This is a list of geographic acronyms and initialisms. That is, it's a list of the names of cities, towns, lakes, and other geographic places that are derived from acronyms. Acronyms are abbreviations formed by the initial letter or letters of the words that make up a multi-word term. For the most part, the geographic names in this list were derived from three or more other names or words. Those derived from only two names are usually considered portmanteaus and can be found in the List of geographic portmanteaus. However, there are exceptions to this two/three rule in both lists, so it is more of a guideline than a hard-and-fast rule. Regions Countries Pakistan — Punjab, Afghania, Kashmir, (I for pronunciation), Sindh, and BaluchisTAN, the northern provinces of British India. The name also means Land of the Pure in Urdu and Persian. Provinces Malampa Province, Vanuatu — islands that make up the province: MALakula, AMbrym, PAama Penama Province, Vanuatu — islands that make up the province: PENtecost, Ambae, MAewo Tafea Province, Vanuatu — five islands that comprise the province: Tanna, Aneityum, Futuna, Erromango and Aniwa Other regions Banzare Coast, Wilkes Land, Antarctica — British–Australian–New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition Benelux — BElgium NEtherlands LUXembourg Calabarzon — the Southern Tagalog Mainland region of the Philippines, comprising five provinces: CAvite, LAguna, BAtangas, Rizal, and QueZON LoVeSe — three island groups in northern Norway: LOfoten, VEsterålen, and SEnja, often used in relation to the political issue of oil extraction in the region. "LoVe" is also a common variation, referring to just Lofoten and Vesterålen. Luzviminda — three island groups in the Philippines: LUZon, VIsayas, and MINDAnao Mimaropa, Philippines — provinces comprising the Southwestern Tagalog Region: MIndoro (East and West), MArinduque, ROmblon and PAlawan NEPA, a common nickname of NorthEastern PennsylvaniA NOVA — NOrthern VirginiA Shoshanguve, South Aftrica — SOtho, SHAngaan, NGUni and VEnda, the languages of the peoples relocated to this township Soccsksargen, Philippines — administrative region: SOuth Cotabato, Cotabato City, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, SARangani and GENeral Santos City SOWEGA — SOuth WEst GeorgiA TAG Corner — Tennessee Alabama Georgia Populated places Cities and towns Places named after companies Many of these places are former company towns. Abanda, Alabama — Atlanta, Birmingham AND Atlantic Railroad Alco, Louisiana — Alexandria Lumber COmpany Alcoa, Tennessee — ALuminum COmpany of America Alpoca, West Virginia — ALpha POCAhontas Coal Company Ameagle, West Virginia — AMerican EAGLE Colliery