total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 303,448 GRT/458,864 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 11, chemical tanker 1, container 3, oil
tanker 14, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 1,253
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 5
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 25
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 54
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 46
with paved runways under 914 m: 511
with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 60
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 549 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 2.7 million (1983 est.)
Telephone system: 12,000 public telephones; extensive modern
system but many families do not have telephones; despite extensive
use of microwave radio relay, the telephone system frequently
grounds out during rainstorms, even in Buenos Aires
domestic: microwave radio relay and a domestic satellite system with
40 earth stations serve the trunk network
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 171, FM 0, shortwave 13
Radios: 22.3 million (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 231
Televisions: 7.165 million (1991 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic,
Argentine Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Argentine Naval
Prefecture (Coast Guard only), National Aeronautical Police Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 8,707,014
males fit for military service: 7,063,304
males reach military age (20) annually: 310,107 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $4.7 billion,
1.5% of GDP (1995)
======================================================================
@Armenia
-------
Map
---
Location: 40 00 N, 45 00 E -- Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Flag
----
Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and
gold
Geography
---------
Location: Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
total area: 29,800 sq km
land area: 28,400 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 1,254 km
border countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan
exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: supports ethnic Armenians in
Nagorno-Karabakh in their separatist conflict against the
Azerbaijani Government; traditional demands on former Armenian lands
in Turkey have subsided
Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
Terrain: high Armenian Plateau with mountains; little forest land;
fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
lowest point: Debed River 400 m
highest point: Aragats Lerr 4,095 m
Natural resources: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum,
zinc, alumina
Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 3%
meadows and pastures: 20%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 60%
Irrigated land: 3,050 sq km (1990)
Environment:
current issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT;
energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has led to
deforestation as citizens scavenge for firewood; pollution of
Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich, a
result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking
water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant without
adequate (IAEA-recommended) safety and backup systems
natural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Desertification
Geographic note: landlocked
People
------
Population: 3,463,574 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28% (male 497,461; female 476,649)
15-64 years: 64% (male 1,085,935; female 1,132,282)
65 years and over: 8% (male 111,661; female 159,586) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.02% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 16.27 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 7.73 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -8.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 38.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.06 years
male: 64.44 years
female: 73.92 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.06 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Armenian(s)
adjective: Armenian
Ethnic divisions: Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other
(mostly Yezidi Kurds) 2% (1989)
note: as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from
======================================================================
@Aruba
-----
(part of the Dutch realm)
Map
---
Location: 12 30 N, 69 58 W -- Caribbean, island in the Caribbean
Sea, north of Venezuela
Flag
----
Description: blue with two narrow horizontal yellow stripes across
the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in
the upper hoist-side corner
Geography
---------
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of
Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 12 30 N, 69 58 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area: 193 sq km
land area: 193 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 68.5 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m
Natural resources: negligible; white sandy beaches
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
international agreements: NA
People
------
Population: 67,794 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (male 7,850; female 7,155)
15-64 years: 69% (male 22,499; female 24,596)
65 years and over: 9% (male 2,353; female 3,341) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.31% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 14.62 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 6.24 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.93 male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 8.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.68 years
male: 73 years
female: 80.55 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Aruban(s)
adjective: Aruban
Ethnic divisions: mixed European/Caribbean Indian 80%
Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim,
Confucian, Jewish
Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese,
Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Literacy: NA
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Aruba
Data code: AA
Type of government: part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in
internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the
Netherlands Antilles
Capital: Oranjestad
Administrative divisions: none (self-governing part of the
Netherlands)
Independence: none (part of the Dutch realm; in 1990, Aruba
requested and received from the Netherlands cancellation of the
agreement to automatically give independence to the island in 1996)
National holiday: Flag Day, 18 March
Constitution: 1 January 1986
Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English
common law influence
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (of the Netherlands
since 30 April 1980), a constitutional monarch, is represented by
Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992) who was
appointed for a six-year term by the queen
head of government: Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29
July 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Glenbert F. CROES were
appointed by the legislature
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the legislature
Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislature (Staten): elections last held 29 July 1994 (next to be
held by NA July 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
- (21 total) AVP 10, MEP 9, OLA 2
Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders: Electoral Movement Party (MEP),
Nelson ODUBER; Aruban People's Party (AVP), Jan (Henny) H. EMAN;
National Democratic Action (ADN), Pedro Charro KELLY; New Patriotic
Party (PPN), Eddy WERLEMEN; Aruban Patriotic Party (PPA), Benny
NISBET; Aruban Democratic Party (PDA), Leo BERLINSKI; Democratic
Action '86 (AD '86), Arturo ODUBER; Aruban Liberal Party (OLA),
Glenbert CROES
note: governing coalition includes the AVP and OLA
International organization participation: ECLAC (associate),
Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing part of the
Netherlands)
US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing part of the
Netherlands)
Flag: blue with two narrow horizontal yellow stripes across the
lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the
upper hoist-side corner
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Tourism is the mainstay of the Aruban economy,
although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also
important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last
decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities.
Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985
level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in
1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings,
has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and less than
1% unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job
vacancies despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.2 billion (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 6.1% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $18,000 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.1% (1994)
Labor force: NA
by occupation: most employment is in the tourist industry (1995)
Unemployment rate: 0.5% (1994)
Budget:
revenues: $145 million
expenditures: $185 million, including capital expenditures of $42
million (1988)
Industries: tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 90,000 kW
production: 330 million kWh
consumption per capita: 4,761 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: aloes; livestock; fishing
Illicit drugs: major drug money laundering center and minor
transit point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe
Exports: $1.3 billion (including oil re-exports) (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: mostly refined petroleum products
partners: US 64%, EU
Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: food, consumer goods, manufactures, petroleum products,
crude oil for refining and reexport
partners: US 8%, EU
External debt: $669 million (December 1995)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1 - 1.7900 (fixed rate
since 1986)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports: Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
note: government-owned airport east of Oranjestad accepts
transatlantic flights (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 22,922 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: more than adequate
international: 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands
Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 19,000 (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands
======================================================================
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands
---------------------------
(territory of Australia)
Map
---
Location: 12 14 S, 123 05 E -- Southeastern Asia, islands in the
Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia
Flag
----
Description: the flag of Australia is used
Geography
---------
Location: Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean,
northwest of Australia
Geographic coordinates: 12 14 S, 123 05 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total area: 5 sq km
land area: 5 sq km
comparative area: about eight times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and
Cartier Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 74.1 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical
Terrain: low with sand and coral
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (all grass and sand)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose
maritime hazards
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established
in August 1983
People
------
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are only
seasonal caretakers
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Data code: AT
Type of government: territory of Australia administered by the
Australian Ministry for the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Capital: none; administered from Canberra, Australia
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
Legal system: relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
Flag: the flag of Australia is used
Economy
-------
Economic overview: no economic activity
Transportation
--------------
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
Defense
-------
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic
visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force
======================================================================
@Atlantic Ocean
--------------
Map
---
Location: 0 00 N, 25 00 W -- body of water between Africa, Europe,
Antarctica, and the Western Hemisphere
Geography
---------
Location: body of water between Africa, Europe, Antarctica, and
the Western Hemisphere
Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 25 00 W
Map references: World
Area:
total area: 82.217 million sq km
comparative area: slightly less than nine times the size of the US;
second-largest of the world's four oceans (after the Pacific Ocean,
but larger than Indian Ocean or Arctic Ocean)
note: includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait,
Denmark Strait, Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea,
North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and other
tributary water bodies
Coastline: 111,866 km
International disputes: some maritime disputes (see littoral
states)
Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of
Africa near Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea;
hurricanes can occur from May to December, but are most frequent
from August to November
Terrain: surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea,
Denmark Strait, and Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm
water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the northern
Atlantic, counterclockwise warm water gyre in the southern Atlantic;
the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged
north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin
lowest point: Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 m
highest point: sea level 0 m
Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals
and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits,
polymetallic nodules, precious stones
Environment:
current issues: endangered marine species include the manatee,
seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is
hastening the decline of fish stocks and contributing to
international disputes; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US,
southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean
Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North
Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea,
North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea
natural hazards: icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait,
and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have
been spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands;
icebergs from Antarctica occur in the extreme southern Atlantic
Ocean; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme northern
Atlantic from October to May and extreme southern Atlantic from May
to October; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May to
September
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: major choke points include the Dardanelles,
Strait of Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic
straits include the Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona
Passage, The Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator
divides the Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South
======================================================================
@Australia
---------
Map
---
Location: 27 00 S, 133 00 E -- Oceania, continent between the
Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean
Flag
----
Description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side
quadrant; the remaining half is a representation of the Southern
Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and
four, larger, seven-pointed stars
Geography
---------
Location: Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the
South Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 27 00 S, 133 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area: 7,686,850 sq km
land area: 7,617,930 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than the US
note: includes Macquarie Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 25,760 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica
(Australian Antarctic Territory)
Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east;
tropical in north
Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in
southeast
lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m
highest point: Mount Kosciusko 2,229 m
Natural resources: bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver,
uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds,
natural gas, petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 58%
forest and woodland: 14%
other: 22%
Irrigated land: 18,800 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial
development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity
rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification;
clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of
many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the
northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened
by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited
natural fresh water resources
natural hazards: cyclones along the coast; severe droughts
international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
Geographic note: 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
People
------
Population: 18,260,863 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21% (male 2,009,915; female 1,912,605)
15-64 years: 66% (male 6,129,285; female 5,980,315)
65 years and over: 13% (male 967,291; female 1,261,452) (July 1996
est.)
Population growth rate: 0.99% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 13.99 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 6.88 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.39 years
male: 76.44 years
female: 82.5 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.84 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Australian(s)
adjective: Australian
Ethnic divisions: Caucasian 95%, Asian 4%, aboriginal and other 1%
Religions: Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian
24.3%
Languages: English, native languages
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form: Australia
Data code: AS
Type of government: federal parliamentary state
Capital: Canberra
Administrative divisions: 6 states and 2 territories*; Australian
Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*,
Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia
Dependent areas: Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island,
Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and
McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island
Independence: 1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
National holiday: Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Constitution: 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901
Legal system: based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a
hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Sir William
DEANE (since 16 February 1996) who was appointed by the queen
head of government: Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11
March 1996) was appointed by the governor general; Deputy Prime
Minister Timothy Andrew FISCHER (since 11 March 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet was selected from among the members of Federal
Parliament by the governor general on the advice of the prime
minister