diff --git a/changelog.d/1235-location-resolution.md b/changelog.d/1235-location-resolution.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..160688005
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/1235-location-resolution.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+- Require a geocoded containment anchor for ambiguous analyst region names,
+  preserve boundary provenance and cancellation safety, and retain exact-name
+  precedence for natural outlines (manjunath22466, #1235).
diff --git a/docs/CURRENT-STATE.md b/docs/CURRENT-STATE.md
index 7d3ff3ac7..bdc20fad9 100644
--- a/docs/CURRENT-STATE.md
+++ b/docs/CURRENT-STATE.md
@@ -1,5 +1,14 @@
 # God's Eye View Current State
 
+Analyst region queries resolve unique Natural Earth names offline without
+geocoding, so Gold Coast and Ivory Coast name the West African natural regions.
+Duplicate names require a geocoded containment anchor; when several entries for
+the same name contain that anchor, the lookup stays unresolved rather than
+selecting the largest entry. Natural outlines try exact names before aliases and
+broader suffix variants. Follow-ups retain boundary provenance, and cancelled
+lookups preserve the previous analyst cohort and boundary source. Navigation
+search keeps a successful geocode, with no search or view-based region recovery.
+
 Shared distance checks use `src/geoDistance.js` with `{ lat, lon }` points and
 the IUGG mean spherical Earth radius, 6371.0088 km. `greatCircleKm` is
 canonical; `greatCircleMeters` is its exact metre conversion. Missing,
diff --git a/scripts/qa-voice-routing.mjs b/scripts/qa-voice-routing.mjs
index f1b2b0ced..1c5c2eb83 100644
--- a/scripts/qa-voice-routing.mjs
+++ b/scripts/qa-voice-routing.mjs
@@ -1745,8 +1745,9 @@ async function runBehaviorLayer() {
       'behavior: analyst follow-up re-filters the remembered set',
       `count=${r?.count} followUp=${r?.coverage?.followUp}`,
     );
-    // A marine region resolves from the bundled Natural Earth pack in the page,
-    // without the slower geocode fallback.
+    // Require the bundled boundary source and the existing whole-query limit.
+    // This elapsed time includes record acquisition and filtering; the region
+    // resolver has its own separate fallback budget.
     const gulfStarted = Date.now();
     r = await run('analyst_query', {
       layers: ['flights'],
@@ -1757,9 +1758,10 @@ async function runBehaviorLayer() {
     report(
       r?.ok === true &&
         String(r?.coverage?.scope || '').includes('Gulf of Mexico') &&
+        r?.coverage?.scopeSource === 'natural-earth' &&
         gulfMs < 3000,
       'behavior: analyst resolves the Gulf of Mexico from the bundled pack',
-      `scope=${r?.coverage?.scope} ms=${gulfMs} err=${r?.error || ''}`,
+      `scope=${r?.coverage?.scope} source=${r?.coverage?.scopeSource} ms=${gulfMs} err=${r?.error || ''}`,
     );
 
     // (5) zoom_to_globe is ABSOLUTE full-earth (>12,000 km band)
diff --git a/src/annotations/adminOutline.test.mjs b/src/annotations/adminOutline.test.mjs
index 29761a2e3..2028fe711 100644
--- a/src/annotations/adminOutline.test.mjs
+++ b/src/annotations/adminOutline.test.mjs
@@ -120,6 +120,93 @@ test('Georgia resolves from camera geography without a geocoder', async () => {
   assert.deepEqual(geocodes, []);
 });
 
+test('Gold Coast in Australia cannot acquire its West African namesake outline', async () => {
+  for (const types of [['locality', 'political'], ['natural_feature']]) {
+    const { resolve, geocodes } = harness({
+      lat: -28.0167,
+      lng: 153.4,
+      label: 'Gold Coast, Australia',
+      name: 'Gold Coast',
+      types,
+    });
+    const resolved = await resolve('Gold Coast', viewerAt(-28.0167, 153.4));
+    assert.equal(resolved?.source, 'geocode');
+    assert.equal(resolved.lat, -28.0167);
+    assert.equal(resolved.lon, 153.4);
+    assert.equal(resolved.naturalRegion, undefined);
+    const outline = await resolved.resolveOutline();
+    assert.equal(outline?.naturalRegion, undefined);
+    assert.deepEqual(geocodes, ['Gold Coast']);
+  }
+});
+
+test('natural annotation outlines require a geocoded anchor', async () => {
+  for (const viewer of [AUSTIN, {}, viewerAt(46.5, 10, 248_000)]) {
+    const miss = harness();
+    assert.equal(await miss.resolve('the Alps', viewer), null);
+    assert.ok(miss.geocodes.includes('the Alps'));
+  }
+  const anchored = harness({
+    lat: 46.5,
+    lng: 10,
+    label: 'Alps',
+    name: 'Alps',
+    types: ['natural_feature'],
+  });
+  const resolved = await anchored.resolve('the Alps', {});
+  assert.equal(resolved.source, 'geocode');
+  const outline = await resolved.resolveOutline();
+  assert.equal(outline.naturalRegion, 'Alps');
+  assert.ok(outline.ring.length >= 8);
+});
+
+test('overlapping natural candidates continue through geocoding without choosing a ring', async () => {
+  const { resolve, geocodes } = harness({
+    lat: 45.6336,
+    lng: -74.86493,
+    label: 'Canadian Shield',
+    name: 'Canadian Shield',
+    types: ['natural_feature'],
+  });
+  const resolved = await resolve(
+    'Canadian Shield',
+    viewerAt(45.6336, -74.86493),
+  );
+  assert.equal(resolved?.source, 'geocode');
+  assert.equal((await resolved.resolveOutline())?.naturalRegion, undefined);
+  assert.deepEqual(geocodes, ['Canadian Shield']);
+});
+
+test('geocoded natural outlines respect district and around intent', async () => {
+  for (const extra of [
+    { entityKind: 'district' },
+    { intent: 'around_the_thing' },
+  ]) {
+    const { resolve, geocodes } = harness({
+      lat: 46.5,
+      lng: 10,
+      label: 'Alps',
+      name: 'Alps',
+      types:
+        extra.entityKind === 'district' ? ['locality'] : ['natural_feature'],
+    });
+    const resolved = await resolve('the Alps', viewerAt(46.5, 10), extra);
+    assert.ok(geocodes.includes('the Alps'));
+    assert.equal((await resolved.resolveOutline())?.naturalRegion, undefined);
+  }
+});
+
+test('cancellation while a bundled admin lookup is pending cannot publish an annotation', async () => {
+  const controller = new AbortController();
+  const { resolve, geocodes } = harness();
+  const pending = resolve('the Alps', viewerAt(46.5, 10), {
+    signal: controller.signal,
+  });
+  controller.abort();
+  await assert.rejects(pending, { name: 'AbortError' });
+  assert.deepEqual(geocodes, []);
+});
+
 test('country asks and geocoded country scopes use the bundled outline', async () => {
   const direct = harness();
   for (const name of ['Switzerland', 'Iran', 'France', 'Japan']) {
diff --git a/src/annotations/regionRing.test.mjs b/src/annotations/regionRing.test.mjs
index cd8ad6447..b1a5ac524 100644
--- a/src/annotations/regionRing.test.mjs
+++ b/src/annotations/regionRing.test.mjs
@@ -44,10 +44,115 @@ test('region ring: Natural Earth names resolve without a geocoder', async () =>
   for (const name of ['Gulf of Mexico', 'the Alps']) {
     const region = await resolveRegionRingForQuery(name);
     assert.ok(region?.ring?.length >= 3, `${name} resolves to a ring`);
+    assert.equal(region.source, 'natural-earth');
     assert.equal(region.error, undefined);
   }
 });
 
+test('region ring: duplicate natural names need a containing geocoded anchor', async () => {
+  const { resolveRegionRingForQuery } = createAnnotationResolver({
+    featureSource: featureSource(),
+  });
+  const miss = geocoderFor(null);
+  assert.equal(
+    await resolveRegionRingForQuery('Cordillera Oriental', undefined, miss),
+    null,
+  );
+  assert.deepEqual(miss.calls, ['Cordillera Oriental']);
+
+  const inside = geocoderFor({
+    lat: 5,
+    lng: -73,
+    label: 'Cordillera Oriental',
+    name: 'Cordillera Oriental',
+    types: ['natural_feature'],
+  });
+  const region = await resolveRegionRingForQuery(
+    'Cordillera Oriental',
+    undefined,
+    inside,
+  );
+  assert.equal(region?.source, 'natural-earth');
+  assert.equal(region.name, 'Cordillera Oriental');
+  assert.ok(region.ring.length >= 8);
+  assert.deepEqual(inside.calls, ['Cordillera Oriental']);
+});
+
+test('region ring: outside and overlapping geocoded natural anchors stay unresolved', async () => {
+  const { resolveRegionRingForQuery } = createAnnotationResolver({
+    featureSource: featureSource(),
+  });
+  for (const [name, lat, lng] of [
+    ['Cordillera Oriental', 30.27, -97.74],
+    ['Canadian Shield', 45.6336, -74.86493],
+  ]) {
+    const geocoder = geocoderFor({
+      lat,
+      lng,
+      label: name,
+      name,
+      types: ['natural_feature'],
+    });
+    assert.equal(
+      await resolveRegionRingForQuery(name, undefined, geocoder),
+      null,
+    );
+    assert.deepEqual(geocoder.calls, [name]);
+  }
+});
+
+test('region ring: geocoded administrative scope wins over duplicate natural geography', async () => {
+  const lookups = [];
+  const { resolveRegionRingForQuery } = createAnnotationResolver({
+    featureSource: featureSource({
+      getAdministrativeAreas: async (point) => {
+        lookups.push(point);
+        return [];
+      },
+    }),
+  });
+  const geo = geocoderFor({
+    lat: 5,
+    lng: -73,
+    label: 'Cordillera Oriental',
+    name: 'Cordillera Oriental',
+    types: ['locality'],
+  });
+  const resolved = await resolveRegionRingForQuery(
+    'Cordillera Oriental',
+    undefined,
+    geo,
+  );
+  assert.equal(
+    resolved,
+    null,
+    'an unavailable city boundary is not a natural-region outline',
+  );
+  assert.deepEqual(lookups, [{ lat: 5, lon: -73 }]);
+  assert.deepEqual(geo.calls, ['Cordillera Oriental']);
+});
+
+test('region ring: cancellation during bundled lookup and geocode never returns a region', async () => {
+  const { resolveRegionRingForQuery } = createAnnotationResolver({
+    featureSource: featureSource(),
+  });
+  const controller = new AbortController();
+  const pending = resolveRegionRingForQuery('the Alps', controller.signal);
+  controller.abort();
+  await assert.rejects(pending, { name: 'AbortError' });
+
+  const later = new AbortController();
+  await assert.rejects(
+    resolveRegionRingForQuery('Cordillera Oriental', later.signal, {
+      async geocode() {
+        later.abort();
+        return { place: null };
+      },
+    }),
+    { name: 'AbortError' },
+  );
+});
+
 test('region ring: a slow admin-boundary lookup returns region-timeout within the budget', async () => {
   let adminSignal;
   let release;
@@ -119,6 +224,7 @@ test('region ring: bundled states and counties resolve without a geocoder', asyn
   ]) {
     const region = await resolveRegionRingForQuery(query, undefined, geocoder);
     assert.equal(region?.name, name, query);
+    assert.equal(region.source, 'bundled-admin');
     assert.ok(region.ring.length >= 8, `${query} has a real ring`);
   }
   assert.deepEqual(geocoder.calls, [], 'no geocoding');
diff --git a/src/annotations/resolver.js b/src/annotations/resolver.js
index 7d5f55d0d..10c251b60 100644
--- a/src/annotations/resolver.js
+++ b/src/annotations/resolver.js
@@ -444,6 +444,7 @@ export function createAnnotationResolver({
      * AFTER the anchor mark is drawn and upgrade the mark in place.
      */
     const resolveOutline = async () => {
+      signal?.throwIfAborted();
       let scope = baseScope;
       const isAdmin =
         scope === 'country' ||
@@ -469,6 +470,7 @@ export function createAnnotationResolver({
         const ne = await lookupNaturalRegionOutline(target, lat, lon).catch(
           () => null,
         );
+        signal?.throwIfAborted();
         if (ne) {
           registerDynamicCredit(viewer, NATURAL_EARTH_CREDIT);
           const neCentroid = ringCentroid(ne.ring);
@@ -2004,8 +2006,8 @@ export function createAnnotationResolver({
   /**
    * Region ring for ANALYST queries ("how many flights over Texas / the Alps") —
    * a name-only entry point that reuses this module's boundary machinery
-   * without the annotation pipeline. Natural Earth pack first (offline,
-   * instant; largest-area match is correct for a global name-only ask), then
+   * without the annotation pipeline. Unique Natural Earth names resolve first
+   * (offline); duplicate names require a geocoded containment anchor, then
    * geocode + admin boundary for states/countries/counties (Tier A disk-cached
    * Overpass, so repeat asks are instant). Returns null when the name doesn't
    * resolve to a region-like boundary — the analyst engine reports that
@@ -2020,7 +2022,7 @@ export function createAnnotationResolver({
    * @param {AbortSignal} [signal]
    * @param {object} [placeSearch]
    * @param {{budgetMs?: number}} [options]  `Infinity` waits for the lookup.
-   * @returns {Promise<{name:string, ring:Array<[number,number]>}|{name:string, ring:null, error:'region-timeout'}|null>}
+   * @returns {Promise<{name:string, ring:Array<[number,number]>, source:string}|{name:string, ring:null, error:'region-timeout'}|null>}
    */
   async function resolveRegionRingForQuery(
     name,
@@ -2037,16 +2039,24 @@ export function createAnnotationResolver({
     const q = String(name || '').trim();
     if (!q) return null;
     const ne = await findNaturalRegion(q).catch(() => null);
-    if (ne?.polygons?.length) {
+    signal?.throwIfAborted();
+    if (ne?.candidates === 1 && ne.polygons?.length) {
       // Largest ring carries the query scope; multi-ring regions (Andes) keep
       // their main cordillera — good enough for containment counting.
       const ring = [...ne.polygons].sort((a, b) => b.length - a.length)[0];
-      if (ring?.length >= 3) return { name: ne.name, ring };
+      if (ring?.length >= 3)
+        return { name: ne.name, ring, source: 'natural-earth' };
     }
     // Bundled states/provinces/counties by name (offline); the main part only,
     // like the Natural Earth rung above.
     const admin = await findAdminArea(q).catch(() => null);
-    if (admin) return { name: admin.name, ring: [...admin.ring] };
+    signal?.throwIfAborted();
+    if (admin)
+      return {
+        name: admin.name,
+        ring: [...admin.ring],
+        source: 'bundled-admin',
+      };
     const lookup = resolveAdminRegionRing(q, signal, placeSearch);
     if (!Number.isFinite(budgetMs)) return lookup;
     let timer;
@@ -2067,8 +2077,26 @@ export function createAnnotationResolver({
     const geo = await geocodePlace(q, null, signal, placeSearch).catch(
       () => null,
     );
+    signal?.throwIfAborted();
     if (!geo) return null;
     const scope = scopeFromTypes(geo.types);
+    if (
+      scope === 'auto' ||
+      (scope === 'compound' && geo.types?.includes('natural_feature'))
+    ) {
+      const natural = await lookupNaturalRegionOutline(
+        q,
+        geo.lat,
+        geo.lon,
+      ).catch(() => null);
+      signal?.throwIfAborted();
+      if (natural)
+        return {
+          name: natural.name,
+          ring: natural.ring,
+          source: 'natural-earth',
+        };
+    }
     if (!['country', 'state', 'county', 'city'].includes(scope)) return null;
     if (scope === 'state' || scope === 'county' || scope === 'country') {
       const admin = await findAdminAreaAt(
@@ -2077,12 +2105,16 @@ export function createAnnotationResolver({
         geo.lon,
         scope,
       ).catch(() => null);
-      if (admin) return { name: q, ring: [...admin.ring] };
+      signal?.throwIfAborted();
+      if (admin)
+        return { name: q, ring: [...admin.ring], source: 'bundled-admin' };
     }
     const fp = await fetchAdminArea(geo.lat, geo.lon, q, scope, signal).catch(
       () => null,
     );
-    if (fp?.ring?.length >= 3) return { name: q, ring: fp.ring };
+    signal?.throwIfAborted();
+    if (fp?.ring?.length >= 3)
+      return { name: q, ring: fp.ring, source: 'remote-boundary' };
     return null;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/data/analystEngine.js b/src/data/analystEngine.js
index 6c3361aff..59a631421 100644
--- a/src/data/analystEngine.js
+++ b/src/data/analystEngine.js
@@ -881,6 +881,7 @@ export function createAnalystEngine(providers) {
       followUp && !spec.scope ? lastResult.distanceOf || null : null;
     let resolvedScope = null;
     let scopeNote = rememberedScope?.coverage || 'anywhere';
+    let scopeSource = rememberedScope?.source || null;
     // Human phrasing for the same scope, so every spoken count can name what it
     // measured ("8 in view", "about 30 within 250 km of Austin") instead of
     // arriving as a bare number that contradicts the panel.
@@ -890,8 +891,16 @@ export function createAnalystEngine(providers) {
     // further when a new scope is given.
     const scope = spec.scope || { kind: followUp ? 'anywhere' : 'view' };
     if (scope.kind === 'region') {
-      const region = await providers.resolveRegionRing(scope.name, signal);
-      if (!isCurrent()) return cancelled();
+      let region;
+      try {
+        region = await providers.resolveRegionRing(scope.name, signal);
+      } catch (error) {
+        // Cancellation belongs to the query owner, not an error's name: a
+        // resource-local AbortError from a current lookup still propagates.
+        if (signal?.aborted || !isCurrent()) return cancelled();
+        throw error;
+      }
+      if (signal?.aborted || !isCurrent()) return cancelled();
       if (region?.error === 'region-timeout') {
         return {
           ok: false,
@@ -910,6 +919,7 @@ export function createAnalystEngine(providers) {
       }
       resolvedScope = region;
       scopeNote = `region:${region.name}`;
+      scopeSource = region.source || null;
       scopeLabel = `over ${region.name}`;
       scopeDetail = scopeLabel;
     } else if (scope.kind === 'radius') {
@@ -1049,6 +1059,7 @@ export function createAnalystEngine(providers) {
         layersQueried,
         records: totals,
         scope: scopeNote,
+        ...(scopeSource ? { scopeSource } : {}),
         ...(rememberedScope?.note ? { note: rememberedScope.note } : {}),
         ...(queriedSnapshots.length
           ? { feedProvenance: feedProvenanceEnvelope(queriedSnapshots) }
@@ -1081,6 +1092,7 @@ export function createAnalystEngine(providers) {
         label: memoryOverride?.scopeLabel || result.scopeLabel,
         detail: memoryOverride?.scopeDetail || result.display.scope,
         coverage: committedCoverage.scope,
+        source: committedCoverage.scopeSource || null,
         note: committedCoverage.note || null,
       },
     };
diff --git a/src/data/analystEngine.test.mjs b/src/data/analystEngine.test.mjs
index 8da85a4d6..b7aaa2a45 100644
--- a/src/data/analystEngine.test.mjs
+++ b/src/data/analystEngine.test.mjs
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import { test } from 'node:test';
 import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { createAnalystEngine, applyScope, haversineKm } from './analystEngine.js';
+import { createAnnotationResolver } from '../annotations/resolver.js';
+import { FEATURE_SOURCE_METHODS } from '../sources/featureSource.js';
 
 // Stub world: a square "Texland" region, flights + ships + fires around it.
 const TEXLAND = { name: 'Texland', ring: [[-100, 28], [-94, 28], [-94, 33], [-100, 33]] };
@@ -131,6 +133,175 @@ test('analyst: count flights over a region', async () => {
   assert.ok(r.coverage.scope.includes('Texland'));
 });
 
+test('analyst: region coverage identifies the source of the boundary used for counting', async () => {
+  for (const source of ['natural-earth', 'bundled-admin', 'remote-boundary']) {
+    const engine = createAnalystEngine({
+      getRecords: () => FLIGHTS,
+      resolveRegionRing: async () => ({ ...TEXLAND, source }),
+    });
+    const result = await engine.query({
+      layers: ['flights'],
+      scope: { kind: 'region', name: 'Texland' },
+    });
+
+    assert.equal(result.ok, true);
+    assert.equal(result.count, 3, 'the boundary excludes the Oregon flight');
+    assert.equal(result.coverage.scope, 'region:Texland');
+    assert.equal(result.coverage.scopeSource, source);
+  }
+});
+
+test('analyst: filter-only follow-ups retain the region source without resolving again', async () => {
+  const lookups = [];
+  const engine = createAnalystEngine({
+    getRecords: () => FLIGHTS,
+    resolveRegionRing: async (name) => {
+      lookups.push(name);
+      return { ...TEXLAND, source: 'natural-earth' };
+    },
+  });
+  const first = await engine.query({
+    layers: ['flights'],
+    scope: { kind: 'region', name: 'Texland' },
+  });
+  const airborne = await engine.query({
+    followUp: true,
+    filters: [{ field: 'onGround', op: 'eq', value: false }],
+  });
+  const military = await engine.query({
+    followUp: true,
+    filters: [{ field: 'military', op: 'eq', value: true }],
+  });
+
+  assert.equal(first.count, 3);
+  assert.equal(airborne.count, 2);
+  assert.deepEqual(military.items.map((item) => item.id), ['RCH01']);
+  for (const result of [first, airborne, military]) {
+    assert.equal(result.coverage.scope, 'region:Texland');
+    assert.equal(result.scopeLabel, 'over Texland');
+    assert.equal(result.coverage.scopeSource, 'natural-earth');
+  }
+  assert.deepEqual(lookups, ['Texland']);
+});
+
+test('analyst: an explicit replacement region replaces retained provenance', async () => {
+  const engine = createAnalystEngine({
+    getRecords: () => FLIGHTS,
+    resolveRegionRing: async (name) => name === 'Texland'
+      ? { ...TEXLAND, source: 'natural-earth' }
+      : {
+        name,
+        ring: [[-98, 30.5], [-96, 30.5], [-96, 31.5], [-98, 31.5]],
+        source: 'remote-boundary',
+      },
+  });
+  await engine.query({
+    layers: ['flights'],
+    scope: { kind: 'region', name: 'Texland' },
+  });
+  const replacement = await engine.query({
+    followUp: true,
+    scope: { kind: 'region', name: 'Northern Texland' },
+  });
+  const followUp = await engine.query({ followUp: true });
+
+  for (const result of [replacement, followUp]) {
+    assert.deepEqual(result.items.map((item) => item.id), ['RCH01']);
+    assert.equal(result.coverage.scope, 'region:Northern Texland');
+    assert.equal(result.coverage.scopeSource, 'remote-boundary');
+  }
+});
+
+test('analyst: an explicit scope without provenance clears the retained region source', async () => {
+  for (const scope of [
+    { kind: 'anywhere' },
+    { kind: 'view' },
+    { kind: 'radius', km: 150 },
+    { kind: 'region', name: 'Uncredited Texland' },
+  ]) {
+    const engine = createAnalystEngine({
+      getRecords: () => FLIGHTS,
+      resolveRegionRing: async (name) => ({
+        ...TEXLAND,
+        name,
+        ...(name === 'Texland' ? { source: 'natural-earth' } : {}),
+      }),
+      getViewContext: () => ({ lat: 30.27, lon: -97.74, viewRadiusKm: 150 }),
+    });
+    const first = await engine.query({
+      layers: ['flights'],
+      scope: { kind: 'region', name: 'Texland' },
+    });
+    const replacement = await engine.query({ followUp: true, scope });
+    const followUp = await engine.query({ followUp: true });
+
+    assert.equal(first.coverage.scopeSource, 'natural-earth');
+    for (const result of [replacement, followUp]) {
+      assert.equal(result.ok, true, scope.kind);
+      assert.equal(result.count, 3, scope.kind);
+      assert.equal(Object.hasOwn(result.coverage, 'scopeSource'), false, scope.kind);
+      assert.notEqual(result.coverage.scope, first.coverage.scope, scope.kind);
+    }
+  }
+});
+
+for (const [label, committedScope, scopeSource] of [
+  ['replacement boundary source', 'region:Presented Texland', 'remote-boundary'],
+  ['window without a boundary source', 'window:presented', null],
+]) {
+  test(`analyst: pre-commit displayed cohort retains ${label} and its feed provenance`, async () => {
+    const committedSnapshot = {
+      id: 'flights', enabled: true, feedState: 'stale',
+      source: 'displayed-cohort-feed', lastUpdate: 1_800_000_000_000,
+    };
+    let reads = 0;
+    let lookups = 0;
+    const engine = createAnalystEngine({
+      getRecords: () => { reads++; return FLIGHTS; },
+      getLayerSnapshot: () => ({
+        id: 'flights', enabled: true, feedState: 'nominal', source: 'current-feed',
+      }),
+      resolveRegionRing: async () => {
+        lookups++;
+        return { ...TEXLAND, source: 'natural-earth' };
+      },
+    });
+    await engine.query(
+      { layers: ['flights'], scope: { kind: 'region', name: 'Texland' } },
+      {
+        beforeCommit: async (result) => {
+          assert.equal(result.count, 3);
+          assert.equal(result.coverage.scopeSource, 'natural-earth');
+          const { scopeSource: _originalSource, ...coverage } = result.coverage;
+          return {
+            matched: [{ key: 'flights', rows: [FLIGHTS[1]] }],
+            scopeLabel: 'the presented cohort',
+            scopeDetail: 'the presented cohort window',
+            coverage: {
+              ...coverage,
+              scope: committedScope,
+              ...(scopeSource ? { scopeSource } : {}),
+              feedProvenance: { layers: [committedSnapshot] },
+            },
+          };
+        },
+      },
+    );
+    const followUp = await engine.query({ followUp: true });
+    assert.equal(followUp.count, 1);
+    assert.deepEqual(followUp.items.map((item) => item.id), ['RCH01']);
+    assert.equal(followUp.scopeLabel, 'the presented cohort');
+    assert.equal(followUp.display.scope, 'the presented cohort window');
+    assert.equal(followUp.coverage.scope, committedScope);
+    if (scopeSource) assert.equal(followUp.coverage.scopeSource, scopeSource);
+    else assert.equal(Object.hasOwn(followUp.coverage, 'scopeSource'), false);
+    assert.equal(followUp.coverage.feedProvenance.overall, 'stale');
+    assert.deepEqual(followUp.coverage.feedProvenance.layers, [committedSnapshot]);
+    assert.equal(reads, 1, 'displayed cohort is not replaced by another feed read');
+    assert.equal(lookups, 1, 'follow-up retains the committed scope without resolving again');
+  });
+}
+
 test('analyst: attribute filter — above 40,000 ft (~12,192 m)', async () => {
   const r = await makeEngine().query({
     layers: ['flights'], scope: { kind: 'anywhere' },
@@ -317,6 +488,138 @@ test('analyst: region lookup receives and obeys the owning action signal', async
   assert.equal(result.cancelled, true);
 });
 
+for (const [label, reason, trackAuthority] of [
+  ['default abort reason', undefined, false],
+  ['custom error reason', new Error('operator stopped'), false],
+  ['primitive reason and revoked authority', 'operator stopped', true],
+]) {
+  test(`analyst: real region resolver cancellation preserves memory (${label})`, async () => {
+    const started = Promise.withResolvers();
+    const geocode = Promise.withResolvers();
+    const controller = new AbortController();
+    const lookups = [];
+    const { resolveRegionRingForQuery } = createAnnotationResolver({
+      featureSource: Object.fromEntries(FEATURE_SOURCE_METHODS.map((method) => [
+        method,
+        async () => { throw new Error('offline region query reached feature source'); },
+      ])),
+    });
+    const placeSearch = {
+      geocode(name, { signal }) {
+        lookups.push(name);
+        assert.equal(signal, controller.signal);
+        started.resolve();
+        return geocode.promise;
+      },
+    };
+    const engine = createAnalystEngine({
+      getRecords: () => FLIGHTS,
+      resolveRegionRing: (name, signal) => resolveRegionRingForQuery(
+        name, signal, placeSearch, { budgetMs: Infinity },
+      ),
+    });
+    const first = await engine.query({
+      layers: ['flights'], scope: { kind: 'region', name: 'Texas' },
+    });
+    assert.equal(first.ok, true);
+    assert.equal(first.coverage.scopeSource, 'bundled-admin');
+    assert.deepEqual(first.items.map((item) => item.id), ['SWA1', 'RCH01', 'GND1']);
+    let commits = 0;
+    const pending = engine.query(
+      { layers: ['flights'], scope: { kind: 'region', name: 'Cordillera Oriental' } },
+      {
+        signal: controller.signal,
+        ...(trackAuthority ? { isCurrent: () => !controller.signal.aborted } : {}),
+        beforeCommit: async () => { commits++; },
+      },
+    );
+    await started.promise;
+    controller.abort(reason);
+    // Let an actual late geocode result cross the resolver's post-await check.
+    geocode.resolve({ place: {
+      lat: 5, lng: -73, label: 'Cordillera Oriental',
+      name: 'Cordillera Oriental', types: ['natural_feature'],
+    } });
+    const result = await pending;
+    assert.equal(result.ok, false);
+    assert.equal(result.code, 'CANCELLED');
+    assert.equal(result.cancelled, true);
+    assert.equal(commits, 0);
+    const followUp = await engine.query({ followUp: true });
+    assert.deepEqual(followUp.items.map((item) => item.id), first.items.map((item) => item.id));
+    assert.equal(followUp.coverage.scope, first.coverage.scope);
+    assert.equal(followUp.coverage.scopeSource, 'bundled-admin');
+    assert.equal(followUp.scopeLabel, first.scopeLabel);
+    assert.deepEqual(lookups, ['Cordillera Oriental'], 'follow-up does not resolve again');
+  });
+}
+
+test('analyst: a rejected superseded region lookup returns cancellation and retains its prior cohort', async () => {
+  const lookup = Promise.withResolvers();
+  let current = true;
+  const engine = createAnalystEngine({
+    getRecords: () => FLIGHTS,
+    resolveRegionRing: (name) => name === 'Texland'
+      ? { ...TEXLAND, source: 'natural-earth' }
+      : lookup.promise,
+  });
+  const first = await engine.query({ layers: ['flights'], scope: { kind: 'region', name: 'Texland' } });
+  const pending = engine.query(
+    { layers: ['flights'], scope: { kind: 'region', name: 'Replacement' } },
+    { isCurrent: () => current },
+  );
+  current = false;
+  lookup.reject(new Error('late lookup failed'));
+  assert.equal((await pending).code, 'CANCELLED');
+  const followUp = await engine.query({ followUp: true });
+  assert.deepEqual(followUp.items.map((item) => item.id), first.items.map((item) => item.id));
+  assert.equal(followUp.coverage.scopeSource, 'natural-earth');
+  assert.equal(followUp.coverage.scope, first.coverage.scope);
+});
+
+test('analyst: an aborted owner cannot commit a region provider that returns a late success', async () => {
+  const controller = new AbortController();
+  const lookup = Promise.withResolvers();
+  const engine = createAnalystEngine({
+    getRecords: () => FLIGHTS,
+    resolveRegionRing: () => lookup.promise,
+  });
+  const pending = engine.query(
+    { layers: ['flights'], scope: { kind: 'region', name: 'Texland' } },
+    { signal: controller.signal },
+  );
+  controller.abort();
+  lookup.resolve({ ...TEXLAND, source: 'natural-earth' });
+  assert.equal((await pending).code, 'CANCELLED');
+  assert.equal(engine.hasMemory(), false);
+});
+
+for (const error of [new Error('live lookup failed'), new DOMException('resource stopped', 'AbortError')]) {
+  test(`analyst: live region ${error.name} propagates without changing memory`, async () => {
+    const controller = new AbortController();
+    const engine = createAnalystEngine({
+      getRecords: () => FLIGHTS,
+      resolveRegionRing: async (name) => {
+        if (name === 'Texland') return { ...TEXLAND, source: 'natural-earth' };
+        throw error;
+      },
+    });
+    const first = await engine.query({ layers: ['flights'], scope: { kind: 'region', name: 'Texland' } });
+    await assert.rejects(
+      engine.query(
+        { layers: ['flights'], scope: { kind: 'region', name: 'Replacement' } },
+        { signal: controller.signal },
+      ),
+      (thrown) => thrown === error,
+    );
+    assert.equal(controller.signal.aborted, false);
+    const followUp = await engine.query({ followUp: true });
+    assert.deepEqual(followUp.items.map((item) => item.id), first.items.map((item) => item.id));
+    assert.equal(followUp.coverage.scope, first.coverage.scope);
+    assert.equal(followUp.coverage.scopeSource, 'natural-earth');
+  });
+}
+
 test('analyst: route fields queryable from cached enrichment only', async () => {
   const r = await makeEngine().query({
     layers: ['flights'], scope: { kind: 'anywhere' },
diff --git a/src/data/naturalEarthRegions.js b/src/data/naturalEarthRegions.js
index c40e180ac..512391311 100644
--- a/src/data/naturalEarthRegions.js
+++ b/src/data/naturalEarthRegions.js
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ const loadIndex = createRetryableLoader(async () => {
   return index;
 });
 
-function toResult(entry) {
+function toResult(entry, candidates = 1) {
   return {
     name: entry.name,
     featurecla: entry.featurecla,
@@ -197,6 +197,7 @@ function toResult(entry) {
     polygons: entry.polygons,
     bboxDiagonalKm: entry.bboxDiagonalKm,
     areaKm2: entry.areaKm2,
+    candidates,
   };
 }
 
@@ -209,7 +210,9 @@ function toResult(entry) {
  * @param {string} query e.g. "the Alps", "Rockies", "Gulf of Mexico"
  * @returns {Promise<{name:string, featurecla:string, kind:'natural'|'marine',
  *   polygons:Array<Array<[number,number]>>, bboxDiagonalKm:number,
- *   areaKm2:number}|null>} largest-area match, or null when nothing matches.
+ *   areaKm2:number, candidates:number}|null>} largest-area match plus the
+ *   number of same-name entries, or null when nothing matches. Uniqueness in
+ *   this pack alone does not establish the user's intended place.
  */
 export async function findNaturalRegion(query) {
   const norm = normalizeName(query);
@@ -223,7 +226,7 @@ export async function findNaturalRegion(query) {
   for (const key of candidates) {
     if (!key) continue;
     const list = index.get(key);
-    if (list && list.length) return toResult(list[0]);
+    if (list && list.length) return toResult(list[0], list.length);
   }
   return null;
 }
@@ -270,9 +273,10 @@ export function pointInRing(ring, lat, lon) {
 /**
  * Resolve a natural-region OUTLINE ring for the annotation resolver's first
  * rung. Stricter than `findNaturalRegion`: walks ALL entries sharing the
- * matched name (duplicate names included — the US and Spanish "Sierra
- * Nevada" both exist upstream) and returns the single ring that CONTAINS the
- * geocoded anchor. Containment is simultaneously the disambiguator and the
+ * matched name (duplicate names included), trying exact names, aliases and
+ * broader suffix variants in that order. Returns a ring only when exactly one
+ * entry under the matched name CONTAINS the anchor. Containment is the
+ * disambiguator and the
  * wrong-place guard: when no ring contains the anchor this returns null and
  * the resolver's normal ladder continues unchanged.
  *
@@ -291,23 +295,26 @@ export async function lookupNaturalRegionOutline(query, lat, lon) {
     ALIASES[norm],
     ...suffixVariants(ALIASES[norm] || norm),
   ];
-  const seen = new Set();
-  for (const key of candidates) {
-    if (!key || seen.has(key)) continue;
-    seen.add(key);
+  for (const key of new Set(candidates.filter(Boolean))) {
+    const containing = [];
     for (const entry of index.get(key) || []) {
-      for (const ring of entry.polygons) {
-        if (pointInRing(ring, lat, lon)) {
-          return {
-            name: entry.name,
-            kind: entry.kind,
-            featurecla: entry.featurecla,
-            ring,
-            areaKm2: entry.areaKm2,
-          };
-        }
-      }
+      const ring = entry.polygons.find((candidate) =>
+        pointInRing(candidate, lat, lon),
+      );
+      if (ring) containing.push({ entry, ring });
     }
+    // Specific names win over aliases and broader rewrites. Ambiguity belongs
+    // to this name, not the union of every lower-priority candidate name.
+    if (containing.length > 1) return null;
+    if (containing.length === 0) continue;
+    const [{ entry, ring }] = containing;
+    return {
+      name: entry.name,
+      kind: entry.kind,
+      featurecla: entry.featurecla,
+      ring,
+      areaKm2: entry.areaKm2,
+    };
   }
   return null;
 }
diff --git a/src/data/naturalEarthRegions.test.mjs b/src/data/naturalEarthRegions.test.mjs
index 5dd78adea..92109a034 100644
--- a/src/data/naturalEarthRegions.test.mjs
+++ b/src/data/naturalEarthRegions.test.mjs
@@ -33,7 +33,10 @@ test('marquee ranges resolve with sane areas (owner acceptance: Alps + Rockies)'
 });
 
 test('aliases and articles: "the Alps", "Rockies", "Sahara Desert", "Himalaya"', async () => {
-  assert.equal((await findNaturalRegion('the Alps'))?.name, 'Alps');
+  const alps = await findNaturalRegion('the Alps');
+  assert.equal(alps?.name, 'Alps');
+  assert.equal(alps?.candidates, 1);
+  assert.equal((await findNaturalRegion('Alps mountains'))?.name, 'Alps');
   assert.equal((await findNaturalRegion('Rockies'))?.name, 'Rocky Mountains');
   assert.equal((await findNaturalRegion('the Rockies'))?.name, 'Rocky Mountains');
   assert.equal((await findNaturalRegion('Sahara Desert'))?.name, 'Sahara');
@@ -41,6 +44,11 @@ test('aliases and articles: "the Alps", "Rockies", "Sahara Desert", "Himalaya"',
   assert.equal((await findNaturalRegion('  THE ALPS  '))?.name, 'Alps');
 });
 
+test('duplicate natural-region names expose ambiguity instead of claiming uniqueness', async () => {
+  assert.ok((await findNaturalRegion('Cordillera Oriental'))?.candidates > 1);
+  assert.ok((await findNaturalRegion('Canadian Shield'))?.candidates > 1);
+});
+
 test('major deserts/ranges resolve with sane areas', async () => {
   const sahara = await findNaturalRegion('Sahara');
   assert.ok(sahara && sahara.areaKm2 > 8_000_000 && sahara.areaKm2 < 12_000_000,
@@ -122,24 +130,55 @@ test('listRegions() enumerates both kinds for diagnostics', async () => {
 });
 
 // ── lookupNaturalRegionOutline (resolver first-rung contract) ──────
-test('outline lookup: Alps ring via containment anchor', async () => {
+test('outline lookup: containing exact names win over broader suffix variants', async () => {
   const r = await lookupNaturalRegionOutline('the Alps', 46.5, 10.0);
   assert.ok(r, 'Alps must resolve with an inside anchor');
   assert.equal(r.name, 'Alps');
   assert.ok(r.ring.length >= 8, 'range-scale ring');
   assert.ok(r.areaKm2 > 100000 && r.areaKm2 < 400000, `sane Alps area, got ${r.areaKm2}`);
+  const range = await lookupNaturalRegionOutline('Alaska Range', 63.14, -148.71);
+  assert.equal(range?.name, 'Alaska Range');
+  assert.ok(pointInRing(range.ring, 63.14, -148.71));
+  assert.equal((await lookupNaturalRegionOutline('Alaska', 63.14, -148.71))?.name, 'Alaska');
 });
 
 test('outline lookup: duplicate names disambiguate by anchor containment', async () => {
   const us = await lookupNaturalRegionOutline('Sierra Nevada', 37.2, -119.0);
   assert.ok(us, 'US anchor must match a Sierra Nevada');
   assert.ok(pointInRing(us.ring, 37.2, -119.0), 'returned ring contains the US anchor');
+  const colombia = await lookupNaturalRegionOutline('Cordillera Oriental', 5, -73);
+  assert.ok(colombia, 'a single containing candidate resolves a duplicate name');
+  assert.ok(pointInRing(colombia.ring, 5, -73));
+});
+
+test('outline lookup: overlapping duplicate candidates remain unresolved', async () => {
+  assert.equal(await lookupNaturalRegionOutline('Canadian Shield', 45.6336, -74.86493), null);
 });
 
 test('outline lookup: anchor outside every ring → null (wrong-place guard)', async () => {
   assert.equal(await lookupNaturalRegionOutline('the Alps', 30.26, -97.77), null);
 });
 
+test('outline lookup: a unique physical-region name does not override an outside contemporary place', async () => {
+  for (const [name, lat, lon] of [
+    ['Gold Coast', -28, 153.4],
+    ['Santa Cruz', 37, -122],
+    ['Isabela', 17, 122],
+    ['India', 28, 95], // Northeast India lies outside the physical peninsula.
+    ['Korea', 33.5, 126.5], // Jeju lies outside the physical peninsula.
+  ]) {
+    assert.equal((await findNaturalRegion(name))?.candidates, 1, `${name} has a unique physical namesake`);
+    assert.equal(await lookupNaturalRegionOutline(name, lat, lon), null, `${name} requires containment`);
+  }
+});
+
+test('outline lookup: aliases retain containment checks', async () => {
+  const alps = await lookupNaturalRegionOutline('Alps mountains', 46.5, 10);
+  assert.equal(alps?.name, 'Alps');
+  assert.ok(pointInRing(alps.ring, 46.5, 10));
+  assert.equal(await lookupNaturalRegionOutline('Alps mountains', -28, 153.4), null);
+});
+
 test('outline lookup: non-region names never match', async () => {
   assert.equal(await lookupNaturalRegionOutline('Zilker Park', 30.26, -97.77), null);
   assert.equal(await lookupNaturalRegionOutline('Texas', 31.0, -99.0), null);
diff --git a/src/locations.test.mjs b/src/locations.test.mjs
index c225488a3..8d2a9503c 100644
--- a/src/locations.test.mjs
+++ b/src/locations.test.mjs
@@ -152,6 +152,124 @@ test('regionFramingPlan: E-W elongated region looks along the east axis', () =>
   assert.equal(plan.headingDeg, 90);
 });
 
+// Compatibility guard for inherited geocode authority, not a newly fixed bug.
+test('search retains main geocode authority for Gold Coast, Australia', async () => {
+  const viewer = stubViewer();
+  const result = await runSearch(viewer, {}, {
+    query: 'Gold Coast',
+    result: {
+      formatted_address: 'Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia',
+      types: ['locality', 'political'],
+      geometry: {
+        location: { lat: -28, lng: 153.4 },
+        viewport: boxOf(-28.2, 153.2, -27.8, 153.6),
+      },
+    },
+  });
+  assert.equal(result.label, 'Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia');
+  assert.equal(result.navigationMode, 'city-overview');
+  assert.equal(viewer.flights.length, 1);
+  const flown = flownRectangleDegrees(viewer);
+  assert.ok(Math.abs((flown.south + flown.north) / 2 + 28) < 0.000001);
+  assert.ok(Math.abs((flown.west + flown.east) / 2 - 153.4) < 0.000001);
+});
+
+function alpsViewer() {
+  const viewer = stubViewer();
+  Object.assign(viewer.camera.positionCartographic, {
+    latitude: Cesium.Math.toRadians(46.5),
+    longitude: Cesium.Math.toRadians(10),
+    height: 248_000,
+  });
+  return viewer;
+}
+
+test('a successful nearby recovery resolves after a geocoder miss', async () => {
+  const viewer = alpsViewer();
+  const result = await searchAndFlyTo(viewer, 'the Alps', {
+    placeSearch: { async geocode() { return { place: null, answered: true }; } },
+    recoverNearView: async () => ({
+      lat: 46.6,
+      lon: 10.1,
+      label: 'The Alps local landmark',
+      types: ['locality', 'political'],
+      viewport: { low: { latitude: 46.5, longitude: 10 }, high: { latitude: 46.7, longitude: 10.2 } },
+    }),
+  });
+  assert.equal(result.label, 'The Alps local landmark');
+  assert.equal(result.navigationMode, 'city-overview');
+  assert.equal(viewer.flights.length, 1);
+});
+
+test('a geocoder miss returns null even over a namesake region', async () => {
+  for (const answered of [true, false]) {
+    const viewer = alpsViewer();
+    const result = await searchAndFlyTo(viewer, 'the Alps', {
+      placeSearch: { async geocode() { return { place: null, answered }; } },
+      recoverNearView: async () => null,
+    });
+    assert.equal(result, null);
+    assert.equal(viewer.flights.length, 0);
+  }
+});
+
+test('a geocoder rejection propagates without nearby recovery or a flight', async () => {
+  const viewer = alpsViewer();
+  const failure = new Error('geocoder failed');
+  let recoveries = 0;
+  await assert.rejects(searchAndFlyTo(viewer, 'the Alps', {
+    placeSearch: { async geocode() { throw failure; } },
+    recoverNearView: async () => { recoveries += 1; return null; },
+  }), (error) => error === failure);
+  assert.equal(recoveries, 0);
+  assert.equal(viewer.flights.length, 0);
+});
+
+test('search cancellation before or during geocoding cannot issue a flight', async () => {
+  for (const preAborted of [true, false]) {
+    const viewer = alpsViewer();
+    const controller = new AbortController();
+    if (preAborted) controller.abort();
+    let geocodes = 0;
+    let recoveries = 0;
+    await assert.rejects(searchAndFlyTo(viewer, 'the Alps', {
+      signal: controller.signal,
+      placeSearch: {
+        async geocode(_query, { signal }) {
+          geocodes += 1;
+          assert.equal(signal, controller.signal);
+          controller.abort();
+          return { place: null, answered: true };
+        },
+      },
+      recoverNearView: async () => { recoveries += 1; return null; },
+    }), { name: 'AbortError' });
+    assert.equal(geocodes, preAborted ? 0 : 1);
+    assert.equal(recoveries, 0);
+    assert.equal(viewer.flights.length, 0);
+  }
+});
+
+test('cancellation during nearby recovery cannot issue a flight', async () => {
+  const viewer = alpsViewer();
+  const controller = new AbortController();
+  let authorityChecks = 0;
+  await assert.rejects(searchAndFlyTo(viewer, 'the Alps', {
+    signal: controller.signal,
+    placeSearch: { async geocode() { return { place: null, answered: true }; } },
+    recoverNearView: async () => {
+      controller.abort();
+      return {
+        lat: 46.6, lon: 10.1, label: 'Alpine landmark',
+        types: ['locality'],
+      };
+    },
+    beforeFly: () => { authorityChecks += 1; return true; },
+  }), { name: 'AbortError' });
+  assert.equal(authorityChecks, 0);
+  assert.equal(viewer.flights.length, 0);
+});
+
 test('regionFramingPlan: park- and lake-scale viewports keep full framing', () => {
   // Zilker Park (~3 km).
   assert.equal(regionFramingPlan({