articles with geographic names

Use the with rivers, oceans, canals, deserts, island groups, mountain ranges, and most names built on a common noun: the Mississippi, the Pacific, the Netherlands, the Bronx, the United States. Do not use the with most cities, states, lakes, single mountains, or single islands: Chicago, Ohio, Lake Michigan, Mount Rainier, Hawaii. A few names keep The as part of the name: The Hague. Use Ukraine, not the Ukraine.