Geography - note In 30 editions of 36.

second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)

Cabinda is separated from rest of country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo

no natural harbors

landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country

landlocked

landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed

• strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes;
• important communications station;
• important sea and air refueling site

sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa

landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel

important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

• straddles Equator;
• very narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo river and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean;
• dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands

about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them

• strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields;
• terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia;
• mostly wasteland

• controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere;
• controls Suez Canal, shortest sea link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea;
• size, and juxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics;
• dependence on upstream neighbors;
• dominance of Nile basin issues;
• prone to influxes of refugees

insular and continental regions rather widely separated

• strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes;
• Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993

landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993

wildlife sanctuary

almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa

Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake; northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)

wildlife sanctuary

• the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa;
• glaciers on Mt. Kenya;
• unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value

landlocked; surrounded by South Africa

world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel

landlocked

landlocked

most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country

part of Comoro Archipelago; 18 islands

strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

landlocked

landlocked; predominantly rural population

harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns

The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal

40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands

strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland

largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries

Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa

climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary

• strategic location in central Mediterranean;
• Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

landlocked

landlocked

landlocked

• the coldest, windiest, highest (on average), and driest continent;
• during summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period;
• mostly uninhabitable

covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve

islands component is widely scattered across remote locations in the southern Indian Ocean

primarily used for research stations

• the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays,
• which provide good anchorage;
• reindeer,
• introduced early in this century,
• live on South Georgia

• dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe;
• sparse population confined to small settlements along coast, but close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk;
• world's second largest ice cap

• strategic location between Greenland and Europe;
• westernmost European country;
• Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in the world;
• more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

barren volcanic island with some moss and grass

• northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway;
• consists of nine main islands;
• glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area

landlocked

landlocked

landlocked

• landlocked;
• strategic location between China and India;
• controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

• archipelago of 2,300 islands;
• Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean;
• island is site of joint US-UK military facility

world's fourth-largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US)

dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes

strategic location in northeast Asia

landlocked; Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km of territory enclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome

strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated

landlocked

• 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts);
• archipelago of strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

• landlocked;
• strategic location between China and India;
• contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks

controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent

• largest country in the world in terms of area but unfavorably located in relation to major sea lanes of the world;
• despite its size, much of the country lacks proper soils and climates (either too cold or too dry) for agriculture

strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes

landlocked

landlocked

along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world

strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain

easternmost Caribbean island

only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean

strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

important location between Cuba and Central America

largest country in Caribbean

shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)

smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea

the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada

no natural harbors on west coast

shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)

strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for Panama Canal

• strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba;
• mostly exposed rock, but enough grassland to support goat herds;
• dense stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus

• strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge connecting North and South America;
• controls Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean

• important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal;
• San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean;
• many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered;
• south coast relatively dry;
• fertile coastal plain belt in north

the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada

30 islands (eight inhabited)

• important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal;
• Saint Thomas has one of the best natural, deepwater harbors in the Caribbean

strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)

landlocked

• landlocked;
• strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys;
• major river is the Danube;
• population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere

landlocked

crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of both the EU and NATO

• within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized borders, the country is divided into a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska or RS (about 49% of the territory);
• the region called Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and traditionally has been settled by an ethnic Croat majority

strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia

controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits

• landlocked;
• strategically located astride some of oldest and most significant land routes in Europe;
• Moravian Gate is a traditional military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in central Europe

controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater Copenhagen

• archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets;
• strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic;
• precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands

• long boundary with Russia;
• Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent;
• population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain

largest West European nation

strategic location on North European Plain and along the entrance to the Baltic Sea

strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands

large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port

• urban;
• landlocked;
• enclave of Rome, Italy;
• world's smallest state;
• outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights

landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin

strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 97 km of Dublin

one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest, and is a bird sanctuary

strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe

largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier

along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation

landlocked

• the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) being inhabited;
• numerous bays provide good harbors;
• Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

landlocked

second smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban

located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)

landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe

• about two-thirds mountains;
• some 50,000 islands off its much indented coastline;
• strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic;
• one of most rugged and longest coastlines in world;
• Norway is the only NATO member having a land boundary with Russia

historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain

Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine

• landlocked;
• smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco;
• dominated by the Apennines

controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkey and the Near East; strategic location along the Adriatic coast

landlocked

strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas

• landlocked;
• crossroads of northern and southern Europe;
• along with southeastern France and northern Italy, contains the highest elevations in Europe

strategic position at the crossroads between Europe and Asia; second-largest country in Europe

• lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes;
• only 35 km from France and now linked by tunnel under the English Channel;
• because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal waters

close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf which much of Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean

there are 25 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Gaza Strip (August 2000 est.)

there are 231 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 25 in the Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem (August 2000 est.)

strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

• Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary;
• rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity

strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal

there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 1999 est.)

strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas

strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

• landlocked;
• highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers;
• there are 231 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank and 29 in East Jerusalem (August 1999 est.)

strategic location on Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping lanes

• consists of about 360 small coral islands with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes;
• some land, reclaimed and otherwise, was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995

• second-largest country in world (after Russia);
• strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route;
• approximately 85% of the population is concentrated within 300 km of the US/Canada border

reef about 8 km in circumference

strategic location on southern border of US

vegetation scanty

world's third-largest country (after Russia and Canada)

• Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas and protected by peripheral mountains from high winds;
• strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean

• world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country;
• population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts;
• regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer

• treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs;
• primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife

important nesting area for birds and turtles

includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited

includes five archipelagoes; Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru

largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean

• almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs;
• small area of trees in the center;
• primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife

sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife

• strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean;
• Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands, which have been expanded by coral dredging;
• North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging;
• egg-shaped reef is 34 km in circumference;
• closed to the public;
• former US nuclear weapons test site;
• site of Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS);
• some low-growing vegetation

barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public

20 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Makatea in French Polynesia, and Nauru

• two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands;
• Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites;
• Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US missile test range

four major island groups totaling 607 islands

a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife observation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving

Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia; only 53 km south of Equator

about 80% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world

one of world's largest coral islands

strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

• includes World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands;
• archipelago of six island groups totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain

about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall

shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast

archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited)

strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights

both island groups have fringing reefs