 |
 AUGUST 1, 2008 |
|
AUGUST 1, 2008 |
 |
|
|
||||||
THE COUNTRY CORNER |
||||||||
|
WORLD'S SMALLEST COUNTRIES
Vatican City - 0.2
square miles - The world's
smallest state, the Vatican has a
population of 770, none of whom
are permanent residents. The tiny
country which surrounds St.
Peter's Basilica is the spiritual
center for the world's Roman
Catholics (over 1 billion strong).
Also known as the Holy See,
Vatican City is surrounded by
Rome, Italy.
Monaco
- 0.7 square miles - The tiny
state of Monaco lies along the
French Riviera on the French
Mediterranean coast near Nice. An
impressive 32,000 people live in
this state known for its Monte
Carlo casinos and Princess Grace.
It has been independent off-and-on
since the 13th century.
Nauru
- 8.5 square miles - The 13,000
residents of the Pacific island
Nauru rely on diminishing
phosphate deposits. The state
became independent in 1968 and was
formerly known as Pleasant Island.
Tuvalu - 9 square miles
- Tuvalu is composed of 9 coral
atolls along a 360 mile chain in
Polynesia. They gained
independence in 1978. The former
Ellice Islands are home to 12,000.
San
Marino - 24 square
miles - Located on Mt. Titano in
north central Italy, San Marino
has 29,000 residents. The country
claims to be the oldest state in
Europe, having been founded in the
fourth century.
|
Liechtenstein
- 62 square miles - This microstate of 34,000
is located on the Rhine River between
Switzerland and Austria in the Alps.
Marshall Islands
- 70 square miles - The atolls (including the
world's largest, Kwajalein), reefs, and 34
islands (population 58,000) gained
independence in 1986; they were formerly part
of the Trust Territory of Pacific Islands (and
administered by the United States).
Saint Kitts and Nevis - 104 square
miles - This Caribbean country of 39,000
gained independence in 1983. Nevis is the
smaller island of the two and is guaranteed
the right to secede.
Maldives - 115 square miles - Only
200 of the 2000 Indian Ocean islands which
make up this country are occupied by 340,000
residents. The islands gained independence
from the U.K. in 1965.
Malta
- 122 square miles - This island is just south
of the Italian island of Sicily. It became
independent from the United Kingdom in 1964
and the British military were completely gone
by 1979. The population is 400,000.
Grenada
- 133 square miles - This Caribbean country
(population 90,000) became independent of the
U.K. in 1974. It's located quite close to
Venezuela.
Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines - 150 square miles -
117,000 people live on these Windward
Caribbean islands which gained independence
from Britain in 1979
|
Barbados - 166 square miles - About 280,000 people live on this Caribbean island, the farthest east of the Lesser Antilles. Barbados obtained independence from the U.K. in 1966.
Antigua and Barbuda - 171 square miles - This Caribbean nation of 69,000 has been independent from the United Kingdom since 1981. The three islands which compose this country rely on tourism (as do many of the Caribbean countries and territories).
Andorra - 180 square miles - The independent Principality of Andorra is co-governed by the President of France and the Spain's Bishop of Urgel. With just over 70,000 people, this mountainous tourist destination tucked in the Pyrenees between France and Spain has been independent since 1278.
Palau - 191 square miles - Palau (also known as Belau) was a Trust Territory of Pacific Islands. It was formerly known as the Carolines and is composed of more than 200 islands in the Pacific; the population is about 20,000. It became independent in 1994.
BEARTOWN BEARS
Join the Beartown Bears for exciting exercise. Just click on the link below. After you have had fun exercising the bears, don't forget to click back and enjoy more of Beartown News! |
||||||
Copyright 2000 Claude Dern, All
Rights Reserved
This site hosted by VTweb.com
