Panhandle

Map of the U.S. state of Oklahoma, with the Oklahoma Panhandle marked in red

A map of the U.S. state of Florida, with the Florida Panhandle marked in red

A panhandle is a term used in geography to mean a narrow strip of land that is typically surrounded on all sides, except one, by one or more countries or regions. The strip of land is connected to the country or region it belongs to on one side only. Panhandles are named for their resemblance to the handle of a frying pan. Specific types of panhandles include bootheels, which are short, southward protrusions named for their similarity to the heel of a boot.

North American Panhandles

• Alaskan Panhandle
• Alabama Panhandle
• Connecticut Panhandle
• Florida Panhandle
• Idaho Panhandle
• Maryland Panhandle
• Nebraska Panhandle
• Oklahoma Panhandle
• Texas Panhandle
• Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia
• Northern Panhandle of West Virginia

Panhandles in North America are primarily found in the United States, as countries in Central America are mostly bordered by the Pacific Ocean and/or Caribbean Sea, which results in several peninsulas but a lack of inland panhandles.