Where To Travel

Canada

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Canada Travel Guide

Capital: Ottawa
Government: Federation with Parliamentary Democracy and Constitutional Monarchy
Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD)
Area: 9,976,140 km2
Population: 33,647,989 (May 2009 est.)
Language: English 59.3% (official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5%
Religion: Roman Catholic 43.6%, Protestant 29.2%, No religious affiliation 16.5%, Other 10.7%
Calling Code: 1
Internet TLD: .ca

Canada is the second largest country in the world and the largest in North America. Renowned worldwide for its vast, untouched landscape and its unique culture, Canada is a major tourist destination and one of the world's wealthiest countries.
Understand

Canada is a land of vast distances and rich natural beauty. Economically and technologically, it resembles its neighbour to the south, the United States, although there are significant differences between the two countries. Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 by an act of the British parliament, and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Though a medium sized country by its population, Canada has earned respect on the international stage for its strong diplomatic skills. Domestically, the country has displayed success in negotiating compromises amongst a culturally and linguistically varied population, a difficult task considering that language, culture, and even history can vary significantly over the country. In contrast to the United States' image as a melting pot, Canada prefers to consider itself a mosaic of cultures and people. Canadians are used to living and interacting with people of different ethnic backgrounds on a daily basis and will usually be quite friendly and understanding if approached in public. You will never look out of place or feel like an unusual sight while traveling Canada. The information below will get you started, but be sure to check the specifics for given regions and cities.
Time zones

The Canadian Sir Sandford Fleming first proposed time zones for the entire world in 1876, and Canada is covered coast to coast with multiple zones.

* GMT-8 Pacific Time (Yukon, British Columbia)

* GMT-7 Mountain Time (Alberta, Northwest Territories, Nunavut)

* GMT-6 Central Time (Saskatchewan, Manitoba)

* GMT-5 Eastern Time (Ontario, Quebec)

* GMT-4 Atlantic Time (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island)

* GMT-3.5 Newfoundland Time (Newfoundland and Labrador)

British Virgin Islands

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British Virgin Islands Travel Guide

Capital: Road Town
Government: British overseas territory with internal self-government
Currency: US dollar (USD)
Area: 153 sq km
Population: 21,272 (July 2002 est.)
Language: English (official)
Religion: Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2% (1991)
Calling Code: 1-284
Internet TLD: .vg
Time Zone: UTC -4

The British Virgin Islands are a self-governing British overseas territory, situated in the Caribbean just to the east of the US Virgin Islands.

The BVIs, as they are called, are a popular travel destination for sailors, fishermen (and women), sun worshippers, and other independent travellers, albeit not for the cost conscious. Boating among the dozens of tiny, mostly uninhabited, islands is a great stop on any tour of the Caribbean islands.
[edit] Regions

* Jost Van Dyke
* Tortola - The largest of the islands and home of the capital city, Road Town
* Virgin Gorda
* Anegada

Bermuda

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Bermuda Travel Guide

Capital Hamilton
Government British overseas territory with internal self-government
Currency Bermudian dollar (BMD); par with US dollar
Area 53.3 sq km
Population 65,773 (July 2006 est.)
Language English (official), Portuguese
Religion non-Anglican Protestant 39%, Anglican 27%, Roman Catholic 15%, other 19%
Electricity 120V/60Hz
Calling Code +1-441
Internet TLD .bm
Time Zone UTC -4

Bermuda is a self-governing British overseas territory in the Atlantic Ocean north of the Caribbean, off the coast of North America east of North Carolina. It is one of the last remains of the once vast British colonial empire in North America.
Parishes
Residential scene in Bermuda
Residential scene in Bermuda

Bermuda is divided into nine parishes (from east to west):

* St. George's Parish - Encompassing the area around the historic Town of St. George as well as the island of St. David's across its harbor.
* Hamilton Parish - Location of Crystal Caves and Bermuda Aquarium and Zoo.
* Smith's Parish - Home to Flatts Village, Spittle Pond Nature Preserve and Devil's Hole Aquarium.
* Devonshire Parish - The quiet parish.
* Pembroke Parish - Where the city of Hamilton is located.
* Paget Parish - Numerous resorts, Elbow Beach, Bermuda Botanical Gardens and Paget Marsh for birdwatching.
* Warwick Parish - Golf, horseback riding and the island's best cliffs.
* Southampton Parish - The best beaches and Gibbs Hill Lighthouse.
* Sandys Parish - The Royal Naval Dockyard fortress and shops, but also Somerset Village, Fort Scaur, Gilbert Nature Reserve and some fine beaches.

Belize

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Belize Travel guide

Capital: Belmopan
Government: parliamentary democracy
Currency: Belizean dollar (BZD)
Area: 22,966 km2
Population: 287,730 (July 2006 est.)
Language: English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Black Carib), Creole
Religion: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7%, Anglican 5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Mennonite 4%, Methodist 3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), none 9.4%, other 14%
Electricity: 110/60Hz (North American plug)
Calling Code: +501
Internet TLD: .bz
Time Zone: UTC-6

Belize, formerly the colony of British Honduras, is the only country in Central America without a coastline on the Pacific Ocean (only the Caribbean Sea to its east), and the only one in the region with English as its official language. The country is located between Guatemala to the west and south and Mexico to the north.

Along the Caribbean it is culturally similar to many of Britain's former island colonies. Inland are native Maya people, and especially in the north and northwest of the country Spanish is often spoken. Many refugees from the Caste War of Yucatan settled here. In the south east along the Caribbean coast live the Garifuna (Black Caribs) an Afro-Amerindian culture.

World class attractions include exploring the lush jungles with exotic plants and animals, deep sea fishing, swimming, snorkeling and diving in the Caribbean sea with its attractive reefs, and visiting the Mayan ruins.

Barbados

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Barbados Travel guide

Capital: Bridgetown
Government: parliamentary democracy
Currency: Barbadian dollar (BBD)
Area: 431 sq km
Population: 279,912 (July 2006 est.)
Language: English
Religion: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, other 12%
Electricity: 115V/50Hz (North American plug)
Calling Code: +1-246
Internet TLD: .bb
Time Zone: UTC-4

Barbados is an island in the Caribbean, northeast of Venezuela. The island is portrayed as the little England of the Caribbean because of its long association as a British colony.

Districts

The island of Barbados has eleven parishes and can be divided into roughly five parts:

* Bridgetown, including the capital city of Barbados and surrounding areas in St. Michael Parish.

* Central Barbados, including the parishes of St. George, St. Thomas and parts of St. Joseph, St. John, St. Lucy and St. Andrew. Harrison Cave, the site of a massive limestone cavern, is one of the major attractions of Central Barbados, as well as Barbados Wildlife Reserve and Flower Forest to name a few. Luxury activities like golf and polo are also to be found.

* Eastern Barbados, (the East Coast) the rugged Atlantic side of the island. Crane Beach in St. Philip Parish (South-East), Bathsheba in St. Joseph Parish and Bath in St. John are some of the more popular East Coast beaches. Also includes the less traveled parishes of St. John and St. Andrew. Bathsheba is a popular area, with the island's best-known surfing spot (The Soup Bowl) and tide pools - ideal for soaking. Cattlewash is a long stretch of beach with very rough waters. Other fishing villages include: Martin's Bay and Consett Bay in St. John.

* Western Barbados, (the West Coast) the calm, Caribbean Sea side of the island covering the parishes of St. James, St. Peter and St. Lucy. Holetown and Speightstown are the two main towns.

* Southern Barbados, (the South Coast) the parishes of Christ Church and parts of St. Michael and St. Philip. Includes St. Lawrence Gap, a lively area full of bars and restaurants; Oistins, famous for its Friday fish fry on the beach; and Grantley Adams International Airport. Most of the budget hotels, guesthouses, and apartment are located here. Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary is located here as well.

Bahamas

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Bahamas Travel Guide

Capital: Nassau
Government: constitutional parliamentary democracy
Currency: Bahamian dollar (BSD)
Area: 13,940 sq km
Population: 303,770 (July 2006 est.)
Language: English, Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Religion: Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%
Electricity: 120V/60Hz (North American plug)
Calling Code: +1-242
Internet TLD: .bs
Time Zone: UTC -5

The Bahamas is a tropical island chain in the Caribbean Sea, popular as a tourist destination.

Islands

* Grand Bahama
* New Providence Island — dominated by the capital Nassau
* Paradise Island — home to the gigantic Atlantis casino resort

Out Islands

* The Abacos
* Acklins/Crooked Island
* Andros
* Berry Islands
* Bimini
* Cat Island
* Eleuthera
* The Exumas
* Harbour Island
* Inagua
* Long Island
* Mayaguana
* San Salvador - may have been the landfall of Columbus
* The Bahamas is a great place to visit. With many choices of foods, and wonderful beaches.

Aruba

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Aruba Travel guide

Capital: Oranjestad
Government: parliamentary democracy
Currency: Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)
Area: 193 sq km
Population: 71,891 (July 2006 est.)
Language: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a creole of
Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch origin), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Religion: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish
Electricity: 120V/60Hz (North American plug)
Calling Code: +297
Internet TLD: .aw
Time Zone: UTC -4

Aruba is a Caribbean island 15 miles north of the coast of Venezuela. The island is an autonomous dependency of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is 19.6 miles (30 kilometers) long and 6 miles (9 kilometers) across, at its widest point, with an area of approximately 70 square miles (184 square kilometers). This flat, riverless island is renowned for its white sand beaches. Its tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean. The temperature is almost constant at about 27°C (81°F).

Antigua and Barbuda

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Antigua and Barbuda Travel guide

Capital: The Valley
Government: dependency of the United Kingdom
Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Area: 102 sq km
Population: 13,477 (July 2006 est.)
Language: English (official)
Religion: Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%
Electricity: 120V/60Hz (North American plug)
Calling Code: +1-264
Internet TLD: .ai
Time Zone: UTC-4

Anguilla was colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, and administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants - was incorporated into a single UK dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this arrangement was formally recognized in 1980 with Anguilla becoming a separate UK dependency.

Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. Increased activity in the tourism industry, which has spurred the growth of the construction sector, has contributed to economic growth.

Usefull links: Pictures Maps Car rent Cheap flights 1 2 3 4 5

more about France

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France is a country located in Western Europe. Clockwise from the north, France borders Belgium and Luxembourg to the northeast, Germany and Switzerland to the east, Italy to the south-east and Spain to the south-west, across the Pyrenees mountain range (the small country of Andorra lies in between the two countries). The Mediterranean Sea lies to the south of France, with the Principality of Monaco forming a small enclave. To the west, France has a long Atlantic Ocean coastline, while to the north lies the English Channel, across which lies the last of France's neighbours, England (part of the United Kingdom).

France is the world's most popular tourist destination (78 million in 2006) boasting dozens of major tourist attractions, like Paris, Côte d'Azur (the French Riviera), the Atlantic beaches, the winter sport resorts of the Alps, the Castles of Loire Valley, Brittany, Normandy: Mont Saint Michel. The country is renowned for its gastronomy (particularly wines and cheeses), history, culture and fashion.

Climate

A lot of variety, but temperate winters and mild summers on most of the territory, and especially in Paris. Mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean and in the south west (the latter has lots of rain in winter). Mild winters (with lots of rain) and cool summers in the north west (Brittany). Cool to cold winters and hot summer along the German border (Alsace). Along the Rhône Valley, occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as the mistral. Cold winters with lots of the snow in the Mountainous regions: Alps, Pyrenees, Auvergne

History

Anguilla

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Anguilla Travel guide

Capital: The Valley
Government: dependency of the United Kingdom
Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Area: 102 sq km
Population: 13,477 (July 2006 est.)
Language: English (official)
Religion: Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, Baptist 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%
Electricity: 120V/60Hz (North American plug)
Calling Code: +1-264
Internet TLD: .ai
Time Zone: UTC-4

Anguilla is a small island nation in the Caribbean Sea, a few miles north of Saint Martin. It was colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, and administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants - was incorporated into a single UK dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this arrangement was formally recognized in 1980 with Anguilla becoming a separate UK dependency.

Oceania - Australia

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Oceania - Australia Travel - list of countries in Oceania

Australia

Fiji

Kiribati

Marshall Islands - Micronesia

Nauru - New Zealand

Palau - Papua New Guinea

Samoa - Solomon Islands

Tonga - Tuvalu

Vanuatu

South America

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South America Travel - List of countries and territories

Argentina

Bolivia - Brazil

Chile - Colombia

Ecuador

Falkland Islands (UK) - French Guiana (FRA)

Guyana

Paraguay - Peru

Suriname

Uruguay

Venezuela

Capital of country

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Capitals of Every Independent Country
The 195 Independent Countries on Earth With Their Capital City or Cities

Afghanistan - Kabul
Albania - Tirane
Algeria - Algiers
Andorra - Andorra la Vella
Angola - Luanda
Antigua and Barbuda - Saint John's
Argentina - Buenos Aires
Armenia - Yerevan
Australia - Canberra
Austria - Vienna
Azerbaijan - Baku
The Bahamas - Nassau
Bahrain - Manama
Bangladesh - Dhaka
Barbados - Bridgetown
Belarus - Minsk
Belgium - Brussels
Belize - Belmopan
Benin - Porto-Novo
Bhutan - Thimphu
Bolivia - La Paz (administrative); Sucre (judicial)
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Sarajevo
Botswana - Gaborone
Brazil - Brasilia
Brunei - Bandar Seri Begawan
Bulgaria - Sofia
Burkina Faso - Ouagadougou
Burundi - Bujumbura
Cambodia - Phnom Penh
Cameroon - Yaounde
Canada - Ottawa
Cape Verde - Praia
Central African Republic - Bangui
Chad - N'Djamena
Chile - Santiago
China - Beijing
Colombia - Bogota
Comoros - Moroni
Congo, Republic of the - Brazzaville
Congo, Democratic Republic of the - Kinshasa
Costa Rica - San Jose
Cote d'Ivoire - Yamoussoukro (official); Abidjan (de facto)
Croatia - Zagreb
Cuba - Havana
Cyprus - Nicosia
Czech Republic - Prague
Denmark - Copenhagen
Djibouti - Djibouti
Dominica - Roseau
Dominican Republic - Santo Domingo
East Timor (Timor-Leste) - Dili
Ecuador - Quito
Egypt - Cairo
El Salvador - San Salvador
Equatorial Guinea - Malabo
Eritrea - Asmara
Estonia - Tallinn
Ethiopia - Addis Ababa
Fiji - Suva
Finland - Helsinki
France - Paris
Gabon - Libreville
The Gambia - Banjul
Georgia - Tbilisi
Germany - Berlin
Ghana - Accra
Greece - Athens
Grenada - Saint George's
Guatemala - Guatemala City
Guinea - Conakry
Guinea-Bissau - Bissau
Guyana - Georgetown
Haiti - Port-au-Prince
Honduras - Tegucigalpa
Hungary - Budapest
Iceland - Reykjavik
India - New Delhi
Indonesia - Jakarta
Iran - Tehran
Iraq - Baghdad
Ireland - Dublin
Israel - Jerusalem*
Italy - Rome
Jamaica - Kingston
Japan - Tokyo
Jordan - Amman
Kazakhstan - Astana
Kenya - Nairobi
Kiribati - Tarawa Atoll
Korea, North - Pyongyang
Korea, South - Seoul
Kosovo - Pristina
Kuwait - Kuwait City
Kyrgyzstan - Bishkek
Laos - Vientiane
Latvia - Riga
Lebanon - Beirut
Lesotho - Maseru
Liberia - Monrovia
Libya - Tripoli
Liechtenstein - Vaduz
Lithuania - Vilnius
Luxembourg - Luxembourg
Macedonia - Skopje
Madagascar - Antananarivo
Malawi - Lilongwe
Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur
Maldives - Male
Mali - Bamako
Malta - Valletta
Marshall Islands - Majuro
Mauritania - Nouakchott
Mauritius - Port Louis
Mexico - Mexico City
Micronesia, Federated States of - Palikir
Moldova - Chisinau
Monaco - Monaco
Mongolia - Ulaanbaatar
Montenegro - Podgorica
Morocco - Rabat
Mozambique - Maputo
Myanmar (Burma) - Rangoon (Yangon); Naypyidaw or Nay Pyi Taw (administrative)
Namibia - Windhoek
Nauru - no official capital; government offices in Yaren District
Nepal - Kathmandu
Netherlands - Amsterdam; The Hague (seat of government)
New Zealand - Wellington
Nicaragua - Managua
Niger - Niamey
Nigeria - Abuja
Norway - Oslo
Oman - Muscat
Pakistan - Islamabad
Palau - Melekeok
Panama - Panama City
Papua New Guinea - Port Moresby
Paraguay - Asuncion
Peru - Lima
Philippines - Manila
Poland - Warsaw
Portugal - Lisbon
Qatar - Doha
Romania - Bucharest
Russia - Moscow
Rwanda - Kigali
Saint Kitts and Nevis - Basseterre
Saint Lucia - Castries
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - Kingstown
Samoa - Apia
San Marino - San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe - Sao Tome
Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
Senegal - Dakar
Serbia - Belgrade
Seychelles - Victoria
Sierra Leone - Freetown
Singapore - Singapore
Slovakia - Bratislava
Slovenia - Ljubljana
Solomon Islands - Honiara
Somalia - Mogadishu
South Africa - Pretoria (administrative); Cape Town (legislative); Bloemfontein (judiciary)
Spain - Madrid
Sri Lanka - Colombo; Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative)
Sudan - Khartoum
Suriname - Paramaribo
Swaziland - Mbabane
Sweden - Stockholm
Switzerland - Bern
Syria - Damascus
Taiwan - Taipei
Tajikistan - Dushanbe
Tanzania - Dar es Salaam; Dodoma (legislative)
Thailand - Bangkok
Togo - Lome
Tonga - Nuku'alofa
Trinidad and Tobago - Port-of-Spain
Tunisia - Tunis
Turkey - Ankara
Turkmenistan - Ashgabat
Tuvalu - Vaiaku village, Funafuti province
Uganda - Kampala
Ukraine - Kyiv
United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi
United Kingdom - London
United States of America - Washington D.C.
Uruguay - Montevideo
Uzbekistan - Tashkent
Vanuatu - Port-Vila
Vatican City (Holy See) - Vatican City
Venezuela - Caracas
Vietnam - Hanoi
Yemen - Sanaa
Zambia - Lusaka
Zimbabwe - Harare

Asia

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Asia Travel - list of countries in Asia

Afghanistan - Armenia - Azerbaijan

Bahrain - Bangladesh - Bhutan - Brunei

Burma (Myanmar)

C

Cambodia - China

G

Georgia

Hong Kong

I

India - Indonesia - Iran - Iraq - Israel

J

Japan - Jordan

K

Kazakhstan - Korea, North - Korea, South - Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

L

Laos - Lebanon

M

Malaysia - Maldives - Mongolia - Myanmar

N

Nepal

O

Oman

P

Pakistan - Philippines

Q

Qatar

R

Russia

S

Saudi Arabia - Singapore - Sri Lanka - Syria

T

Taiwan - Tajikistan - Thailand - Turkey

Turkmenistan

U

United Arab Emirates - Uzbekistan

V

Vietnam

Y

Yemen

Vatican City State

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Awaiting content - please come back soon.

United Kingdom

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Ukraine

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Turkey

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Switzerland

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Switzerland Travel Guide

Name: Switzerland and Confoederatio Helvetica

Location: Central Europe (GMT+1)

Size: 41285 km²

Capital: Bern City

Currency: Swiss Francs (CHF)

History: Founded in 1291, independent since 1648

Languages: There are four official languages in Switzerland - German (74%), French (20%), Italian (4%) and Romansh (1%) - the remaining 1% speaks other languages.

Sweden

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Awaiting content - please come back soon.

Spain

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Slovenia

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Awaiting content - please come back soon.

Slovakia

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Serbia

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Awaiting content - please come back soon.

San Marino

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Russian Federation

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Romania

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Portugal

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Poland

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Norway

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Norway Travel Guide

Norway is a country in Northern Europe occupying the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, as well as Jan Mayen and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard under the Spitsbergen Treaty. The majority of the country shares a border to the east with Sweden; its northernmost region is bordered by Finland to the south and Russia to the east. The United Kingdom and Faroe Islands lie to its west across the North Sea, Iceland and Greenland lie to its west across the Norwegian Sea, and Denmark lies south of its southern tip across the Skagerrak Strait. Bouvet Island and Peter I Island are dependent territories of Norway, but not considered part of the Kingdom. Norway also lays claim to a section of Antarctica known as Queen Maud Land, a claim that has been recognised by Australia, France, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Norway's extensive coastline, facing the North Atlantic Ocean and the Barents Sea, is home to its famous fjords.

Netherlands

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Montenegro

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Montenegro Travel guide

Capital: Podgorica
Government: Republic
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Area: 13,812 sq km
Population: 684,736 (July 2007 est.)
Language: Montenegrin
Religion: Orthodox Christian 74%, Muslim 17%
Electricity: 230V/50Hz
Calling Code: +382
Internet TLD: .me (.cg.yu being phased out)
Time Zone: UTC +1

Montenegro is a country in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea. It borders Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to the north, Serbia to the northeast, Kosovo to the east, and Albania to the south. To the west of Montenegro is the Adriatic Sea.

Montenegro's tourism suffered greatly from Yugoslavia's tragic civil war in the 1990s. In recent years, along with the stabilized situation in the region, tourism in Montenegro has begun to recover, and Montenegro is being re-discovered by tourists from around the globe.

In 2007 the country received peak level of tourism which almost reached pre-war volumes. As a result, in 2008 many roads are being renovated (which affects driving time) and many hotels are being constructed or renovated (which results in in extra noise and inconvenience).

Monaco

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Monaco Travel guide

Capital: Monaco
Government: constitutional monarchy
Currency: euro (EUR)
Area: 1.95 sq km
Population: 32,671 (July 2007 est.)
Language: French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
Religion: Roman Catholic (90%)
Electricity: 230V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +377
Internet TLD: .mc
Time Zone: UTC +1

The principality of Monaco or the city-state Monaco lie in between the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea, bounded by the French Riviera to the west and the Italian Riviera to the east. It is the second smallest independent state in the world (after the Vatican) and is almost entirely urban. Monte Carlo is not the capital of Monaco but a government district. The country is divided into four areas: Monaco-Ville (the old city), the Condamine (port quarter), Monte-Carlo (business and recreation), and Fontvieille (recreation and light industry). With no natural resources to exploit other than its location and climate, the principality has become a resort for tourists and a tax haven for businesses. Monaco is six times the size of the Vatican and still remains the world's most densely populated independent country.

Moldova

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Moldova Travel guide

Capital: Chişinău
Government: republic
Currency: Moldovan leu (MDL)
Area: 33,843 sq km
Population: 4,455,421 (July 2006 est.)
Language: Moldovan (official, virtually the same as Romanian), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Religion: Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5%
Electricity: 230V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +373
Internet TLD: .md
Time Zone: UTC+2

Moldova is a small land-locked country in Eastern Europe, north of Balkans, surrounded by Romania to the southwest, across the Prut river, and Ukraine to the northeast.

Malta

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Malta Travel guide

Capital: Valletta
Government: republic
Currency: euro (EUR) - since 01 January 2008
Area: 316 sq km
Population: 400,214 (July 2006 est.)
Language: Maltese (official), English (official), Italian
Religion: Roman Catholic 98%
Electricity: 230V/50Hz (United Kingdom plug)
Calling Code: +356
Internet TLD: .mt
Time Zone: UTC +1

Malta is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea that lies south of the island of Sicily, Italy. The country is an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Għawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) being inhabited.

Macedonia, Rep. Of

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Macedonia Travel guide

Capital: Skopje
Government: parliamentary democracy
Currency: Macedonian denar (MKD)
Area: 25,333 sq km
Population: 2,022,547 (July 2007 est.)
Language: Macedonian 68%, Albanian 23%, Turkish 3%, Serbian 2%, other 4%
Religion: Macedonian Orthodox 64%, Muslim 33%, other 3%
Electricity: 220V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +389
Internet TLD: .mk
Time Zone: UTC +1

The Republic of Macedonia, is a landlocked country in the Balkans. It is bordered by Serbia and the disputed region of Kosovo to the north, Albania to the west, Bulgaria to the east, and Greece to the south. The constitutional name of the country is Republic of Macedonia and it is usually called simply Macedonia, despite the disambiguation concerns of the neighboring Greeks in the Greek province Macedonia and the official provisional name the country has under UN. The country controls a major transportation corridor from Western Europe and Central Europe to the Aegean Sea and Southern Europe.

Luxembourg

2009-10-01T00:39:00.007-07:00

Luxembourg Travel guide

Capital: Luxembourg
Government: constitutional monarchy
Currency: euro (EUR)
Area: 2,586 sq km
Population: 474,413 (July 2006 est.)
Language: Luxembourgish (national language), German and French (administrative languages)
Religion: 87% Roman Catholic, remainder Protestants, Jews, and Muslims
Electricity: 230V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +352
Internet TLD: .lu
Time Zone: UTC+1

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in the Benelux bordered by Belgium, France and Germany, lying at the crossroad of Germanic and Latin cultures. It is the only Grand Duchy in the world and is the second-smallest of the European Union member states.

With a successful steel, finance and high technology industry, a strategic location at the heart of Western Europe, more natural beauty than you might expect given its size, and as one of the top three richest countries in the world, Luxembourg enjoys a very high standard of living and has prices to match!

Lithuania

2009-10-01T00:39:00.005-07:00

Lithuania Travel Guide

Capital: Vilnius
Government: Parliamentary democracy
Currency: Litas (LTL)
Area total: 65,200 km2
Population: 3,585,906 (July 2006 est.)
Language: Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian, English
Religion: Roman Catholic (primarily), Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical Christian Baptist, Pagan
Electricity: 220V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +370
Internet TLD: .lt
Time Zone: UTC+2

Lithuania is a Baltic country in Europe. It has a Baltic Sea coastline in the west and surrounded by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east, Poland to the southwest, and Russia (Kaliningrad) to the west.

Liechtenstein

2009-10-01T00:39:00.003-07:00

Liechtenstein Travel guide

Capital: Vaduz
Government: Hereditary constitutional monarchy on a democratic and parliamentary basis
Currency: Swiss franc (CHF)
Area total: 160 km2
Population: 33,987 (July 2006 est.)
Language: German (official), Alemannic dialect
Religion: Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002)
Electricity: 230V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +423
Internet TLD: .li
Time Zone: UTC +1

The Principality of Liechtenstein is a small alpine country which is doubly landlocked by Switzerland and Austria (meaning it is landlocked by landlocked countries). It is the last remnant of the Holy Roman Empire and an independent state with close ties to Switzerland. It enjoys a high standard of living and is home to some very beautiful mountain scenery. The principality's capital, Vaduz, is a major center of commerce and international banking.

Latvia

2009-10-01T00:39:00.001-07:00

Latvia Travel Guide

Capital: Riga
Government: parliamentary democracy
Currency: Latvian lat (LVL)
Area: 64,589 sq km
Population: 2,274,735 (July 2006 est.)
Language: Latvian (official), Russian (understood, especially in Riga), English, other
Religion: Lutheran, Catholic, Muslim, Russian Orthodox, Jewish
Electricity: 220V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +371
Internet TLD: .lv
Time Zone: UTC+2

Latvia is a European state which is situated on the coast of Baltic Sea. One of the three Baltic states, Latvia is bordered by Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east, Belarus on the south east, and the Baltic Sea on the west. The most famous travel spot is the capital Riga, a World Heritage Site. It is however higly recommended to go to many other great places, both urban and rural, such as Liepaja with its unique former secret military town of Karosta and a magnificent beach. Kuldiga with Europe`s widest waterfall and Cesis with its medieval castle ruins are also interesting. Tourists can also enjoy the wild beauty of Latvia`s unspoilt sea coast, which is 500 km long and consists mainly of white, soft sandy beaches. Forests, which cover approximately a half of Latvia`s territory, offer many nature trails and nature parks.

Italy

2009-10-01T00:38:00.004-07:00

Italy Travel guide

Capital: Rome
Government: republic
Currency: euro € (EUR)
Area: 301,230 km2
Population: 59,619,290 (Jan 2008 est.)
Language: Italian (official); minor German, French and Slovene-speaking communities
Religion: predominately Roman Catholic with mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community
Electricity: 230V/50Hz (European or Italian plug)
Calling Code: +39
Internet TLD: .it
Time Zone: UTC+1

Italy is a large country in Southern Europe. It is home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites - art and monuments are everywhere around the country. It is also famous worldwide for its cuisine, its fashion, luxury sports cars and motorcycles, as well as for its beautiful coasts, lakes and mountains (the Alps and Appennines).

Two independent mini-states lie within Italy: San Marino and Vatican City. While technically not part of the European Union, both of these states are also part of the Schengen Region and the European Monetary Union.

Ireland

2009-10-01T00:38:00.003-07:00

Ireland Travel guide

Capital: Dublin
Government: Parliamentary Democracy
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Area: 70,280 sq km
Population: 4,172,013 (2006)
Language: English, Irish
Religion: Catholic 87.4%,
Church of Ireland (incl. Protestant) 2.9%,
Muslim 0.8%,
Other Religion 1.3%,
None 4.2%,
Not Stated 1.6%
Electricity: 230V/50Hz (United Kingdom plug)
Calling Code: +353
Internet TLD: .ie
Time Zone: UTC (End Oct to End Mar) and UTC+1 (End Mar to End Oct)

Ireland, known popularly as the Emerald Isle, is an island in north-western Europe which has been divided politically since 1920. Most of the island is made up of the Republic of Ireland. The remainder is Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom.

Iceland

2009-10-01T00:38:00.001-07:00

Iceland Travel guide

Capital: Reykjavík, the northernmost capital in the world
Government: Constitutional republic
Currency: Icelandic króna (ISK)
Area: 103,000 km2
Population: 320,169 (Oct 2008)
Language: Icelandic; English widely understood
Religion: Lutheran (official) 80.7%, other Protestant 4.1%, Roman Catholic 2.5%, Buddhist 0.2%, etc. (www.statice.is)
Electricity: 220V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +354
Internet TLD: .is
Time Zone: UTC

Iceland is a mountainous island nation in the north Atlantic Ocean, located between Europe and North America. Though not part of the continental mainland, the country is considered European. The name of the country - Iceland - may not be that appropriate: although 10% of Iceland is covered by glaciers, it has a surprisingly mild climate and countless geothermal hot-spots. The native spelling ("Ísland") is appropriate in English as well.

Hungary

2009-10-01T00:37:00.008-07:00

Hungary Travel guide

Capital: Budapest
Government: Parliamentary democracy
Currency: Forint (HUF)
Area: total: 93,030 km2
water: 690 km2
land: 92,340 km2
Population: 10,049,000 (2008 est.)
Language: Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%
Religion: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%, atheist and other 7.5%
Electricity: 230/50Hz (European Plug)
Calling Code: +36
Internet TLD: .hu
Time Zone: UTC +1

Hungary is a country in Central Europe. Member of the European Union and Schengen. The country offers many diverse destinations: relatively low mountains in the north-west, the Great Plain in the east, lakes and rivers of all sorts (including Balaton - the largest lake in Central Europe), and many beautiful small villages and hidden gems of cities. Top this off with Hungary's great accessibility in the middle of Europe, a vivid culture and economy, and you get a destination absolutely not worth missing if you're in the region.

Greenland

2009-10-01T00:37:00.007-07:00

Greenland Travel guide

Capital: Nuuk (Godthåb)
Government: Parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy
Currency: Danish krone (DKK)
Area: total 2,166,086 km2
land: 2,166,086 km2 (410,449 km2 ice-free, 1,755,637 km2 ice-covered) (est.)
Population: 56,344 (July 2007 est.)
Language: Greenlandic (Kalaallisut), Danish, English
Religion: Evangelical Lutheran
Calling Code: +299
Internet TLD: .gl
Time Zone: UTC to UTC-4

Greenland is the world's largest non-continental island, in the far northeast of North America, largely within the Arctic Circle. Although it's still part of the Kingdom of Denmark, it was granted self-government effective in 1979, more recently it voted for more autonomy, in effect making it a separate country with formal ties to Denmark. Some inhabitants are now projecting the eventual road to independence. Copenhagen remains responsible for its foreign affairs, and of course is a source of investment. The closest neighbouring countries are Iceland to the South-East, Canada to the West and Svalbard in Norway to the North-East.

The Greenland Tourism and Business council's official website provides a wealth of information for the would-be visitor.

Greece

2009-10-01T00:37:00.005-07:00

Greece Travel guide

Capital: Athens
Government: parliamentary republic
Currency: euro (EUR)
Area: 131,940 sq km
Population: 10,688,058 (July 2006 est.)
Language: Greek 99% (official)
Religion: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Electricity: 220V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +30
Internet TLD: .gr
Time Zone: UTC +2

Greece is a country in Southern Europe, on the southernmost tip of the Balkan peninsula, with extensive coastlines and islands in the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas. It shares borders in the north with Albania, the FYROM, Bulgaria, and Turkey. It has an ancient culture that has had a significant influence on the arts, language, philosophy, politics, and sports of western society, including the genres of comedy and drama, western alphabets, Platonic ideals and the Socratic method, democracies and republics, and the Olympics. Furthermore it's a geographically appealing place to visit, with a mountainous mainland and idyllic island beaches.

Gibraltar

2009-10-01T00:37:00.003-07:00

Gibraltar Travel guide

Capital: Gibraltar
Government: overseas territory of United Kingdom
Currency: Gibraltar pound (GIP)
Area: 6.5 sq km
Population: 27,928 (July 2006 est.)
Language: English (used in schools and for official purposes) and Spanish.
Religion: Roman Catholic 76.9%, Church of England 6.9%, Muslim 6.9%, Jewish 2.3%, none or other 7%
Electricity: 230V/50Hz (UK 3 pin plug)
Calling Code: +350
Internet TLD: .gi
Time Zone: UTC+1

Gibraltar, colloquially known as The Rock, is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom on the southern coast of Spain at the entrance to the Mediterranean sea. The people are British Citizens.

Germany

2009-10-01T00:37:00.001-07:00

Germany Travel guide

Capital: Berlin
Government: Federal Republic
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Area: 357,021 sq km
Population: 82,400,996 (July 2007 est.)
Language: German
Religion: Christianity is the largest religion in Germany with 54,765,265 (67.07%) adherents as of the end of 2006.[1][2] The second largest religion is Islam with 3.3 million adherents (4%)[1] followed by Buddhism and Judaism.
Electricity: 230V/50Hz
Calling Code: +49
Internet TLD: .de
Time Zone: UTC +1

The Federal Republic of Germany is the largest country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by Denmark, to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic, to the south by Austria and Switzerland, and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands. Germany is a federation of 16 states, similar to the US, each with a distinct and unique culture and contrary to the general foreigner's conception not a very homogenous nation.

France

2009-10-01T00:36:00.008-07:00

France Travel Guide

Capital: Paris
Government: Republic
Currency: euro or € (EUR)
Area: 547,030 km2
Population: 61,538,322 (April 2007) in non-overseas France
Language: French, some regional languages and dialects
Religion: (numbers of unclear basis) Roman Catholic 83%-88%,
Muslim 5%-10%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, unaffiliated 4%
Calling Code: 33
Internet TLD: .fr
Time Zone: UTC +1

Finland

2009-10-01T00:36:00.007-07:00

Finland Travel guide

Capital: Helsinki
Government: republic
Currency: euro (EUR)
Area: 337,030 sq km
Population: 5,231,372 (July 2006 est.)
Language: Finnish 92% (official), Swedish 5.5% (official), small Sámi- and Russian-speaking minorities
Religion: Evangelical Lutheran 82.5%, Russian Orthodox 1.1%, other 1.2%, none 15.1%[1]
Electricity: 230V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +358
Internet TLD: .fi
Time Zone: UTC +2

Finland is in Northern Europe and has borders with Russia to the east, Norway to the north, and Sweden to the west. The country is thoroughly modern with well-planned and comfortable small towns and cities, but still offers vast areas of unspoiled nature. Finland has approximately 188,000 lakes (about 10% of the country) and a similar number of islands. In the northernmost part of the country the Northern Lights can be seen in the winter and midnight sun in the summer. Finns also claim the mythical mountain of Korvatunturi as the home of Santa Claus, and a burgeoning tourist industry in Lapland caters to Santa fans. Despite living in one of the most technologically developed countries in the world, the Finns love to head to their summer cottages in the warmer months to enjoy all manner of relaxing pastimes including sauna, swimming, fishing and barbecuing.

Faroe Islands

2009-10-01T00:36:00.005-07:00

Faroe Islands Travel guide

Capital: Tórshavn, one of the smallest capitals in the world
Government: Self governing region of the Kingdom of Denmark
Currency: Danish krone (DKK), Faroese króna at par
Area: 1,399 sq km
Population: 47,246 (July 2006 est.)
Language: Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish. English; Nordic; widely spoken
Religion: Evangelical Lutheran
Electricity: 230V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +298
Internet TLD: .fo
Time Zone: UTC

The Faroe or Faeroe Islands are 18 islands in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of Scotland and halfway between Iceland and Norway. The Islands are a self-governing island territory of Denmark, although they politically aim for higher independence. The Islands have a population of nearly 50.000, and a language and culture of their own. When visiting the Faroes you are never more than 5 km (3 miles) away from the ocean. The countryside is dominated by steep mountains and there are about 70,000 sheep and some 2 million pairs of seabirds, including the largest colony of storm petrels in the world. Most visitors to the islands come between early July and late August when the weather is fairest.

Estonia

2009-10-01T00:36:00.003-07:00

Estonia Travel guide

Capital: Tallinn
Government: Parliamentary republic
Currency: Estonian kroon (EEK)
Area total: 45,226 sq km
Population: 1,324,333 (July 2006 est.)
Language: Estonian (official)
Religion: Evangelical Lutheran, Estonian Traditional/Native Belief, Russian Orthodox, Estonian Orthodox
Electricity: 230V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +372
Internet TLD: .ee
Time Zone: UTC+2

Estonia is a Baltic state in Northern Europe. It has land borders with Latvia and Russia. With a coastline on the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, Estonia also has seaborders with Finland and Sweden.

Denmark

2009-10-01T00:36:00.001-07:00

Denmark Travel guide

Capital: Copenhagen
Government: Constitutional monarchy
Currency: Danish krone (DKK)
Area: 43,094 sq km; note: excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland
Population: 5,475,791 (January 2008 est.)
Language: Danish
Religion: Evangelical Lutheran 82%, Non-religious 13%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, Muslim 2%
Electricity: 230V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +45
Internet TLD: .dk
Time Zone: UTC+1

Denmark is a country in Scandinavia. The main part of it is Jutland, a peninsula north of Germany, but also with a number of islands, including the two major ones, Zealand and Funen, in Østersøen Sea between Jutland and Sweden.

Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the general political and economic integration of Europe. However, the country has opted out of European Union's Maastricht Treaty, the European monetary system (EMU), and issues concerning certain internal affairs.

Denmark is also the birthplace of one of the world's most popular toys, Lego. There is no other better place in the world where one can buy Lego bricks than at the Legoland theme park in Billund.

Czech Republic

2009-10-01T00:35:00.001-07:00

Czech Republic Travel guide

Capital: Prague
Government: parliamentary democracy
Currency: Czech crown (CZK) - "koruna"
Area total: 78,866 sq km
Population: 10,235,455 (July 2006 est.)
Language: Czech, Slovak
Religion: agnostic and atheist 59%, Roman Catholic 26.8%, Protestant 2.1%, other 3.3%, unspecified 8.8%
Electricity: 230V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: 420
Internet TLD: .cz
Time Zone: UTC + 1 (winter time) UTC+2 (summer time)

The Czech Republic is a small landlocked country in Central Europe, situated south-east of Germany and bordering Austria to the south, Poland to the north and Slovakia (with which it used to form one country of Czechoslovakia) to the south-east.

Cyprus

2009-10-01T00:34:00.002-07:00

Cyprus Travel guide

Capital: Nicosia
Government: republic
Currency: euro (€1 = 100 cents)
Area: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish Cypriot area)
Population: 784,301 (July 2006 est.)
Language: Greek, Turkish, English
Religion: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and other 4%
Electricity: 240V/50Hz (UK plug)
Calling Code: +357
Internet TLD: .cy
Time Zone: UTC +2

Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey. After Sicily and Sardinia, Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Although the island lies close to the Middle East, it is considered to be a European country and is a member of the European Union.

Croatia (Hrvatska)

2009-10-01T00:34:00.001-07:00

Croatia Travel guide

Capital: Zagreb
Government: parliamentary democracy
Currency: kuna (HRK)
Area: 56,542 sq km
Population: 4,493,312 (July 2007 est.)
Language: Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Serbian, Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German)
Religion: Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, Muslim 1.3%, other Christian 0.4%, others and unknown 6.1%
Electricity: 230V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +385
Internet TLD: .hr
Time Zone: UTC +1

Croatia is a country in the Balkans on the east side of the Adriatic Sea, to the east of Italy. It is surrounded by Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the north, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the southeast, Serbia in the east, and Montenegro to the south.

Bulgaria

2009-10-01T00:33:00.000-07:00

Bulgaria Travel guide

Capital: Sofia
Government: parliamentary democracy
Currency: lev (BGN)
Area: 110,910 sq km
Population: 7,385,367 (July 2006 est.)
Language: Bulgarian
Religion: Bulgarian Orthodox 83.8%, Muslim 12.1%, Roman Catholic 1.7%, Jewish 0.1%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 2.3% (1998)
Electricity: 220V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +359
Internet TLD: .bg
Time Zone: UTC+2

Bulgaria is a country in the Balkans on the western side of the Black Sea. It is surrounded by Romania to the north, Serbia to the northwest, the Republic of Macedonia to the southwest, Greece to the south, and Turkey to the southeast. Being located close to the Turkish Straits means the key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia pass through Bulgaria.

Bosnia & Herzegovina

2009-10-01T00:25:00.002-07:00

Bosnia and Herzegovina Travel guide

Capital: Sarajevo
Government: Federal Democratic Republic
Currency: Convertible Mark (BAM)
Area: 51,129 sq km
Population: 4,552,198 (July 2007 est.)
Language: Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian
Religion: Muslim 44%, Orthodox 33%, Roman Catholic 12%, other 11% [est. in 1990]
Electricity: 220V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +387
Internet TLD: .ba
Time Zone: UTC+1

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a Balkan country that was formerly part of Yugoslavia. It borders Croatia to the north, west and southwest, Serbia to the east and Montenegro to the southeast. Mostly mountainous, it has access to a tiny portion of the Adriatic Sea coastline in the south.

Belgium

2009-10-01T00:25:00.001-07:00

Belgium Travel guide

Capital: Brussels
Government: Federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Area: 30,510 km2
Population: 10,414,336 (July 2009 est.)
Language: Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 32%, German (official) less than 1%, 8% bilingual Dutch-French
Religion: Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25% - most people aren't practising religious.
Electricity: 220/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +32
Internet TLD: .be
Time Zone: UTC +1

Belgium is a low-lying country on the North Sea coast in the Benelux. With the majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of the Belgian capital of Brussels, and as a member of the long-standing international Benelux community, Belgium sits at the crossroads of Western Europe. Its immediate neighbors are France to the southwest, Luxembourg to the southeast, Germany to the east and the Netherlands to the north.

Belarus

2009-10-01T00:24:00.003-07:00

Belarus Travel guide

Capital: Minsk
Government: Republic (de facto dictatorship)
Currency: Belarusian ruble (BYB/BYR)
Area: 207,600 km2
Population: 10,293,011 (July 2006 est.)
Language: Belarusian, Russian, Polish, other
Religion: Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20%
Electricity: 220V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +375
Internet TLD: .by
Time Zone: UTC +2

Belarus is an ancient Slavonic country situated in the East of Europe. It has borders with Russia in the North and the East. On the Ukraine in the southeast, on Poland in the West and on Latvia and Lithuania in the northwest.

Austria

2009-10-01T00:24:00.001-07:00

Austria Travel guide

Capital: Vienna
Government: federal republic
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Area: 83,858 sq km
Population: 8,199,783 (July 2007 est.)
Language: German, regional Slovenian, Serbo-Croatian, Hungarian
Religion: Roman Catholic 78%, Protestant 5%, Agnostics and Atheists 12%, Muslim and other 5%
Electricity: 230V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +43
Internet TLD: .at
Time Zone: UTC +1

Austria is a land-locked alpine country in Central Europe bordering Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west, Germany and Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east and Slovenia and Italy to the south. Austria, along with neighboring Switzerland, is the winter sports capital of Europe. However, it is just as popular for summer tourists who visit its historic cities and villages and hike in the magnificent scenery of the alps.

Andorra

2009-10-01T00:23:00.000-07:00

Andorra Travel guide

Capital: Andorra La Vella
Government: parliamentary democracy
Currency: euro (EUR)
Area: 468 sq km
Population: 71,201 (July 2006 est.)
Language: Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese
Religion: Roman Catholic (predominant and official)
Electricity: 220/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +376
Internet TLD: .ad
Time Zone: UTC +1

Andorra is a small, mountainous country in the Pyrenees mountains in Europe, and is on the Iberian Peninsula, on the border between France and Spain, in Southern Europe. High up in the Pyrenee mountains it is a unique place to visit. In winter time Andorra has some fine ski slopes to explore. In summer it is an enjoyable stop when going from Spain to France. The capital, Andorra la vella is a nice town, with a few good museums and a relaxed atmosphere.

Albania

2009-10-01T00:22:00.000-07:00

Albania Travel guide

Capital: Tirana
Government: Developing Democracy
Currency: Lek (ALL)
Area: 28,748 sq km
Population: 3,600,523 (July 2007 est.)
Language: Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect)
Religions: Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%
note: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice
Electricity: 230V/50Hz (European plug)
Calling Code: +355
Internet TLD: .al
Time Zone: UTC +1

Albania is located in the south-eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, a small country bordered by Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, and Montenegro. The country has witnessed many vicissitudes in its eventful history - from the passing of Ceasar's army over fleeing refugees and bloody vendettas, to years of dictatorial rule. In sharp contrast with this is the extreme, almost medieval, hospitability of the Albanians. Albania manages to offer tourists the traditional Mediterranean charm and a heady blend of different religions, cultures and landscapes.

Europe

2009-09-30T23:15:00.000-07:00

Europe's Travel - list of countries in Europe

Albania - Andorra - Austria

Belarus - Belgium - Bosnia & Herzegovina - Bulgaria

Croatia (Hrvatska) - Cyprus - Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Faroe Islands - Finland - France

Germany - Gibraltar - Greece - Greenland

Hungary

Iceland - Ireland - Italy

Latvia - Liechtenstein - Lithuania - Luxembourg

Macedonia, Rep. Of - Malta - Moldova - Monaco - Montenegro

Netherlands - Norway

Poland - Portugal

Romania - Russian Federation

San Marino - Serbia - Slovakia - Slovenia - Spain

Sweden - Switzerland

Turkey

Ukraine - United Kingdom

Vatican City State

Canada

2009-09-30T10:51:00.000-07:00

Canada , independent nation (2001 pop. 30,007,094), 3,851,787 sq mi (9,976,128 sq km), N North America. Canada occupies all of North America N of the United States (and E of Alaska) except for Greenland and the French islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon. It is bounded on the E by the Atlantic Ocean, on the N by the Arctic Ocean, and on the W by the Pacific Ocean and Alaska. A transcontinental border, formed in part by the Great Lakes, divides Canada from the United States; Nares and Davis straits separate Canada from Greenland. The Arctic Archipelago extends far into the Arctic Ocean.

Canada is a federation of 10 provinces— Newfoundland and Labrador , Nova Scotia , New Brunswick , Prince Edward Island , Quebec , Ontario , Manitoba , Saskatchewan , Alberta , and British Columbia —and three territories— Nunavut , the Northwest Territories , and the Yukon Territory . Canada's capital is Ottawa and its largest city is Toronto . Other important cities include Montreal , Vancouver , Edmonton , Calgary , Winnipeg , Hamilton , and Quebec .

Belize

2009-09-30T10:48:00.001-07:00

Belize , independent state within the Commonwealth of Nations (2005 est. pop. 279,500), 8,867 sq mi (22,965 sq km), Central America, on the Caribbean Sea. Belize is bounded on the N by Mexico, on the S and W by Guatemala, and on the E by the Caribbean. The capital is Belmopan. Belize City, the capital until 1970, is the largest city and main port.

Barbados

2009-09-30T10:46:00.001-07:00

Barbados , island state (2005 est. pop. 279,300), 166 sq mi (430 sq km), in the West Indies. The capital and largest city is Bridgetown .

Land, People, and Economy

The island, E of St. Vincent, in the Windward Islands, is the easternmost of the Caribbean islands. It is low and rises gradually toward its highest point at Mt. Hillaby (1,104 ft/336 m). Although there is ample rainfall from June to December, there are no rivers, and water must be pumped from subterranean caverns. About 90% of the population is of African descent, 4% are of European descent, and about 6% are of Asian or mixed descent. English-speaking, the majority of Barbadians are Protestant.

The porous soil and moderate warmth are excellent for the cultivation of sugarcane, which was historically the island's main occupation. Today, sugar and molasses remain important products and are the country's largest exports. The healthful and equable climate makes it a very popular tourist resort, and tourism is the country's largest industry. Manufacturing (largely chemicals, electrical components, clothing, and rum) and banking are growing sectors of the economy. The United States, other Caribbean islands, and Great Britain are the main trading partners.

History

Although it was probably originally inhabited by Arawaks, it was uninhabited when the English expeditionaries first settled there in 1627 (1605, according to local tradition). Barbados remained a British colony until independence was granted in 1966. During the 19th cent. it was the administrative headquarters of the Windward Islands, but in 1885 it became a separate colony. It later was a member of the short-lived West Indies Federation (1958-62). The island became an independent associated state of the Commonwealth of Nations in 1966. The bicameral parliament consists of a 17-member Senate appointed by the governor-general and a 17-member elected House of Representatives. The Democratic Labor party (DLP) held power from 1986 until 1994, when the Barbados Labor party (BLP) won a legislative majority; Owen Arthur became prime minister. Arthur and the BLP retained power after the 1999 and 2003 elections. In 2008 the DLP defeated the BLP, and David Thompson became prime minister.

The Bahamas

2009-09-30T10:37:00.001-07:00

the Bahamas , officially Commonwealth of the Bahamas, independent nation (2005 est. pop. 301,800), 4,403 sq mi (11,404 sq km), in the Atlantic Ocean, consisting of some 700 islands and islets and about 2,400 cays, beginning c.50 mi (80 km) off SE Florida and extending c.600 mi (970 km) SE almost to Haiti. The country does not include the Turks and Caicos Islands , to the southeast, which, although geographically part of the archipelago, have been separately administered by Great Britain since 1848. The capital and principal city is Nassau , on New Providence island. Other chief islands are known as "out islands" or "family islands."

Land and People

The islands, composed mainly of limestone and coral, rise from a vast submarine plateau. Most are generally low and flat, riverless, with many mangrove swamps, brackish lakes (connected with the ocean by underground passages), and coral reefs and shoals. Fresh water is obtained from rainfall and from desalinization. Navigation is hazardous, and many of the outer islands are uninhabited and undeveloped, although steps have been taken to improve transportation facilities. Hurricanes occasionally cause severe damage, but the climate is generally excellent. In addition to New Providence, other main islands are Grand Bahama, Great and Little Abaco (see Abaco and Cays ), the Biminis , Andros, Eleuthera, Cat Island, San Salvador , Great and Little Exuma (Exuma and Cays), Long Island, Crooked Island, Acklins Island, Mayaguana, and Great and Little Inagua (see Inagua ).

The population is primarily of African and mixed African and European descent; some 12% is of European heritage, with small minorities of Asian and Hispanic descent. More than three quarters of the people belong to one of several Protestant denominations and nearly 15% are Roman Catholic. English is the official language. The Bahamas have a relatively low illiteracy rate. The government provides free education through the secondary level; the College of the Bahamas was established in 1974, although most Bahamians who seek a higher education study in Jamaica or elsewhere.

Economy

The islands' vivid subtropical atmosphere—brilliant sky and sea, lush vegetation, flocks of bright-feathered birds, and submarine gardens where multicolored fish swim among white, rose, yellow, and purple coral—as well as rich local color and folklore, has made the Bahamas one of the most popular resorts in the hemisphere. The islands' many casinos are an additional attraction, and tourism is by far the country's most important industry, providing 60% of the gross domestic product and employing about half of the workforce. Financial services are the nation's other economic mainstay, although many international businesses left after new government regulations on the financial sector were imposed in late 2000. Salt, rum, aragonite, and pharmaceuticals are produced, and these, along with animal products and chemicals, are the chief exports. The Bahamas also possess facilities for the transshipment of petroleum. The country's main trading partners are the United States and Spain. Since the 1960s, the transport of illegal narcotic drugs has been a problem, as has the flow of illegal refugees from other islands.

Government

The Bahamas are governed under the constitution of 1973 and have a parliamentary form of government. There is a bicameral legislature consisting of a 16-seat Senate and a 40-seat House of Assembly. The prime minister is the head of government, and the monarch of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, represented by an appointed governor-general, is the titular head of state. The nation is divided into 21 administrative districts.

History

Before the arrival of Europeans, the Bahamas were inhabited by the Lucayos, a group of Arawaks. Christopher Columbus first set foot in the New World in the Bahamas (1492), presumably at San Salvador, and claimed the islands for Spain. Although the Lucayos were not hostile, they were soon exterminated by the Spanish, who did not in fact colonize the islands.

The first settlements were made in the mid-17th cent. by the English. In 1670 the islands were granted to the lords proprietors of Carolina, who did not relinquish their claim until 1787, although Woodes Rogers , the first royal governor, was appointed in 1717. Under Rogers the pirates and buccaneers, notably Blackbeard , who frequented the Bahama waters, were driven off. The Spanish attacked the islands several times, and an American force held Nassau for a short time in 1776. In 1781 the Spanish captured Nassau and took possession of the whole colony, but under the terms of the Treaty of Paris (1783) the islands were ceded to Great Britain.

After the American Revolution many Loyalists settled in the Bahamas, bringing with them black slaves to labor on cotton plantations. Plantation life gradually died out after the emancipation of slaves in 1834. Blockade-running into Southern ports in the U.S. Civil War enriched some of the islanders, and during the prohibition era in the United States the Bahamas became a base for rum-running.

The United States leased areas for bases in the Bahamas in World War II and in 1950 signed an agreement with Great Britain for the establishment of a proving ground and a tracking station for guided missiles. In 1955 a free trade area was established at the town of Freeport. It proved enormously successful in stimulating tourism and has attracted offshore banking.

In the 1950s black Bahamians, through the Progressive Liberal party (PLP), began to oppose successfully the ruling white-controlled United Bahamian party; but it was not until the 1967 elections that they were able to win control of the government. The Bahamas were granted limited self-government as a British crown colony in 1964, broadened (1969) through the efforts of Prime Minister Lynden O. Pindling . The PLP, campaigning on a platform of immediate independence, won an overwhelming victory in the 1972 elections and negotiations with Britain were begun.

On July 10, 1973, the Bahamas became a sovereign state within the Commonwealth of Nations. In 1992, after 25 years as prime minister and facing recurrent charges of corruption and ties to drug traffickers, Pindling was defeated by Hubert Ingraham of the Free National Movement (FNM). A feeble economy, mostly due to a decrease in tourism and the poor management of state-owned industries, was Ingraham's main policy concern. Ingraham was returned to office in 1997 with an ironclad majority, but lost power in 2002 when the PLP triumphed at the polls and PLP leader Perry Christie replaced Ingraham as prime minister. Concern over the government's readiness to accommodate the tourist industry contributed to the PLP's losses in the 2007 elections, and Ingraham and the FNM regained power.

North America

2009-09-30T10:19:00.000-07:00

North America Travel - List of countries

A

Anguilla - Antigua a nd Barbuda - Aruba

B
Bahamas - Barbados - Belize - Bermuda - British Virgin Islands

C
Canada - Cayman Islands - Clipperton Island - Costa Rica - Cuba

D
Dominica - Dominican Republic

E
El Salvador

G
Greenland - Grenada - Guadeloupe - Guatemala

H
Haiti - Honduras

J
Jamaica

M
Martinique - Mexico - Montserrat

N
Navassa Island - Netherlands Antilles - Nicaragua

P
Panama - Puerto Rico

S
Saint Barthelemy - Saint Kitts and Nevis - Saint Lucia - Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago - Turks and Caicos Islands

U
United States - United States Virgin Islands

Greenland

2009-09-30T10:11:00.000-07:00

Greenland Green. Kalaallit Nunaat, Dan. Gronland, the largest island in the world (2005 est. pop. 56,000), 836,109 sq mi (2,166,086 sq km), self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark, lying largely within the Arctic Circle. It is surrounded by the Arctic Ocean in the north; the Greenland Sea in the east; the Denmark Strait in the southeast, which separates it from Iceland; the Atlantic Ocean in the south; and Davis Strait and Baffin Bay in the west, which separate it from Baffin Island, Canada. The capital is Nuuk (formerly Godthab).

Land and People

Greenland is 1,659 mi (2,670 km) long from Cape Farewell (lat. 59°46?N) to Cape Morris Jesup (lat. 82°39?N) and has a maximum width of about 800 mi (1,290 km). Geologically, the island is part of the Canadian Shield and, therefore, of North America; more than 50% of its ice-free area consists of rocks of the Precambrian, mostly granites and gneisses. Mountain chains parallel Greenland's east and west coasts; Mt. Gunnbjorn (12,139 ft/3,700 m) and Mt. Forel (11,024 ft/3,360 m), both in SE Greenland, are the highest peaks. The entire coastline of Greenland is deeply indented by fjords. There are many offshore islands, of which Disko , in W Greenland, is the largest.

Except for about 158,430 sq mi (410,450 sq km) of coastland and coastal islands, an ice sheet and numerous minor ice caps and glaciers cover the island. The extreme northern peninsula ( Peary Land ) has no ice sheet but does have local ice caps. The thickness of the ice sheet reaches c.14,000 ft (4,300 m) in some places. Two drilling operations on the highest part of the ice sheet ( "Summit" in N Greenland) in 1992 and 1993 both reached bottom, with the deepest core measuring 10,016 ft (3,053 m) from surface to bottom. Studies of the compositiom of the ice cores have permitted new insights into the climatic history of the last 200,000-300,000 years. The ice moves outward from the center, entering the sea in walls or debouching in glaciers, of which Humboldt Glacier is the largest and Jakobshavn Glacier the most calf-ice productive. These rapidly moving glaciers calve tremendous icebergs, notably into the Davis Strait, through which they frequently reach Atlantic shipping lanes. Surveys conducted from 1993 to 1998 showed the ice sheet in southern Greenland to be shrinking by about 2 cu mi (8 cu km) each year, but ice cores collected in the area suggested that such changes may be similar to those that occurred in the past. From 1996 to 2004, however, the amount of ice melting each year in Greenland increased by 2 1/2 times, leading to concerns that the sea level could rise significantly during the 21st century.

Cold winds rush out from Greenland's interior, making the weather uncertain and foggy. A polar ocean current flows south along the entire east coast and around Cape Farewell, carrying immense ice floes that make the sea approach to E Greenland hazardous. The North Atlantic Drift gives the southwest coast of Greenland a warmer climate and heavy rainfall.

There are no forests in Greenland; dwarf trees are found in the southern coastal areas. Natural vegetation also includes mosses, lichens, grasses, and sedges. The polar bear, musk ox, polar wolf, lemming, Arctic hare, and reindeer are the chief land animals.

In addition to the capital, other important settlements are Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg), Aasiaat (Egedesminde), Qaqortoq (Julianehab), Maniitsoq (Sukkertoppen), and Ilulissat (Jakobshavn). More than 90% of the island's population live along the west coast. About 88% of the people are Inuits or Greenland-born Caucasians; the balance are mainly Danish. The major religion is Evangelical Lutheran. Inuit dialects, Danish, and English are spoken.

Economy

Fishing (shrimp, halibut, salmon, and cod) is the main industry, and dozens of processing plants have been constructed in the south and southwest. Some of the world's largest shrimp beds are in Disko Bay. In the north and east seals, foxes, and polar bears are hunted. Seabirds are hunted for their flesh, eggs, and down. Reindeer are herded and there is extensive sheep breeding in the southern area.

Gold, niobium, tantalite, uranium, iron, and diamonds are mined. Deposits of cryolite, zinc, and lead, which were important to Greenland's mining industry, have been largely worked out. Copper, coal, oil, and molybdenum deposits also exist but are difficult to extract. The country is gradually shifting its electricity production from fossil fuel to hydropower.

Greenland has gradually modernized its economy but still depends heavily on its fishing industry, and fish products are its largest export. The country must import most machinery and transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, and petroleum products. Tourism is being developed. Significant financial support from Denmark, however, remains essential. Greenland has benefited from greatly improved air transportation and telecommunications in recent years.

Government

A Danish colony until 1953, Greenland then became a province; it attained home rule in 1979 and began full self-government in 1981. Greenland has a 31-member unicameral parliament (Landsting) and a premier and sends two representatives to the Danish Folketing. The territory is divided into three districts. The nominal head of state is the Danish monarch, represented by a high commissioner.

History

The earliest Palaeo-Eskimo cultures had already arrived in Greenland from Canada by c.2,500 BC The Thule Eskimo culture first arrived in N Greenland c.AD 900 and in the following 1,000 years spread to both W and E Greenland. From Iceland, Greenland was discovered and S Greenland colonized (c.985) by Eric the Red , a Norseman, who named it Greenland in order to make it seem attractive to potential settlers. It was in sailing to Greenland (c.1000) that Leif Ericsson , the son of Eric the Red, probably reached North America. Greenland became a bishopric c.1110, and ruins of churches of that period remain. By the 12th cent. the population numbered some 10,000.

Greenland became self-governing, with its own Althing, but failed to achieve political stability. In 1261 the colony came under Norwegian rule, but in the 14th and 15th cent. it was neglected, and the colonists either died out or assimilated with the Eskimos. The British explorers Martin Frobisher and John Davis rediscovered Greenland in the 16th cent. but found no trace of Norsemen. Other explorers looking for the Northwest Passage subsequently charted much of the coast.

Modern colonization was begun (1721) by the Norwegian missionary Hans Egede . Danish trading posts were established shortly afterward, and colonization was furthered by deporting undesirable subjects to Greenland. Soon, the native Greenlanders began to suffer from European diseases; tuberculosis remained a problem into the 1960s. In 1814, with the Treaty of Kiel, Denmark retained Greenland and other Atlantic possessions when Norway was ceded to Sweden, which, for strategic reasons, was interested in control of the Scandinavian peninsula but not in overseas commitments of the outlying Norwegian possessions.

In the 19th and 20th cent., Greenland was explored and mapped by numerous arctic explorers. In World War II, after the German occupation (1940) of Denmark, the United States invoked the Monroe Doctrine for Greenland and reached an agreement (1941) with the Danish minister at Washington that permitted the establishment of U.S. military bases and meteorological stations. A Danish-American agreement for the common defense of Greenland was signed in 1951, and U.S. bases were retained, notably at Thule . Thule is now the sole remaining U.S. military base in Greenland.

Greenland joined the European Community (now the European Union [EU]) with Denmark in 1972 but withdrew in 1985 after a controversy over stringent fishing quotas. Since then, relations with the EU have been based on special agreements. Lars-Emil Johansen became premier in 1991; in 1995 he remained in power as head of a coalition that favored increased autonomy from Denmark and greater internal economic development.

Johansen retired in 1997 and was replaced by his coalition partner Jonathan Motzfeldt, who retained office after the 1999 elections. Following elections in 2002, Motzfeldt was replaced as premier by fellow party member Hans Enoksen. A political scandal involving misuse of funds forced an election in Nov., 2005; Enoksen remained prime minister of an expanded coalition.

El Salvador

2009-09-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

El Salvador , officially Republic of El Salvador, republic (2005 est. pop. 6,705,000), 8,260 sq mi (21,393 sq km), Central America. The country is bounded on the south by the Pacific Ocean, on the west by Guatemala, and on the north and east by Honduras. The capital and largest city is San Salvador .

Land and People

Two volcanic ranges, running roughly west to east, segment the country, but in between are broad, fertile valleys, such as that of the Lempa, the principal river. There are several fairly large lakes. El Salvador is the smallest Latin American republic and the most densely populated; overpopulation is a critical problem. The vast majority of the population is of mixed indigenous and European descent. Spanish is the official language. Roman Catholicism the dominant religion, but there is a growing minority who belong to evangelical Protestant churches.

Economy

El Salvador's economy has traditionally been agricultural, but services and industry now employ a greater percentage of the workforce and account for a much higher percentage of the gross domestic product. El Salvador's economy was adversely affected by its 12-year civil war. Beginning in the early 1990s, however, attempts were made to revive the country's economic life, and the economy had recovered by the beginning of 2001, when El Salvador adopted the U.S. dollar as its official currency.

About half of the land is used for either crops or pasturage. Corn is the chief subsistence crop, and rice, beans, oilseeds, and sorghum are also grown; coffee and sugar are the major cash crops. Food and beverage processing is important and petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, and light metals are among El Salvador's leading manufactures. The Inter-American Highway crosses El Salvador and forms the heart of an excellent transportation system that links San Salvador with the ports of La Union , Acajutla , and La Libertad and the inland cities of San Miguel and Santa Ana .

Offshore assembly products, coffee, sugar, shrimp, textiles, and chemicals are El Salvador's main exports. The leading imports are raw materials, consumer and capital goods, fuel, food, petroleum, and electricity. The United States is by far the largest trading partner.

Government

El Salvador is governed under the constitution of 1983. The president, who is both head of state and head of government, is popularly elected for a five-year term and may not succeed himself. The members of the 84-seat unicameral Legislative Assembly are elected for three-year terms. The principal parties are the National Republican Alliance (ARENA), the Christian Democratic party (PDC), and the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN). The country is divided administratively into 14 departments.

History

Before the arrival of the Spaniards, El Salvador was inhabited by the Pipils, descendants of the Aztecs and the Toltecs of Mexico, who had arrived in the 12th cent. In 1524 Pedro de Alvarado landed and began a series of campaigns that resulted in Spanish control. With independence from Spain in 1821, it became briefly a part of the Mexican Empire of Augustin de Iturbide , and after the empire collapsed (1823) El Salvador joined the Central American Federation . El Salvador protested the dominance of Guatemala and under Francisco Morazan succeeded in having the federal capital transferred (1831) to San Salvador. After the dissolution of the federation (1839), the republic was plagued by frequent interference from the dictators of neighboring countries, notably Rafael Carrera and Justo Rufino Barrios of Guatemala and Jose Santos Zelaya of Nicaragua.

The primacy of coffee cultivation in the economy began in the second half of the 19th cent. Intense cultivation led to the predominance of landed proprietors, and the economy became vulnerable to fluctuations in the world market price for coffee. In 1931, Maximiliano Hernandez Martinez , capitalizing on discontent caused by the collapse of coffee prices, led a coup. His dictatorship lasted until 1944, after which there was chronic political unrest.

Under the authoritarian rule of Major Oscar Osorio (1950-56) and Lt. Col. Jose Maria Lemus (1956-60) considerable economic progress was made. Lemus was overthrown by a coup, and after a confused period a junta composed of leaders of the National Conciliation party came to power in June, 1961. The junta's candidate, Lt. Col. Julio Adalberto Rivera , was elected president in 1962. He was succeeded in 1967 by Col. Fidel Sanchez Hernandez .

Relations with Honduras deteriorated in the late 1960s. There was a border clash in 1967, and a four-day war broke out in July, 1969. The Salvadoran forces that had invaded Honduras were withdrawn, but not until 1992 was an agreement that largely settled the border controversy with Honduras signed. The last disputed border area was finally marked in 2006.

In the 1970s El Salvador's overpopulation, economic problems, and inequitable social system led to social and political unrest; by the end of the decade, murder and other terrorism by leftist guerrillas and especially by right-wing "death squads" had become common. In 1979, Gen. Carlos Humberto Romero, the last in a series of presidents whose elections were denounced by many as fraudulent, was overthrown by a military junta. Murders and other terrorism continued, and the unrest erupted into a full-scale civil war between the government and guerrillas of the leading opposition group, the FMLN.

In 1990, Jose Napoleon Duarte , a Christian Democrat, assumed the presidency under the junta and called for presidential elections, which he won in 1984. Despite his reputation as a reformer, he did not appear able to rein in the army and control the death squads. These excesses continued after the election in 1989 of President Alfredo Cristiani, leader of the right-wing ARENA party.

In 1991, however, the Cristiani government, with help from the United Nations, negotiated with the FMLN, and in Jan., 1992, a peace treaty with the rebels was signed, ending the bloody 12-year civil war that killed over 70,000 people. The FMLN demobilized and participated in the postwar 1994 elections, which resulted in the presidency of Armando Calderon Sol, the ARENA candidate. The army was apparently reined in, and terrorism and violence, by both left and right, virtually disappeared. A major program was put in place to transfer land (80% of which was concentrated in the hands of the wealthy) to former combatants. However, progress in implementing reforms and rebuilding the economy was slow, and was further hindered by a major hurricane in 1998.

The ARENA party remained in power with the election of Francisco Guillermo Flores Perez to the presidency in 1999. In Mar., 2000, however, the FMLN won the greatest number of seats in the National Assembly, although not enough to control the legislature. Two earthquakes struck central El Salvador a month apart early in 2001, killing about a thousand people and leaving many homeless. In Mar., 2003, the FMLN again won the largest bloc of assembly seats, but failed to win a majority. The presidential elections a year later resulted in an ARENA victory; Elias Antonio "Tony" Saca received 57% of the vote. An earthquake in Jan., 2005, killed nearly 700 people. An increase in gang-related violence in 2005 led to army patrols on the country's streets. Legislative elections in Mar., 2006, gave a plurality of the seats to ARENA, but it failed to win a majority and the FMLN was a close second. The government mounted a crackdown against criminal gangs in Aug., 2006; in October it said it had uncovered an assassination plot against the president that was said to be linked to the anti-gang campaign.

Travel The World

2009-09-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains, the Kuma-Manych Depression, and the Black Sea to the southeast. Europe is washed upon to the north by the Arctic Ocean and other bodies of water, to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the Mediterranean Sea, and to the southeast by the Black Sea and the waterways connecting it to the Mediterranean. Yet the borders for Europe—a concept dating back to classical antiquity—are somewhat arbitrary, as the term continent can refer to a cultural and political distinction or a physiographic one.

Europe is the world's second-smallest continent by surface area, covering about 10,180,000 square kilometres (3,930,000 sq mi) or 2% of the Earth's surface and about 6.8% of its land area. Of Europe's approximately 50 states, Russia is the largest by both area and population, while the Vatican City is the smallest. Europe is the third most populous continent after Asia and Africa, with a population of 731 million or about 11% of the world's population; however, according to the United Nations (medium estimate), Europe's share may fall to about 7% in 2050. In 1900, Europe's share of the world's population was 25%.

Europe, in particular Ancient Greece, is the birthplace of Western culture. It played a predominant role in global affairs from the 16th century onwards, especially after the beginning of colonialism. Between the 17th and 20th centuries, European nations controlled at various times the Americas, most of Africa, Oceania, and large portions of Asia. Both World Wars were ignited in Central Europe, greatly contributing to a decline in European dominance in world affairs by the mid-20th century as the United States and Soviet Union took prominence. During the Cold War Europe was divided along the Iron Curtain between NATO in the West and the Warsaw Pact in the East. European integration led to the formation of the Council of Europe and the European Union in Western Europe, both of which have been expanding eastward since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

North America

North America is the northern continent of the Americas, situated in the Earth's northern hemisphere and in the western hemisphere. It is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the North Pacific Ocean; South America lies to the southeast. North America covers an area of about 24,709,000 square kilometers (9,540,000 square miles), about 4.8% of the planet's surface or about 16.5% of its land area. As of July 2008, its population was estimated at nearly 529 million people. It is the third-largest continent in area, following Asia and Africa, and the fourth in population after Asia, Africa, and Europe.

South America

South America is the southern continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean; North America and the Caribbean Sea lie to the northwest.

South America was named in 1507 by cartographers Martin Waldseemüller and Matthias Ringmann after Amerigo Vespucci, who was the first European to suggest that the Americas were not the East Indies, but a New World unknown to Europeans.

South America has an area of 17,840,000 square kilometers (6,890,000 sq mi), or almost 3.5% of the Earth's surface. As of 2005, its population was estimated at more than 371,090,000. South America ranks fourth in area (after Asia, Africa, and North America) and fifth in population (after Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America).

Oceania - Australia

Oceania is a geographical, often geopolitical, region consisting of numerous lands—mostly islands in the Pacific Ocean and vicinity. The term "Oceania" was coined in 1831 by French explorer Dumont d'Urville. The term is used today in many languages to denote a continent comprising Australia and approximate Pacific islands, and is one of eight terrestrial ecozones.

The boundaries of Oceania are defined in a number of ways. Most definitions recognize parts of Australasia such as Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea, and part of Maritime Southeast Asia as being parts of Oceania. Ethnologically, the islands that are included in Oceania are divided into the subregions of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland (the world's smallest), the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Neighbouring countries include Indonesia, East Timor, and Papua New Guinea to the north, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia to the north-east, and New Zealand to the southeast.

For some 40,000 years before European settlement commenced in the late 18th century, the Australian mainland and Tasmania were inhabited by around 250 individual nations of indigenous Australians. After sporadic visits by fishermen from the immediate north, and European discovery by Dutch explorers in 1606, the eastern half of Australia was claimed by the British in 1770 and initially settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales, founded on 26 January 1788. The population grew steadily in the following years; the continent was explored, and during the 19th century another five largely self-governing Crown Colonies were established.

On 1 January 1901, the six colonies became a federation, and the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. Since Federation, Australia has maintained a stable liberal democratic political system and remains a Commonwealth realm. The population is almost 21.9 million, with approximately 60% concentrated in and around the mainland state capitals of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. The nation's capital city is Canberra, located in the Australian Capital Territory.

Australia is a developed country, with a prosperous multicultural society and has excellent results in many international comparisons of national performance such as health care, life expectancy, quality of life, human development, public education, economic freedom, and the protection of civil liberties and political rights. Australian cities routinely rank among the world's highest in terms of cultural offerings and quality of life. It is a member of the United Nations, G-20 major economies, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, OECD, and the WTO.

Asia

Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent. It covers 8.6% of the earth's total surface area (or 29.9% of its land area) and, with approximately 4 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population. It is located in the eastern and northern hemispheres.

Asia is traditionally defined as part of the landmass of Eurasia — with the western portion of the latter occupied by Europe — located to the east of the Suez Canal, east of the Ural Mountains and south of the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian and Black Seas. It is bounded on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by the Indian Ocean and on the north by the Arctic Ocean. Given its size and diversity, Asia — a toponym dating back to classical antiquity — is more a cultural concept incorporating a number of regions and peoples than a homogeneous physical entity.

The wealth of Asia differs widely between and within each region. This is due to its vast size and huge range of different cultures, environments, historical ties and government systems. In terms of nominal GDP, Japan has the largest economy on the continent and the second largest in the world. In purchasing power parity term, however, the People's Republic of China has the largest economy in Asia and the second largest in the world.

Antarctica

Antarctica, is Earth's southernmost continent, underlying the South Pole. It is situated in the Antarctic region of the southern hemisphere, almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle, and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. At 14.0 million km² (5.4 million sq mi), it is the fifth-largest continent in area after Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice, which averages at least 1.6 kilometres (1.0 mi) in thickness.

Antarctica, on average, is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent, and has the highest average elevation of all the continents. Antarctica is considered a desert, with annual precipitation of only 200 mm (8 inches) along the coast and far less inland. There are no permanent human residents but anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 people reside throughout the year at the research stations scattered across the continent. Only cold-adapted plants and animals survive there, including penguins, seals, many types of algae, and Tundra vegetation. Antarctica is the only continent where humans can not be found living on a permeant basis.

Although myths and speculation about a Terra Australis ("Southern Land") date back to antiquity, the first confirmed sighting of the continent is commonly accepted to have occurred in 1820 by the Russian expedition of Mikhail Lazarev and Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen. The continent, however, remained largely neglected for the rest of the 19th century because of its hostile environment, lack of resources, and isolation. The first formal use of the name "Antarctica" as a continental name in the 1890s is attributed to the Scottish cartographer John George Bartholomew. The name Antarctica is the romanized version of the Greek compound word ανταρκτική (antarktiké), feminine of ανταρκτικός (antarktikos), meaning "opposite to the north".

The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959 by twelve countries; to date, forty-six countries have signed the treaty. The treaty prohibits military activities and mineral mining, supports scientific research, and protects the continent's ecozone. Ongoing experiments are conducted by more than 4,000 scientists of many nationalities and with different research interests.