What is hinterland?

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Vogon Poet

The hinterland is the land or district behind that bordering on a coast or river. Specifically, by the doctrine of the hinterland, the word is applied to the inland region lying behind a port, claimed by the state that owns the coast. The area from which products are delivered to a port for shipping elsewhere is that port's hinterland. Contrast foreland, the places to which a port ships.

The word has been borrowed from German, where it literally means the land behind (a city, a port or similar). In German this word also describes the part of a country where only few people live and where the infrastructure is underdeveloped. The direct analogy in English is "back country". See also The Bush of Alaskan and Australian usage.

By analogy, it is the area surrounding a service from which customers are attracted, also called the market area.

It was applied also to the surrounding areas of former European colonies in Africa, which, although not part of the colony itself, were influenced by the colony.

A further sense in which the term is commonly applied is in talking about an individual's depth and breadth of knowledge, specifically on cultural or scholastic matters. For instance, one could say 'X has a vast hinterland'.

cherub

it is usually referred to as the countryside. An area that is outside a large built up area, like a city.

Frank H

In Germany Hinterland is another name for the countryside. It a part of the country where the life style is not as futuristic as in most bigger towns and life goes its own speed.

yahwhoon

Well it aint in Adelaide!

Nemesis

Countryside or bush

down_under_lover_forever2006

Frank H is right. The word "Hinterland" is German and means nothing else than "land behind". It's the area which comes after you left a city when you drive into the outback.

shoe s

and in australia they have a placed named that as a tourist destination

WALID

its far area from cities,of area behind coast

Ashley R

It's a german word which is used in English. Its literal translation is 'A private, personal space (usually outside of one's work).' Its used in Geography to describe the area surrounding a city or influenced by a town/ city, another similar word is catchment I suppose

__razor__

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinterland

That or its a misspelling of winterland :D

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