This section is from the book "Chambers's Concise Gazetteer Of The World", by David Patrick. Also available from Amazon: Chambers's Concise Gazetteer Of The World.
Rhin (Rang), Bas and Haut, until 1871 frontier deps. of France, corresponded nearly to what are now the two districts of Lower and Upper Alsace, in German Alsace-Lorraine (q.v.). See Belfort.
Rhinns. See Wigtownshire.
Rhodope (Rod'o-pee), the ancient name of a mountain-chain (7474 feet) on the borders of Macedonia and Thrace (between Turkish and Bulgarian territory). The Bulgarians call it Despoto Dagh. Of its many monasteries the chief is the Bulgarian fortress-monastery of Rilo.
Rhondda (Ron'tha) is, since 1894, the official name of an urban district (pop. 115,000) in Glamorgan, South Wales, formerly known as the township of Ystradyfodwg. The Rhondda Valley is a great centre of coal-mining.
Rhuddlan (Hrith'lan), a decayed town of Flintshire, North Wales, on the Clwyd, 8 miles SSE. of Rhyl. Its ruined castle, dating from 1015, and dismantled after its capture by the Roundheads in 1646, was the scene of the betrayal of Richard II. (1399); at the marsh of Morfa Rhuddlan, across the river, Offa defeated Caradoc (795). With Flint, etc, Rhuddlan returns one member. Pop. 1357.
Rhyl (Hril), a watering-place of Flintshire, North Wales, at the mouth of the Clwyd, 30 miles NW. of Chester. A mere fishing-village so late as 1830, it has fine sands, a promenade pier 705 yards long, built in 1867 at a cost of £17,000, an esplanade, an aquarium and winter garden, a dozen hotels, baths, etc.; and, though the country around is flat, it commands fine views of the Snow-donian mountains. Pop. 8500.
Rhymer's Glen, a traditional haunt of Thomas of Ercildoune, on Huntly Burn, near Abbotsford.
Rhymney, a town of Monmouthshire, on the river Rhymney (running to the Bristol Channel near Cardiff), 2 1/2 miles W. of Tredegar. It is the seat of ironworks. Pop. (1861) 7630; (1901) 7914.
Riad, capital of Nejd, a town in the highlands of central Arabia. Pop. 30,000.
Riazan (Ree-a-zan'), a town of Russia, near the Oka's right bank, 115 miles by rail SE. of Moscow. Pop. 46,150. - The government has an area of 16,250 sq. m. and a pop. of 1,802,200.
Ribble. See Preston.
Rib'chester, a town of Lancashire, on the Ribble, 5 1/2 miles NNW. of Blackburn. It occupies the site of a Roman station. Pop. 1235.
Ribeauville (Ri-bo-veel'; Ger. Rappoltsweiler), a town of Upper Alsace, pleasantly situated amid vineyards at the west foot of the Vosges, 33 miles SSW. of Strasburg. Pop. 6902.
Ribstone Hall, a seat in the East Riding of Yorkshire, on the Nidd, 3 1/2 miles SE. of Knares-borough. Here was grown the first 'Ribstone pippin' in England.
Richborough. See Sandwich.
Rickmansworth, a town of Hertfordshire, at the confluence of the Colne, Gade, and Chess, 4 miles W. by S. of Watford. It has a church (rebuilt in 1890) with interesting monuments; and near it is Moor Park, the seat of the ill-fated Duke of Monmouth. Population, 5800. See R. Bayne's Historical Sketch (1870).
 
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