Riddles of Toponymy

Since childhood, hearing the names of streets, rivers, and cities, we do not think about their meaning and origin, at best satisfied with the universal answer: «It's historically developed that way». This book explains what this phrase means in toponymy. The development of language is influenced not only by cultural, political, and social factors but also by random events. Why did Moscow become Moscow?  What is the patronymic of the city of Khabarovsk, and how can one use a map to compile a table of Mendeleev? The renowned linguist Lev Uspensky unveils the mysteries of the origins of geographical names, each of which has its roots and true historical significance. The book will be of interest to teachers, students, and researchers in the humanities, as well as anyone interested in linguistics, history, and geography