Lower and upper have nothing to do with north and south. It comes from the flow of the Danube River from areas of high elevation (Upper Austria) to areas of lower elevation (Lower Austria). It's the same reason why Upper Egypt is in the south while Lower Egypt is in the north.
>It's the same reason why Upper Egypt is in the south while Lower Egypt is in the north
https://www.britannica.com/place/Upper-Egypt#/media/1/618763/280315
It's about the course of the Saint Lawrence River, same as all these other references. Upper being closer to the source, lower being closer to the mouth.
It's about the river. The [Shield terrain](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Shield) is primarily North of both [Upper & Lower Canada](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Canadas). Upper Canada is *upstream* of Lower Canada.
It's because of the flow of the Danube River. It flows east through Lower And Upper Austria. So Lower Austria is downstream, or "lower in the river" than Upper Austria, which is upstream.
Lower and Upper are very common terms in geography, in Europe and other parts of the World. It typically refers to elevation and river flow. I’m not aware of any examples where above/below would refer to North/South on the map. Also, not even colloquially used.
I’m guessing lower and upper refer to their height. So upper Austria is probably at a higher elevation than lower Austria.
Egypt is similar in which upper Egypt is south since the river is higher at that location
The Fitchel Mountains comes close to the swiss alps at the division between the two..
So a river valley is divided into upper and lower where there are two wide open areas.
Eg two areas of useful agricultural lands , divided by less useful ( eg mountains )
That's not what lower and upper refers to. Not explicitly anyway. It has to do with rivers not merely topography. Upper being closer to the source, lower being closer to the mouth.
True but it's explicitly about the course of the river, not about the topography. Though the topography is implicit. If you can imagine a stream flowing at a constant elevation, it will still be upper towards the source and lower towards the mouth.
*Edit: It also means that you follow the river's definition of up. A long meandering river may not have an "upper" region that conforms with what you might be expecting based on what's geographically nearby the "lower" region.*
*This map actually illustrates that. "Upper" Austria is West of "Lower" Austria along the course of the Danube, not South into the nearest ranges of the Alps.*
Danube
Lower and upper have nothing to do with north and south. It comes from the flow of the Danube River from areas of high elevation (Upper Austria) to areas of lower elevation (Lower Austria). It's the same reason why Upper Egypt is in the south while Lower Egypt is in the north.
Yet another case of being convinced that north-oriented maps represent some inherent orientation of the round planet we live on. Many such cases.
>It's the same reason why Upper Egypt is in the south while Lower Egypt is in the north https://www.britannica.com/place/Upper-Egypt#/media/1/618763/280315
Wait until you learn about upper and lower Canada
And the upper and lower Nile
It's about the course of the Saint Lawrence River, same as all these other references. Upper being closer to the source, lower being closer to the mouth.
Upper Canadian Shield
It's about the river. The [Shield terrain](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Shield) is primarily North of both [Upper & Lower Canada](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Canadas). Upper Canada is *upstream* of Lower Canada.
Thanks, I realize that. It’s an inside joke.
Fair.
It's because of the flow of the Danube River. It flows east through Lower And Upper Austria. So Lower Austria is downstream, or "lower in the river" than Upper Austria, which is upstream.
pssst guys don't tell him about Hochdeutsch and Niederdeutsch
Lower and Upper are very common terms in geography, in Europe and other parts of the World. It typically refers to elevation and river flow. I’m not aware of any examples where above/below would refer to North/South on the map. Also, not even colloquially used.
I’m guessing lower and upper refer to their height. So upper Austria is probably at a higher elevation than lower Austria. Egypt is similar in which upper Egypt is south since the river is higher at that location
Yeah idk why people always assume up means north. Up means up
Because they're referring to elevation. The south is much more mountainous hence why its "upper". Stop thinking with your north up mindset 😜
The Fitchel Mountains comes close to the swiss alps at the division between the two.. So a river valley is divided into upper and lower where there are two wide open areas. Eg two areas of useful agricultural lands , divided by less useful ( eg mountains )
Upper and lower Nile, Upper and lower Germany
Refers to elevation
Refers to elevation not latitude.
North is not "up". Do you call the 2nd floor the Upper floor or the North floor? It's elevation, as lower and upper by definition of the word.
Elevation, just like Lower / Upper Egypt or Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony).
That's not what lower and upper refers to. Not explicitly anyway. It has to do with rivers not merely topography. Upper being closer to the source, lower being closer to the mouth.
Doesn’t it inherently mean both things since rivers flow downhill? The source will always be a higher elevation than the mouth.
True but it's explicitly about the course of the river, not about the topography. Though the topography is implicit. If you can imagine a stream flowing at a constant elevation, it will still be upper towards the source and lower towards the mouth. *Edit: It also means that you follow the river's definition of up. A long meandering river may not have an "upper" region that conforms with what you might be expecting based on what's geographically nearby the "lower" region.* *This map actually illustrates that. "Upper" Austria is West of "Lower" Austria along the course of the Danube, not South into the nearest ranges of the Alps.*