hinterland

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
hinterland /ˈhɪntəland/

▶noun

• 1 the remote areas of a country away from the coast or the banks of major rivers.

  ■ the area around or beyond a major town or port.

• 2 an area lying beyond what is visible or known.

– origin C19: from Ger., from hinter ‘behind’ + Land ‘land’.