PHP Get method not sending full input

Jackass

I have a drop down list that is dynamically generated using a mySQL database using the following code:

$region = mysql_query("select region_name from region", $connection);

echo "<select name=region>Region</option>";

while ($row = $mysql_fetch_array($region))
{
  echo "<option value =$row[region_name]>$row[region_name]</option>";
}

echo "</select>"

This prints out the list perfectly fine however when I submit the form using the GET method any region name that has a space in it will not be passed through properly in the URL. Instead of “South Australia” it will only give me “South”

I know the URL should end up being:
http://foo.com/query.php?region=South+Australia

But instead the +Australia just doesn’t appear.

Anybody know what stupid stuff I’ve done or what I’m missing??