In an ideal world, each place would have one name which would be the same in every language. Yet politics, history and language rule out such simplicity. Sometimes the difference is minor (Londres, Londra, Londyn, Londen, Lontoo, Londy-nas and Londinium are all recognisable forms for the British capital). But place names can be outright baffling: who but a Latvian would know that a signpost to Igaunija points to neighbouring Estonia?
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