Northwest

Northwest is the cardinal direction halfway between north and west on a compass. It is used to describe locations and routes that lie in that quadrant, and it appears in many geographic names, regional descriptors, and navigation terminology. As a general term, it can indicate a general area rather than a precise boundary.

One well-known regional use is the Pacific Northwest, a bi-national area in western North America. In common usage it covers parts of the U.S. Pacific Northwest, typically Washington and Oregon, and portions of Idaho and British Columbia. The broader cultural and economic zone may extend into Montana, Alberta, and sometimes further north. The region is associated with temperate rain forests, coastal environments, and mountain ranges such as the Cascades.

Other formal geographic uses include political or administrative regions. Northwest Territories is a vast territory in northern Canada, with Yellowknife as its capital. The North West Province is a province of South Africa, with Mahikeng as its capital. In the United Kingdom, North West England refers to an official government region in the northwestern part of the country. In common parlance, “northwest” is also used to describe routes and neighborhoods within cities and states.

Northwest also appears in organizational names and branding, and has been used as a surname or element in product names. Notable examples in transportation history include Northwest Airlines, an American carrier that merged with Delta Air Lines in 2008–2010. The term remains a standard element in maps, travel guides, and planning documents.

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