For example, in Washington Heights and Golan Heights, what does “heights” mean? What does it tell us about the place?

  • waitingtodie@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    It means that area of land is higher then other areas. The Golan heights sits on a plateau above the rest of the surrounding area. Washington heights is named after an old Fort Washington…and the fort was built on top of the highest hill in the area.

    • Hobart_the_GoKart@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Yep. It’s quite literal, also from Wikipedia about Brooklyn heights:

      Brooklyn Heights occupies a plateau on a high bluff that rises sharply from the river’s edge and gradually recedes on the landward side.

    • ZephrC@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      That’s certainly where it comes from. It’s not always actually true though. Sometimes someone just liked the name and didn’t even think about what it meant.

      It’s like the name Lakeview. I’ve been to more than just a couple places named Lakeview something or another. Streets, towns, apartment complexes. The only thing they all had in common is that not a single one of them had a view of a lake.

      • Riven@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        1 year ago

        We have a bunch of cities here with the word laguna in their name, at least 4 from memory in the same county. No lagunas in sight.

      • AA5B@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        My town has a “Valley View” that is always amusing. Yeah, it’s at the bottom of a small valley, so there’s no view except the immediately surrounding houses