The zero article with geographical names

Certain geographical names do not take an article:

Continents

Africa
Antarctica
Asia
Australia
Europe
North America
South America

But:

the Americas (North and South America)
the Antarctic
the Arctic

Names of countries

Most country names do not take an article:

Chile
France
Kazakhstan
Namibia
New Zealand

But:

the Czech Republic
the Netherlands
the People's Republic of China
the Philippines
the United Kingdom (UK)
the United States of America (USA)

Lakes

Lake Geneva
Lake Lopnor
Lake Michigan
Lake Victoria
Loch Ness

Mountain peaks

Mawson Peak
Mont Blanc
(Mount) Everest
Mount Kenya
Mount Washington

But:

the Matterhorn

Cities

Beijing
Bucharest
New York
Reykjavík
Rio de Janeiro

But:

the Hague
the Vatican

Streets and roads

Downing Street
Michigan Avenue

But:

the High Street
the Mall
the E5