Panama:9 00 N, 80 00 W
Papua New Guinea:6 00 S, 147 00 E
Paracel Islands:16 30 N, 112 00 E
Paraguay:23 00 S, 58 00 W
Peru:10 00 S, 76 00 W
Philippines:13 00 N, 122 00 E
Pitcairn Islands:25 04 S, 130 06 W
Poland:52 00 N, 20 00 E
Portugal:39 30 N, 8 00 W
Puerto Rico:18 15 N, 66 30 W
Qatar:25 30 N, 51 15 E
Reunion:21 06 S, 55 36 E
Romania:46 00 N, 25 00 E
Russia:60 00 N, 100 00 E
Rwanda:2 00 S, 30 00 E
Saint Helena:15 56 S, 5 42 W
Saint Kitts and Nevis:17 20 N, 62 45 W
Saint Lucia:13 53 N, 60 68 W
Saint Pierre and Miquelon:46 50 N, 56 20 W
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:13 15 N, 61 12 W
Samoa:13 35 S, 172 20 W
San Marino:43 46 N, 12 25 E
Sao Tome and Principe:1 00 N, 7 00 E
Saudi Arabia:25 00 N, 45 00 E
Senegal:14 00 N, 14 00 W
Seychelles:4 35 S, 55 40 E
Sierra Leone:8 30 N, 11 30 W
Singapore:1 22 N, 103 48 E
Slovakia:48 40 N, 19 30 E
Slovenia:46 00 N, 15 00 E
Solomon Islands:8 00 S, 159 00 E
Somalia:10 00 N, 49 00 E
South Africa:29 00 S, 24 00 E
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands:54 30 S, 37 00 W
Southern Ocean:65 00 S, 0 00 E (nominally), but the Southern Oceanhas the unique distinction of being a large circumpolar body ofwater totally encircling the continent of Antarctica; this ring ofwater lies between 60 degrees south latitude and the coast ofAntarctica, and encompasses 360 degrees of longitude
Spain:40 00 N, 4 00 W
Spratly Islands:8 38 N, 111 55 E
Sri Lanka:7 00 N, 81 00 E
Sudan:15 00 N, 30 00 E
Suriname:4 00 N, 56 00 W
Svalbard:78 00 N, 20 00 E
Swaziland:26 30 S, 31 30 E
Sweden:62 00 N, 15 00 E
Switzerland:47 00 N, 8 00 E
Syria:35 00 N, 38 00 E
Tajikistan:39 00 N, 71 00 E
Tanzania:6 00 S, 35 00 E
Thailand:15 00 N, 100 00 E
Togo:8 00 N, 1 10 E
Tokelau:9 00 S, 172 00 W
Tonga:20 00 S, 175 00 W
Trinidad and Tobago:11 00 N, 61 00 W
Tromelin Island:15 52 S, 54 25 E
Tunisia:34 00 N, 9 00 E
Turkey:39 00 N, 35 00 E
Turkmenistan:40 00 N, 60 00 E
Turks and Caicos Islands:21 45 N, 71 35 W
Tuvalu:8 00 S, 178 00 E
Uganda:1 00 N, 32 00 E
Ukraine:49 00 N, 32 00 E
United Arab Emirates:24 00 N, 54 00 E
United Kingdom:54 00 N, 2 00 W
United States:38 00 N, 97 00 W
Uruguay:33 00 S, 56 00 W
Uzbekistan:41 00 N, 64 00 E
Vanuatu:16 00 S, 167 00 E
Venezuela:8 00 N, 66 00 W
Vietnam:16 00 N, 106 00 E
Virgin Islands:18 20 N, 64 50 W
Wake Island:19 17 N, 166 36 E
Wallis and Futuna:13 18 S, 176 12 W
West Bank:32 00 N, 35 15 E
Western Sahara:24 30 N, 13 00 W
Yemen:15 00 N, 48 00 E
Yugoslavia:44 00 N, 21 00 E
Zambia:15 00 S, 30 00 E
Zimbabwe:20 00 S, 30 00 E
Taiwan:23 30 N, 121 00 E
======================================================================
@Geography - note
Afghanistan:landlocked
Albania:strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links AdriaticSea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
Algeria:second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)
American Samoa:Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwaterharbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from roughseas and protected by peripheral mountains from high winds;strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean
Andorra:landlocked
Angola:Cabinda is separated from rest of country by the DemocraticRepublic of the Congo
Antarctica:the coldest, windiest, highest (on average), and driestcontinent; during summer, more solar radiation reaches the surfaceat the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalentperiod; mostly uninhabitable
Arctic Ocean:major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northernaccess to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); strategiclocation between North America and Russia; shortest marine linkbetween the extremes of eastern and western Russia; floatingresearch stations operated by the US and Russia; maximum snow coverin March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean;snow cover lasts about 10 months
Argentina:second-largest country in South America (after Brazil);strategic location relative to sea lanes between South Atlantic andSouth Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, DrakePassage)
Armenia:landlocked
Ashmore and Cartier Islands:Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserveestablished in August 1983
Atlantic Ocean:major chokepoints include the Dardanelles, Strait ofGibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straitsinclude the Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, TheSound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator divides theAtlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean
Australia: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
Austria:landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of centralEurope with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; majorriver is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlandsbecause of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
Azerbaijan:landlocked
Bahamas, The:strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensiveisland chain
Bahrain:close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources;strategic location in Persian Gulf which much of Western world'spetroleum must transit to reach open ocean
Baker Island:treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consistingof grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily anesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds,and marine wildlife
Barbados:easternmost Caribbean island
Belarus:landlocked
Belgium:crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West Europeancapitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of both theEU and NATO
Belize:only country in Central America without a coastline on theNorth Pacific Ocean
Benin:no natural harbors
Bermuda:consists of about 360 small coral islands with amplerainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land, reclaimedand otherwise, was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995
Bhutan:landlocked; strategic location between China and India;controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
Bolivia:landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world'shighest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru
Bosnia and Herzegovina:within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognizedborders, the country is divided into a joint Bosniak/CroatFederation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-ledRepublika Srpska or RS (about 49% of the territory); the regioncalled Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and traditionally hasbeen settled by an ethnic Croat majority
Botswana:landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of thecountry
Bouvet Island:covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve
Brazil:largest country in South America; shares common boundarieswith every South American country except Chile and Ecuador
British Indian Ocean Territory: 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
British Virgin Islands:strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands andPuerto Rico
Brunei:close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linkingIndian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated byMalaysia; almost an enclave of Malaysia
Bulgaria:strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key landroutes from Europe to Middle East and Asia
Burkina Faso:landlocked
Burma:strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes
Burundi:landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed
Cambodia:a land of paddies and forests dominated by the MekongRiver and Tonle Sap
Cameroon:sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa
Canada:second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategiclocation between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately85% of the population is concentrated within 300 km of the US/Canadaborder
Cape Verde:strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa nearmajor north-south sea routes; important communications station;important sea and air refueling site
Cayman Islands:important location between Cuba and Central America
Central African Republic:landlocked; almost the precise center ofAfrica
Chad:landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body inthe Sahel
Chile:strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic andPacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage);Atacama Desert is one of world's driest regions
China:world's fourth-largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US)
Christmas Island:located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
Clipperton Island:reef about 8 km in circumference
Cocos (Keeling) Islands:two coral atolls thickly covered withcoconut palms and other vegetation
Colombia:only South American country with coastlines on both NorthPacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea
Comoros:important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
Congo, Democratic Republic of the: 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
Congo, Republic of the: about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them
Coral Sea Islands:important nesting area for birds and turtles
Croatia:controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Seaand Turkish Straits
Cuba:largest country in Caribbean
Czech Republic:landlocked; strategically located astride some ofoldest and most significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate isa traditional military corridor between the North European Plain andthe Danube in central Europe
Denmark:controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linkingBaltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives ingreater Copenhagen
Djibouti:strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes andclose to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia;mostly wasteland
Dominican Republic:shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (easterntwo-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)
Ecuador:Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
Egypt:controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa andremainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, shortest sealink between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, andjuxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Easterngeopolitics; dependence on upstream neighbors; dominance of Nilebasin issues; prone to influxes of refugees
El Salvador:smallest Central American country and only one withouta coastline on Caribbean Sea
Equatorial Guinea:insular and continental regions rather widelyseparated
Eritrea:strategic geopolitical position along world's busiestshipping lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopiaalong the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 24 May1993
Ethiopia:landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lostwith the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993
Europa Island:wildlife sanctuary
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas):deeply indented coast providesgood natural harbors; short growing season
Faroe Islands:archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and oneuninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategicallylocated along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic;precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands
Fiji:includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited
Finland:long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmostnational capital on European continent; population concentrated onsmall southwestern coastal plain
France:largest West European nation
French Guiana:mostly an unsettled wilderness
French Polynesia:includes five archipelagoes; Makatea in FrenchPolynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in thePacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati andNauru
French Southern and Antarctic Lands:islands component is widelyscattered across remote locations in the southern Indian Ocean
Gambia, The:almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on thecontinent of Africa
Gaza Strip:there are 25 Israeli settlements and civilian land usesites in the Gaza Strip (August 2000 est.)
Germany:strategic location on North European Plain and along theentrance to the Baltic Sea
Ghana:Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake;northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)
Gibraltar:strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links theNorth Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
Greece:strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southernapproach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing anarchipelago of about 2,000 islands
Greenland:dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America andEurope; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast,but close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital,Nuuk; world's second largest ice cap
Grenada:the administration of the islands of the Grenadines groupis divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
Guam:largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islandsarchipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
Guatemala:no natural harbors on west coast
Guernsey:large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
Haiti:shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (westernone-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)
Heard Island and McDonald Islands:primarily used for researchstations
Holy See (Vatican City):urban; landlocked; enclave of Rome, Italy;world's smallest state; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings inRome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoyextraterritorial rights
Hong Kong:more than 200 islands
Howland Island:almost totally covered with grasses, prostratevines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center;primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds,shorebirds, and marine wildlife
Hungary:landlocked; strategic location astride main land routesbetween Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as betweenUkraine and Mediterranean basin
Iceland:strategic location between Greenland and Europe;westernmost European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost nationalcapital in the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all ofcontinental Europe
India:dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important IndianOcean trade routes
Indian Ocean:major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait ofHormuz, Strait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, andthe Lombok Strait
Indonesia:archipelago of 17,000 islands (6,000 inhabited);straddles Equator; strategic location astride or along major sealanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean
Ireland:strategic location on major air and sea routes betweenNorth America and northern Europe; over 40% of the populationresides within 97 km of Dublin
Israel:there are 231 Israeli settlements and civilian land usesites in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 25in the Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem (August 2000 est.)
Italy:strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as wellas southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe
Jamaica:strategic location between Cayman Trench and JamaicaChannel, the main sea lanes for Panama Canal
Jan Mayen:barren volcanic island with some moss and grass
Japan:strategic location in northeast Asia
Jarvis Island:sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growingshrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat forseabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife
Jersey:largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% ofpopulation concentrated in Saint Helier
Johnston Atoll:strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean;Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands, which have beenexpanded by coral dredging; North Island (Akau) and East Island(Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging; egg-shapedreef is 34 km in circumference; closed to the public; former USnuclear weapons test site; site of Johnston Atoll Chemical AgentDisposal System (JACADS); some low-growing vegetation
Juan de Nova Island:wildlife sanctuary
Kazakhstan:landlocked; Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km ofterritory enclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome
Kenya:the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successfulagricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers on Mt. Kenya;unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife ofscientific and economic value
Kingman Reef:barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closedto the public
Kiribati:20 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean Island)in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in thePacific Ocean - the others are Makatea in French Polynesia, and Nauru
Korea, North:strategic location bordering China, South Korea, andRussia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated
Kuwait:strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
Kyrgyzstan:landlocked
Laos:landlocked
Lebanon:Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not crossingan international boundary; rugged terrain historically helpedisolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based onreligion, clan, and ethnicity
Lesotho:landlocked; surrounded by South Africa
Liechtenstein:along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doublylandlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimaticvariations based on elevation
Luxembourg:landlocked
Macau:essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect thetwo islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of:landlocked; majortransportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to AegeanSea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
Madagascar:world's fourth-largest island; strategic location alongMozambique Channel
Malawi:landlocked
Malaysia:strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southernSouth China Sea
Maldives:1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabitedislands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago ofstrategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
Mali:landlocked
Malta:the country comprises an archipelago, with only the threelargest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino)being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta andTunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of thecontinental shelf between their countries, particularly for oilexploration
Man, Isle of:one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to thesouthwest, and is a bird sanctuary
Marshall Islands:two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and1,152 islands; Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites;Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is now used as a USmissile test range
Mauritania:most of the population concentrated in the cities ofNouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in thesouthern part of the country
Mayotte:part of Comoro Archipelago; 18 islands
Mexico:strategic location on southern border of US
Micronesia, Federated States of:four major island groups totaling607 islands
Midway Islands:a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refugeand open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the formof wildlife observation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling,and scuba diving
Moldova:landlocked
Monaco:second smallest independent state in the world (after HolySee); almost entirely urban
Mongolia:landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia
Morocco:strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
Nauru:Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in thePacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati andMakatea in French Polynesia; only 53 km south of Equator
Navassa Island:strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Baseat Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock, but enough grasslandto support goat herds; dense stands of fig-like trees, scatteredcactus
Nepal:landlocked; strategic location between China and India;contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks
Netherlands:located at mouths of three major European rivers(Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)
New Zealand:about 80% of the population lives in cities; Wellingtonis the southernmost national capital in the world
Niger:landlocked
Niue:one of world's largest coral islands
Northern Mariana Islands:strategic location in the North PacificOcean
Norway:about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its muchindented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and airroutes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest coastlinesin world; Norway is the only NATO member having a land boundary withRussia
Oman:strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait ofHormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
Pacific Ocean:the major chokepoints are the Bering Strait, PanamaCanal, Luzon Strait, and the Singapore Strait; the Equator dividesthe Pacific Ocean into the North Pacific Ocean and the South PacificOcean; dotted with low coral islands and rugged volcanic islands inthe southwestern Pacific Ocean
Pakistan:controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasionroutes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent
Palau:includes World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) andworld-famous rock islands; archipelago of six island groups totalingover 200 islands in the Caroline chain
Palmyra Atoll:about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation,coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall
Panama:strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming landbridge connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canalthat links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North PacificOcean
Papua New Guinea:shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one ofworld's largest swamps along southwest coast
Paraguay:landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil
Peru:shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigablelake, with Bolivia
Poland:historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrainand the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
Portugal:Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locationsalong western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
Puerto Rico:important location along the Mona Passage - a keyshipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggestand best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers andhigh central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coastrelatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north
Qatar:strategic location in central Persian Gulf near majorpetroleum deposits
Romania:controls most easily traversable land route between theBalkans, Moldova, and Ukraine
Russia:largest country in the world in terms of area butunfavorably located in relation to major sea lanes of the world;despite its size, much of the country lacks proper soils andclimates (either too cold or too dry) for agriculture
Rwanda:landlocked; predominantly rural population
Saint Helena:harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhereelse in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtlesand sooty terns
Saint Pierre and Miquelon:vegetation scanty
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:the administration of the islandsof the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and theGrenadines and Grenada
San Marino:landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe afterthe Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines
Saudi Arabia:extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Seaprovide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) throughPersian Gulf and Suez Canal
Senegal:The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal
Seychelles:40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands
Singapore:focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes
Slovakia:landlocked
Somalia:strategic location on Horn of Africa along southernapproaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal
South Africa:South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almostcompletely surrounds Swaziland
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands:the north coast ofSouth Georgia has several large bays, which provide good anchorage;reindeer, introduced early in this century, live on South Georgia
Southern Ocean:the major chokepoint is the Drake Passage betweenSouth America and Antarctica; the Polar Front (AntarcticConvergence) is the best natural definition of the northern extentof the Southern Ocean; it is a distinct region at the middle of theAntarctic Circumpolar Current that separates the very cold polarsurface waters to the south from the warmer waters to the north; theFront and the Current extend entirely around Antarctica, reachingsouth of 60 degrees south near New Zealand and near 48 degrees southin the far South Atlantic coinciding with the path of the maximumwesterly winds
Spain:strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
Spratly Islands:strategically located near several primary shippinglanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous smallislands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs
Sri Lanka:strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes
Sudan:largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and itstributaries
Suriname:mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora andfauna that, for the most part, is increasingly threatened by newdevelopment; relatively small population, most of which lives alongthe coast
Svalbard:northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists ofnine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the totalarea
Swaziland:landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
Sweden:strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic andNorth Seas
Switzerland:landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe;along with southeastern France and northern Italy, contains thehighest elevations in Europe
Syria:there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sitesin the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 1999 est.)
Tajikistan:landlocked
Tanzania:Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa
Thailand:controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia andSingapore
Tonga:archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited)
Tromelin Island:climatologically important location for forecastingcyclones; wildlife sanctuary
Tunisia:strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta andTunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of thecontinental shelf between their countries, particularly for oilexploration
Turkey:strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits(Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and AegeanSeas
Turkmenistan:landlocked
Turks and Caicos Islands:30 islands (eight inhabited)
Uganda:landlocked
Ukraine:strategic position at the crossroads between Europe andAsia; second-largest country in Europe
United Arab Emirates:strategic location along southern approachesto Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
United Kingdom:lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 kmfrom France and now linked by tunnel under the English Channel;because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125km from tidal waters
United States:world's third-largest country (after Russia andCanada)
Uzbekistan:along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doublylandlocked countries in the world
Venezuela:on major sea and air routes linking North and SouthAmerica
Virgin Islands:important location along the Anegada Passage - a keyshipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the bestnatural, deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
Wake Island:strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean;emergency landing location for transpacific flights
Wallis and Futuna:both island groups have fringing reefs
West Bank:landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel'scoastal aquifers; there are 231 Israeli settlements and civilianland use sites in the West Bank and 29 in East Jerusalem (August1999 est.)
Yemen:strategic location on Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking theRed Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shippinglanes
Yugoslavia:controls one of the major land routes from WesternEurope to Turkey and the Near East; strategic location along theAdriatic coast
Zambia:landlocked
Zimbabwe:landlocked
======================================================================
@Government - note
Bosnia and Herzegovina:The Dayton Agreement, signed in Paris on 14December 1995, retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's exterior border andcreated a joint multi-ethnic and democratic government. Thisnational government - based on proportional representation similarto that which existed in the former socialist regime - is chargedwith conducting foreign, economic, and fiscal policy. The DaytonAgreement also recognized a second tier of government, comprised oftwo entities - a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia andHerzegovina and the Bosnian Serb Republika Srpska (RS) - eachpresiding over roughly one-half the territory. The Federation and RSgovernments are charged with overseeing internal functions. TheDayton Agreement established the Office of the High Representative(OHR) to oversee the implementation of the civilian aspects of theagreement. About 250 international and 450 local staff members areemployed by the OHR.
Malawi:the executive exerts considerable influence over thelegislature
Somalia:An interim Transitional National Government - with apresident, prime minister, and 245-member National Assembly - wasformed in October 2000. However, other governing bodies continue toexist and control various cities and regions of the country,including Somaliland, Puntland, and traditional clan and factionstrongholds.
======================================================================
@Government type
Afghanistan:no functioning central government, administered byfactions
Albania:emerging democracy
Algeria:republic
American Samoa:NA
Andorra:parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains asits heads of state a coprincipality; the two princes are thepresident of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who arerepresented locally by coprinces' representatives
Angola:transitional government, nominally a multiparty democracywith a strong presidential system
Anguilla:NA
Antarctica: Antarctic Treaty Summary - the Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, establishes the legal framework for the management of Antarctica. The 23rd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was held in Peru in May 1999. At the end of 2000, there were 44 treaty member nations: 27 consultative and 17 non-consultative. Consultative (voting) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 20 nonclaimant nations. The US and Russia have reserved the right to make claims. The US does not recognize the claims of others. Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative member nations. Decisions from these meetings are carried out by these member nations (within their areas) in accordance with their own national laws. The year in parentheses indicates when an acceding nation was voted to full consultative (voting) status, while no date indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory. Claimant nations are - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations are - Belgium, Brazil (1983), Bulgaria (1998) China (1985), Ecuador (1990), Finland (1989), Germany (1981), India (1983), Italy (1987), Japan, South Korea (1989), Netherlands (1990), Peru (1989), Poland (1977), Russia, South Africa, Spain (1988), Sweden (1988), Uruguay (1985), and the US. Non-consultative (nonvoting) members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984), Czech Republic (1993), Denmark (1965), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1993), Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1995), Ukraine (1992), and Venezuela (1999). Article 1 - area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purpose; Article 2 - freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue; Article 3 - free exchange of information and personnel, cooperation with the UN and other international agencies; Article 4 - does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force; Article 5 - prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive wastes; Article 6 - includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south and reserves high seas rights; Article 7 - treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all expeditions and of the introduction of military personnel must be given; Article 8 - allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by their own states; Article 9 - frequent consultative meetings take place among member nations; Article 10 - treaty states will discourage activities by any country in Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty; Article 11 - disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ; Articles 12, 13, 14 - deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved nations. Other agreements - some 200 recommendations adopted at treaty consultative meetings and ratified by governments include - Agreed Measures for Fauna and Flora (1964) which were later incorporated into the Environmental Protocol; Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980); a mineral resources agreement was signed in 1988 but remains unratified; the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed 4 October 1991 and entered into force 14 January 1998; this agreement provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment through five specific annexes: 1) marine pollution, 2) fauna and flora, 3) environmental impact assessments, 4) waste management, and 5) protected area management; it prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research.
Antigua and Barbuda:constitutional monarchy with UK-style parliament
Argentina:republic
Armenia:republic
Aruba:parliamentary democracy
Australia:democratic, federal-state system recognizing the Britishmonarch as sovereign
Austria:federal republic
Azerbaijan:republic
Bahamas, The:constitutional parliamentary democracy
Bahrain:constitutional monarchy
Bangladesh:parliamentary democracy
Barbados:parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign statewithin the Commonwealth
Belarus:republic
Belgium:federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutionalmonarch
Belize:parliamentary democracy
Benin:republic under multiparty democratic rule; droppedMarxism-Leninism December 1989; democratic reforms adopted February1990; transition to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991
Bermuda:parliamentary British overseas territory with internalself-government
Bhutan:monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
Bolivia:republic
Bosnia and Herzegovina:emerging democracy
Botswana:parliamentary republic
Brazil:federative republic
British Virgin Islands:NA
Brunei:constitutional sultanate
Bulgaria:parliamentary democracy
Burkina Faso:parliamentary
Burma:military regime
Burundi:republic
Cambodia:multiparty liberal democracy under a constitutionalmonarchy established in September 1993
Cameroon:unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime(opposition parties legalized in 1990)
note: preponderance of power remains with the president
Canada:confederation with parliamentary democracy
Cape Verde:republic
Cayman Islands:British crown colony
Central African Republic:republic
Chad:republic
Chile:republic
China:Communist state
Christmas Island:NA
Cocos (Keeling) Islands:NA
Colombia:republic; executive branch dominates government structure
Comoros:independent republic
Congo, Democratic Republic of the: dictatorship; presumably undergoing a transition to representative government
Congo, Republic of the:republic
Cook Islands:self-governing parliamentary democracy
Costa Rica:democratic republic
Cote d'Ivoire:republic; multiparty presidential regime established1960
Croatia:presidential/parliamentary democracy
Cuba:Communist state
Cyprus:republic
note: a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention in July 1974 after a Greek junta-based coup attempt gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), recognized only by Turkey; both sides publicly support a settlement based on a federation (Greek Cypriot position) or confederation (Turkish Cypriot position)
Czech Republic:parliamentary democracy
Denmark:constitutional monarchy
Djibouti:republic
Dominica:parliamentary democracy; republic within the Commonwealth
Dominican Republic:representative democracy
Ecuador:republic
Egypt:republic
El Salvador:republic
Equatorial Guinea:republic
Eritrea:transitional government
note: following a successful referendum on independence for the Autonomous Region of Eritrea on 23-25 April 1993, a National Assembly, composed entirely of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, was established as a transitional legislature; a Constitutional Commission was also established to draft a constitution; ISAIAS Afworki was elected president by the transitional legislature; the constitution, ratified in May 1997, did not enter into effect, pending parliamentary and presidential elections; parliamentary elections have now been scheduled to take place in December 2001
Estonia:parliamentary democracy
Ethiopia:federal republic
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas):NA
Faroe Islands:NA
Fiji:republic
note: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formallydeclared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987
Finland:republic
France:republic
French Guiana:NA
French Polynesia:NA
Gabon:republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition partieslegalized in 1990)
Gambia, The:republic under multiparty democratic rule
Georgia:republic
Germany:federal republic
Ghana:constitutional democracy
Gibraltar:NA
Greece:parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8December 1974
Greenland:parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy
Grenada:constitutional monarchy with Westminster-style parliament
Guadeloupe:NA
Guam:NA
Guatemala:constitutional democratic republic
Guernsey:NA
Guinea:republic
Guinea-Bissau:republic, multiparty since mid-1991
Guyana:republic within the Commonwealth
Haiti:elected government
Holy See (Vatican City):ecclesiastical
Honduras:democratic constitutional republic
Hong Kong:NA
Hungary:parliamentary democracy
Iceland:constitutional republic
India:federal republic
Indonesia:republic
Iran:theocratic republic
Iraq:republic
Ireland:republic
Israel:parliamentary democracy
Italy:republic
Jamaica:constitutional parliamentary democracy
Japan:constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government
Jersey:NA
Jordan:constitutional monarchy
Kazakhstan:republic
Kenya:republic
Kiribati:republic
Korea, North:authoritarian socialist; one-man dictatorship
Korea, South:republic
Kuwait:nominal constitutional monarchy
Kyrgyzstan:republic
Laos:Communist state
Latvia:parliamentary democracy
Lebanon:republic
Lesotho:parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Liberia:republic
Libya:Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by thepopulace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship
Liechtenstein:hereditary constitutional monarchy
Lithuania:parliamentary democracy
Luxembourg:constitutional monarchy
Macau:NA
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of:emerging democracy
Madagascar:republic
Malawi:multiparty democracy
Malaysia:constitutional monarchy
note: Malaya (what is now Peninsular Malaysia) formed 31 August 1957; Federation of Malaysia (Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore) formed 9 July 1963 (Singapore left the federation on 9 August 1965); nominally headed by the paramount ruler and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house; Peninsular Malaysian states - hereditary rulers in all but Melaka, Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak, where governors are appointed by the Malaysian Government; powers of state governments are limited by the federal constitution; under terms of the federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., the right to maintain their own immigration controls); Sabah - holds 20 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government; Sarawak - holds 28 seats in House of Representatives, with foreign affairs, defense, internal security, and other powers delegated to federal government
Maldives:republic
Mali:republic
Malta:republic
Man, Isle of:parliamentary democracy
Marshall Islands:constitutional government in free association withthe US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21October 1986
Martinique:NA
Mauritania:republic
Mauritius:parliamentary democracy
Mayotte:NA
Mexico:federal republic
Micronesia, Federated States of: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986
Moldova:republic
Monaco:constitutional monarchy
Mongolia:parliamentary
Montserrat:NA
Morocco:constitutional monarchy
Mozambique:republic
Namibia:republic
Nauru:republic
Nepal:parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy
Netherlands:constitutional monarchy
Netherlands Antilles:parliamentary
New Caledonia:NA
New Zealand:parliamentary democracy
Nicaragua:republic
Niger:republic
Nigeria:republic transitioning from military to civilian rule
Niue:self-governing parliamentary democracy
Norfolk Island:NA
Northern Mariana Islands: commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature
Norway:constitutional monarchy
Oman:monarchy
Pakistan:federal republic
Palau:constitutional government in free association with the US;the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994
Panama:constitutional democracy
Papua New Guinea: constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy
Paraguay:constitutional republic
Peru:constitutional republic
Philippines:republic
Pitcairn Islands:NA
Poland:republic
Portugal:parliamentary democracy