Note In 6 editions of 36.

second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)

Published as “Note”

Cabinda is separated from rest of country by Zaire

Published as “Note”

Civil war has been the norm since independence on 11 November 1975; a cease-fire lasted from 31 May 1991 until October 1992 when the insurgent National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) refused to accept its defeat in internationally monitored elections; fighting has since resumed throughout much of the countryside. Nevertheless, the two sides are negotiating the details for holding the second round of presidential elections.

Published as “Note”

navigational hazard since it is usually under water during high tide

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of France

recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north; 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;
• a vast 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;
• size, and juxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics

insular and continental regions rather widely separated

strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields, Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 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 27 April 1993

Published as “Note”

wildlife sanctuary

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of France

Published as “Note”

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

Published as “Note”

The war between Israel and Egypt, Syria, and Jordan in June 1967 ended with Israel in control of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights. Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula pursuant to a 1979 peace treaty with Egypt. The Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provides for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Under the DOP, final status negotiations are to begin no later than the beginning of the third year of the transitional period.

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

defense is the responsibility of France

Published as “Note”

wildlife sanctuary

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of France

• 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;
• Highlands Water Project will control, store, and redirect water to South Africa

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

Published as “Note”

landlocked

Published as “Note”

a majority of exports would normally go through Mozambique on the Beira, Nacala, and Limgogo railroads, but now most go through South Africa because of insurgent activity and damage to rail lines

landlocked

most of the population concentrated along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country

Published as “Note”

part of Comoro Archipelago

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of France

strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

landlocked

defense is the responsibility of France

landlocked; predominantly rural population

Published as “Note”

• Napoleon Bonaparte's place of exile and burial (the remains were taken to Paris in 1840);
• harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Published as “Note”

The Gambia is almost an enclave

Published as “Note”

• Serbia and Montenegro have asserted the formation of a joint independent state, but this entity has not been formally recognized as a state by the US;
• the US view is that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of the successor republics represents its continuation

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

Mount Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa

Published as “Note”

climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of France

strategic location in central Mediterranean

landlocked

landlocked

landlocked

Published as “Note”

• the coldest, windiest, highest, 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

Published as “Note”

• the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a military nature, such as the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the testing of any type of weapon;
• it permits the use of military personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other peaceful purposes

Published as “Note”

covered by glacial ice

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of Norway

Published as “Note”

remote location in the southern Indian Ocean

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of France

Published as “Note”

primarily used for research stations

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Published as “Note”

• the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good anchorage;
• reindeer, introduced early in this century, live on South Georgia;
• weather conditions generally make it difficult to approach the South Sandwich Islands

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Published as “Note”

• dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe;
• sparse population confined to small settlements along coast;
• continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

Published as “Note”

defense is responsibility of Denmark

• strategic location between Greenland and Europe;
• westernmost European country;
• more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

Published as “Note”

barren volcanic island with some moss and grass

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of Norway

Published as “Note”

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

Published as “Note”

demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)

landlocked

landlocked

landlocked

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

Published as “Note”

• 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

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK

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

Published as “Note”

transportation network is disrupted by ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages

Published as “Note”

Georgian forces are poorly organized and not fully under the government's control

dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes

strategic location in northeast Asia

landlocked

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

landlocked

1,200 coral islands grouped into 19 atolls; 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

landlocked

defense is the responsibility of the UK

defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands

strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain

easternmost Caribbean island

• national capital moved 80 km inland from Belize City to Belmopan because of hurricanes;
• only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean

Published as “Note”

strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Published as “Note”

important location between Cuba and Central America

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Published as “Note”

largest country in Caribbean

Published as “Note”

Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier of Cuba, cut off military aid by 1993

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

islands of the Grenadines group are divided politically with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

defense is responsibility of France

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

defense is the responsibility of France

Published as “Note”

located 400 km east southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Published as “Note”

• 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

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the US

defense is responsibility of the Netherlands

• 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

Published as “Note”

• 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

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the US

some islands of the Grenadines group are administered by Grenada

Published as “Note”

30 islands (eight inhabited)

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Published as “Note”

• 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

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the US

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

Published as “Note”

landlocked

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

• 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 the EC

The US recognizes the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a new government being formed by the Muslims and Croats. On 31 May 1994 a Croat president, Kresimir ZUBAK, and a Muslim vice president, Ejup GANIC, were elected. Haris SILAJDZIC, who is prime minister of the Republic, is also the prime minister of the Federation.

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 linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in Copenhagen

Published as “Note”

• archipelago of 18 inhabited islands and a few uninhabited islets;
• strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic;
• precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

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

largest West European nation; occasional warm tropical wind known as mistral

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

Published as “Note”

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

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK

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

Published as “Note”

large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Published as “Note”

• 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

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City

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

Published as “Note”

strategic location on major air and sea routes between North American and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 60 miles of Dublin

Published as “Note”

The territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included in the data below. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations are being conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives, Syria, and Jordan to determine the final status of the occupied territories. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace treaty.

Published as “Note”

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

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK

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

Published as “Note”

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

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since the end of the devastating 16-year civil war in October 1990. Under the Ta'if accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process. Since December 1990, the Lebanese have formed three cabinets and conducted the first legislative election in 20 years.

Most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has seized vast quantities of weapons used by the militias during the war and extended central government authority over about one-half of the country. Hizballah, the radical Sh'ia party, retains most of its weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel maintains troops in southern Lebanon and continues to support a proxy militia, The Army of South Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow stretch of territory contiguous to its border.

The ASL's enclave encompasses this self-declared security zone and about 20 kilometers north to the strategic town of Jazzine. As of December 1993, Syria maintained about 30,000-35,000 troops in Lebanon. These troops are based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment was legitimized by the Arab League early in Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if accord. Citing the continued weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests, and failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if accord, Damascus has so far refused to withdraw its troops from Beirut.

Published as “Note”

landlocked; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation

Published as “Note”

defense is responsibility of Switzerland

landlocked

the country comprises an archipelago, with only the 3 largest islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors

landlocked

Published as “Note”

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

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of France

located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, 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 and Turkey only NATO members 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 through which much of Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean

Published as “Note”

there are 24 Jewish settlements and civilian land use sites in the Gaza Strip (April 1994)

Published as “Note”

Under the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arragements ("the DOP"), Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, and subsequently to an elected Palestinian Council, as part of interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area.

The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external security and for internal security and public order of settlements and Israelis. Final status is to be determined through direct negotiations within five years.

Published as “Note”

Georgia is currently besieged by interethnic strife in its Abkhazian and South Ossetian enclaves.

there are 200 Jewish settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank, 40 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 24 in the Gaza Strip, and 25 in East Jerusalem (April 1994)

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 with small foothold on Musandam Peninsula controlling 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 40 Jewish settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (April 1994)

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

Published as “Note”

• landlocked;
• highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers;
• there are 200 Jewish settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank and 25 in East Jerusalem (April 1994)

Published as “Note”

Under the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arragements ("the DOP"), Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, and subsequently to an elected Palestinian Council, as part of interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area.

The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external security and for internal security and public order of settlements and Israelis. Final status is to be determined through direct negotiations within five years.

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

Published as “Note”

some reclaimed land leased by US Government; consists of about 360 small coral islands with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the UK

• second-largest country in world (after Russia);
• strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route;
• nearly 90% of the population is concentrated in the region near the US/Canada border

Published as “Note”

reef about 8 km in circumference

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of France

strategic location on southern border of US

Published as “Note”

vegetation scanty

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of France

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

Published as “Note”

• 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

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the US

• 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

Published as “Note”

• 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

Published as “Note”

there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Published as “Note”

important nesting area for birds and turtles

Published as “Note”

• defense is the responsibility of Australia;
• visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy;
• Australia has control over the activities of visitors

includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited

Published as “Note”

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

Published as “Note”

defense is responsibility of France

Published as “Note”

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

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the US

Published as “Note”

• 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;
• feral cats

Published as “Note”

Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart

Published as “Note”

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

Published as “Note”

there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

Published as “Note”

• strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean;
• Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands;
• North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging;
• closed to the public;
• former nuclear weapons test site;
• site of Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS);
• some low-growing vegetation

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the US

Published as “Note”

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

Published as “Note”

defense is the responsibility of the US

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