the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded;
offshore lie more than 1,500 islands
Ethiopia
landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost
with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993; the Blue
Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in
T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia; three major crops are
believed to have originated in Ethiopia: coffee, grain sorghum, and
castor bean
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
deeply indented coast provides
good natural harbors; short growing season
Faroe Islands
archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one
uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically
located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic;
precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands
Fiji
includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited
Finland
long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national
capital on European continent; population concentrated on small
southwestern coastal plain
France
largest West European nation
French Polynesia
includes five archipelagoes (four volcanic, one
coral); Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great
phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba
(Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
islands component is widely
scattered across remote locations in the southern Indian Ocean
Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): the atoll is a circular reef that
sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano
Europa Island and Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): wildlife
sanctuary for seabirds and sea turtles
Glorioso Island (Iles Eparses): the islands and rocks are surrounded
by an extensive reef system
Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): climatologically important location
for forecasting cyclones in the western Indian Ocean; wildlife
sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)
Gabon
a small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped
Gabon become one of Africa's wealthier countries; in general, these
circumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve its
pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity
Gambia, The
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the
continent of Africa
Gaza Strip
strategic strip of land along Mideast-North African trade
routes has experienced an incredibly turbulent history; the town of
Gaza itself has been besieged countless times in its history
Georgia
strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia
controls much of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them
Germany
strategic location on North European Plain and along the
entrance to the Baltic Sea
Ghana
Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake
Gibraltar
strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the
North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
Greece
strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern
approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an
archipelago of about 2,000 islands
Greenland
dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and
Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast;
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 group is
divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
Guam
largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands
archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
Guatemala
no natural harbors on west coast
Guernsey
large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
Guinea
the Niger and its important tributary the Milo have their
sources in the Guinean highlands
Guinea-Bissau
this small country is swampy along its western coast
and low-lying inland
Guyana
the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname
and Uruguay; substantial portions of its western and eastern
territories are claimed by Venezuela and Suriname respectively
Haiti
shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western
one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Mawson Peak on Heard Island is the
highest Australian mountain (at 2,745 meters, it is taller than Mt.
Kosciuszko in Australia proper), and one of only two active
volcanoes located in Australian territory, the other being McDonald
Island; in 1992, McDonald Island broke its dormancy and began
erupting; it has erupted several times since, the most recent being
in 2005
Holy See (Vatican City)
landlocked; enclave in Rome, Italy; world's
smallest state; beyond the territorial boundary of Vatican City, the
Lateran Treaty of 1929 grants the Holy See extraterritorial
authority over 23 sites in Rome and five outside of Rome, including
the Pontifical Palace at Castel Gandolfo (the Pope's summer
residence)
Honduras
has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean
shoreline, including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast
Hong Kong
more than 200 islands
Hungary
landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes
between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between
Ukraine and Mediterranean basin; the north-south flowing Duna
(Danube) and Tisza Rivers divide the country into three large regions
Iceland
strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost
European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in
the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental
Europe
India
dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian
Ocean trade routes; Kanchenjunga, third tallest mountain in the
world, lies on the border with Nepal
Indian Ocean
major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of
Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and
the Lombok Strait
Indonesia
archipelago of 17,508 islands (6,000 inhabited); straddles
equator; strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from
Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean
Iran
strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz,
which are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport
Iraq
strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of
the Persian Gulf
Ireland
strategic location on major air and sea routes between North
America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides
within 100 km of Dublin
Isle of Man
one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest
and is a bird sanctuary
Israel
Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) is an important freshwater
source; there are about 355 Israeli civilian sites including about
145 small outpost communities in the West Bank, 41 sites in the
Golan Heights, and 32 in East Jerusalem (2010 est.)
Italy
strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as
southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe
Jamaica
strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica
Channel, the main sea lanes for the Panama Canal
Jan Mayen
barren volcanic island with some moss and grass
Japan
strategic location in northeast Asia
Jersey
largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of
population concentrated in Saint Helier
Jordan
strategic location at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba and as
the Arab country that shares the longest border with Israel and the
occupied West Bank
Kazakhstan
landlocked; Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km of
territory enclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome; in January 2004,
Kazakhstan and Russia extended the lease to 2050
Kenya
the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful
agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on
Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak; unique physiography
supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic
value
Kiribati
21 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean Island)
in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the
Pacific Ocean - the others are Makatea in French Polynesia, and Nauru
Korea, North
strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and
Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated
Korea, South
strategic location on Korea Strait
Kuwait
strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
Kyrgyzstan
landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien
Shan range; 94% of the country is 1,000 m above sea level with an
average elevation of 2,750 m; many tall peaks, glaciers, and
high-altitude lakes
Laos
landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly
forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western
boundary with Thailand
Latvia
most of the country is composed of fertile low-lying plains
with some hills in the east
Lebanon
Nahr el Litani is the only major river in Near East not
crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically
helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based
on religion, clan, and ethnicity
Lesotho
landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa;
mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 m above sea level
Liberia
facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by
lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland
grassy plateau supports limited agriculture
Libya
more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert
Liechtenstein
along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly
landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic
variations based on elevation
Lithuania
fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that
are ancient glacial deposits
Luxembourg
landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world
Macau
essentially urban; an area of land reclaimed from the sea
measuring 5.2 sq km and known as Cotai now connects the islands of
Coloane and Taipa; the island area is connected to the mainland
peninsula by three bridges
Macedonia
landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and
Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
Madagascar
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along
Mozambique Channel
Malawi
landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's
most prominent physical feature
Malaysia
strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern
South China Sea
Maldives
1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited
islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago with
strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
Mali
landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern,
cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the
northern, arid Saharan
Malta
the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three
largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino)
being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and
Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the
continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil
exploration
Marshall Islands
the islands of Bikini and Enewetak are former US
nuclear test sites; Kwajalein atoll, famous as a World War II
battleground, surrounds the world's largest lagoon and is used as a
US missile test range; the island city of Ebeye is the second
largest settlement in the Marshall Islands, after the capital of
Majuro, and one of the most densely populated locations in the
Pacific
Mauritania
most of the population is concentrated in the cities of
Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the
southern part of the country
Mauritius
the main island, from which the country derives its name,
is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral
reefs; home of the dodo, a large flightless bird related to pigeons,
driven to extinction by the end of the 17th century through a
combination of hunting and the introduction of predatory species
Mayotte
part of Comoro Archipelago (18 islands)
Mexico
strategic location on southern border of US; corn (maize),
one of the world's major grain crops, is thought to have originated
in Mexico
Micronesia, Federated States of
four major island groups totaling
607 islands
Moldova
landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and
minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone
Monaco
second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy
See); almost entirely urban
Mongolia
landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia
Montenegro
strategic location along the Adriatic coast
Montserrat
the island is entirely volcanic in origin and comprised
of three major volcanic centers of differing ages
Morocco
strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar
Mozambique
the Zambezi flows through the north-central and most
fertile part of the country
Namibia
first country in the world to incorporate the protection of
the environment into its constitution; some 14% of the land is
protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip
Nauru
Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the
Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and
Makatea in French Polynesia; only 53 km south of Equator
Navassa Island
strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base
at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock with numerous solution
holes but with enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands
of fig trees, scattered cactus
Nepal
landlocked; strategic location between China and India;
contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest
and Kanchenjunga - the world's tallest and third tallest - on the
borders with China and India respectively
Netherlands
located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine,
Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)
New Caledonia
consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of
the largest in the Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyaute,
and numerous small, sparsely populated islands and atolls
New Zealand
almost 90% of the population lives in cities; Wellington
is the southernmost national capital in the world
Nicaragua
largest country in Central America; contains the largest
freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua
Niger
landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world;
northern four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna,
suitable for livestock and limited agriculture
Nigeria
the Niger enters the country in the northwest and flows
southward through tropical rain forests and swamps to its delta in
the Gulf of Guinea
Niue
one of world's largest coral islands
Norfolk Island
most of the 32 km coastline consists of almost
inaccessible cliffs, but the land slopes down to the sea in one
small southern area on Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is
situated
Northern Mariana Islands
strategic location in the North Pacific
Ocean
Norway
about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its
much-indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes
and air routes in North Atlantic; one of the most rugged and longest
coastlines in the world
Oman
strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of
Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
Pacific Ocean
the major chokepoints are the Bering Strait, Panama
Canal, Luzon Strait, and the Singapore Strait; the Equator divides
the Pacific Ocean into the North Pacific Ocean and the South Pacific
Ocean; dotted with low coral islands and rugged volcanic islands in
the southwestern Pacific Ocean
Pakistan
controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion
routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent
Palau
westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six
island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes World War II
battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands
Panama
strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land
bridge connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal
that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific
Ocean
Papua New Guinea
shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of
world's largest swamps along southwest coast
Paracel Islands
composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs
divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent
Group
Paraguay
landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil;
population concentrated in southern part of country
Peru
shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable
lake, with Bolivia; a remote slope of Nevado Mismi, a 5,316 m peak,
is the ultimate source of the Amazon River
Philippines
the Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands;
favorably located in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water
bodies: the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea,
and Luzon Strait
Pitcairn Islands
Britain's most isolated dependency; only the larger
island of Pitcairn is inhabited but it has no port or natural
harbor; supplies must be transported by rowed longboat from larger
ships stationed offshore
Poland
historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and
the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
Portugal
Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along
western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
Puerto Rico
important location along the Mona Passage - a key
shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest
and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and
high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast
relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north
Qatar
strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major
petroleum deposits
Romania
controls most easily traversable land route between the
Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine
Russia
largest country in the world in terms of area but unfavorably
located in relation to major sea lanes of the world; despite its
size, much of the country lacks proper soils and climates (either
too cold or too dry) for agriculture; Mount El'brus is Europe's
tallest peak
Rwanda
landlocked; most of the country is savanna grassland with the
population predominantly rural
Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Saint Helena harbors
at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world;
Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns;
Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha is the highest island mountain
in the South Atlantic and a prominent landmark on the sea lanes
around southern Africa
Saint Kitts and Nevis
with coastlines in the shape of a baseball bat
and ball, the two volcanic islands are separated by a 3-km-wide
channel called The Narrows; on the southern tip of long, baseball
bat-shaped Saint Kitts lies the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak sits in
the center of its almost circular namesake island and its ball shape
complements that of its sister island
Saint Lucia
the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking
cone-shaped peaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural
highlights of the Caribbean
Saint Martin
the island of Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in
the world shared by two independent states, the French territory of
Saint Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
vegetation scanty
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
the administration of the islands
of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines and Grenada; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is
comprised of 32 islands and cays
Samoa
occupies an almost central position within Polynesia
San Marino
landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after
the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines
Sao Tome and Principe
the smallest country in Africa; the two main
islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are
mountainous
Saudi Arabia
extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea
provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through
Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
Senegal
westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is
almost an enclave within Senegal
Serbia
controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to
Turkey and the Near East
Seychelles
41 granitic and about 75 coralline islands
Sierra Leone
rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches)
a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western
Africa
Singapore
focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes
Sint Maarten
the northern border is shared with the French overseas
collectivity of Saint Martin; together, these two enties make up the
smallest landmass in the world shared by two self-governing states
Slovakia
landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous;
the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic
lakes and valleys
Slovenia
despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country
controls some of Europe's major transit routes
Solomon Islands
strategic location on sea routes between the South
Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea; on 2 April 2007
an undersea earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale occurred
345 km WNW of the capital Honiara; the resulting tsunami devastated
coastal areas of Western and Choiseul provinces with dozens of
deaths and thousands dislocated; the provincial capital of Gizo was
especially hard hit
Somalia
strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern
approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal
South Africa
South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost
completely surrounds Swaziland
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
the north coast of South
Georgia has several large bays, which provide good anchorage;
reindeer, introduced early in the 20th century, live on South Georgia
Southern Ocean
the major chokepoint is the Drake Passage between
South America and Antarctica; the Polar Front (Antarctic
Convergence) is the best natural definition of the northern extent
of the Southern Ocean; it is a distinct region at the middle of the
Antarctic Circumpolar Current that separates the cold polar surface
waters to the south from the warmer waters to the north; the Front
and the Current extend entirely around Antarctica, reaching south of
60 degrees south near New Zealand and near 48 degrees south in the
far South Atlantic coinciding with the path of the maximum westerly
winds
Spain
strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar;
Spain controls a number of territories in northern Morocco including
the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez
de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas
Spratly Islands
strategically located near several primary shipping
lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small
islands, 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 its
tributaries
Suriname
smallest independent country on South American continent;
mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna
that, for the most part, is increasingly threatened by new
development; relatively small population, mostly along the coast
Svalbard
northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of
nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total
area; Spitsbergen Island is the site of the Svalbard Global Seed
Vault, a seed repository established by the Global Crop Diversity
Trust and the Norwegian Government
Swaziland
landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
Sweden
strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and
North Seas
Switzerland
landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe;
along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern
Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps
Syria
there are 41 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites
in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (2010 est.)
Taiwan
strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the
Luzon Strait