana do Castelo District), Portugal
Tourém in north of Montalegre (Vila Real District), Portugal
Couto Misto in north of Montalegre (Vila Real District), Portugal
Miranda do Douro, Mogadouro and Vimioso (Bragança District), Portugal
Moura and eastern Barrancos (Beja District) and Mourão (Évora District), Portugal
Olivenza claim of Portugal in Spain
Bryansk Oblast, Russia
Ain, France (around the border of Switzerland)
Galicia, Spain
Canton of Geneva, Switzerland
Canton of Schaffhausen, Switzerland
Bernina, Inn, Lugano, Mendrisio and Porrentruy Districts, Switzerland
Budjak, Ukraine
Jamena, Serbia
Petsamo, formerly Finland

Subnational salients

The following locations are salients in First-level administrative subdivisions of nations.

Subnational salients in Africa

Tafraoui, Oran Province, Algeria
Southwestern Saïda Province, Algeria
Northeastern Bié Province, Angola
Eastern Kgalagadi District, Botswana
Balé Province, Boucle du Mouhoun Region, Burkina Faso
Kouritenga Province, Centre-Est Region, Burkina Faso
Northwest Bujumbura Rural Province, Burundi
Northern Muyinga Province, Burundi
Kimongo District, Niari Department, Republic of the Congo
Northwestern Wele-Nzas Province, Equatorial Guinea
Sitti Zone, Somali Region, Ethiopia
Haut-Komo Department, Woleu-Ntem Province, Gabon
Upper Denkyira West District, Central Region, Ghana
Télimélé Prefecture, Kindia Region, Guinea
Northeast Mamou Prefecture, Mamou Region, Guinea
Western Isiolo County, Kenya
Eastern Al Wahat District, Libya
Southern Mzimba District, Northern Region, Malawi
Eastern Dakhlet Nouadhibou Region, Mauritania
Boumdeid Department, Assaba Region, Mauritania
Southeastern Tete Province, Mozambique
Gossas Department, Fatick Region, Senegal
Southern Uvinza District, Kigoma Region, Tanzania
Babati, Hanang, and Mbulu Districts, Manyara Region, Tanzania
Gokwe North and Gokwe South Districts, Midlands Province, Zimbabwe

Subnational salients in the Americas

Southern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
Luis Calvo, Chuquisaca Department, Bolivia
Sud Cinti, Chuquisaca Department, Bolivia
Whale Coast, Bahia, Brazil
Alto Parnaíba, Balsas, and Tasso Fragoso, southernmost Maranhão, Brazil
Northern Mato Grosso, Brazil
Ponta do Abunã in northwest Rondônia, Brazil
Triângulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Toronto (East York, Etobicoke, Old Toronto, York), Canada
Middle Côte-Nord, Quebec, Canada
Northwestern British Columbia, Canada
Arauco Province, Bío Bío Region, Chile
San Antonio Province, Valparaíso Region, Chile
Urabá region, Antioquia Department, Colombia
Unguía and Acandí in northernmost Chocó Department, Colombia
Santander Department northern tip, Colombia
Santa Rosa and Piamonte in southeastern Cauca Department, Colombia
Western Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Guamá, Santiago de Cuba Province, Cuba
Southern Hato Mayor Province, Dominican Republic
Southern Samaná Province, Dominican Republic
Cotacachi Canton, Imbabura Province, Ecuador
Eastern Tena Canton, Napo Province, Ecuador
Balzar and El Empalme Cantons, Guayas Province, Ecuador
Southern San Miguel Department, El Salvador
Northern East Berbice-Corentyne, Guyana
Norte, Jalisco, Mexico
Eastern Tabasco, Mexico
Southeastern Zacatecas, Mexico
Southern Zacatecas, Mexico
Chiriquí Grande District, Bocas del Toro Province, Panama
Southern Chimán District, Panamá Province, Panama
Mariato District, Veraguas Province, Panama
Caravelí Province, Arequipa Region, Peru
Northern Tapanahony, Sipaliwini District, Suriname
Páez, Apure, Venezuela
Western Andrés Eloy Blanco Municipality, Barinas, Venezuela
Arismendi Municipality, Barinas, Venezuela

Panhandles in the United States


State	Largest city	Population	Area (sq mi)	Area (km²)	Population density (per sq mi)	Population density (/km²)
		71,616	35,138	35138sqmi	2	2PD/sqmi
		224,284	96	96sqmi	2,336	2336PD/sqmi
		1,407,925	11,304	11304sqmi	125	125PD/sqmi
		317,751	21,013	21013sqmi	15	15PD/sqmi
		492,950	2,194	2194sqmi	225	225PD/sqmi
		87,789	14,258	14258sqmi	6	6PD/sqmi
		28,751	5,687	5687sqmi	5	5PD/sqmi
		427,927	25,887	25887sqmi	17	17PD/sqmi
		261,041	3,499	3499sqmi	75	75PD/sqmi
		132,295	601	601sqmi	220	220PD/sqmi

Notes and References

Web site: San Isidro . 14 January 2020 . . Google LLC.