Madagascaren

Madagascar

AREA	587,041 sq km (226,658 sq miles).
POPULATION	13,494,000 (1996).
POPULATION DENSITY	23.0 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Antananarivo (formerly Tananarive).
CAPITAL POPULATION	1,052,835 (1993).
GEOGRAPHY	Madagascar, the fourth-largest island in the world, lies in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Mozambique. It includes several much smaller islands. A central chain of high mountains, the Hauts Plateaux, occupies more than half of the main island and is responsible for the marked differences – ethnically, climatically and scenically – between the east and west coasts. The narrow strip of lowlands on the east coast, settled from the 6th century by Polynesian seafarers, is largely covered by dense rainforests, whereas the broader west-coast landscape, once covered by dry deciduous forests, is now mostly savannah. The east coast receives the monsoon and, on both coasts, the climate is wetter towards the north. The southern tip of the island is semi-desert, with great forests of cactus-like plants. The capital, Antananarivo, is high up in the Hauts Plateaux near the island's centre. Much of Madagascar's flora and fauna is unique to the island. There are 3000 endemic species of butterfly; the many endemic species of lemurs fill the niches occupied elsewhere by animals as varied as racoons, monkeys, marmots, bushbabies, sloths and even (though this variant is now extinct) bears; there is a similar diversity of reptiles, amphibians and birds (especially ducks), and also at all levels of plant life.
GOVERNMENT	Republic since 1992. Gained independence from France in 1960. Head of State: President Didier Ratsiraka since 1997. Head of Government: Prime Minister René Tantely Andrianarivo since 1998.
LANGUAGE	The official languages are Malagasy (which is related to Indonesian) and French. Local dialects are also spoken. Very little English is spoken.
RELIGION	51% follow Animist beliefs, about 43% Christian; remainder Muslim.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 3.
ELECTRICITY	Mostly 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are generally 2-pin.

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Macau

Macau

AREA	21.45 sq km (8.28 sq miles).
POPULATION	430,539 (1998). 95% of the population is Chinese and 5% Portuguese, European and from other regions.
POPULATION DENSITY	20,0071.7 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Macau.
CAPITAL POPULATION
GEOGRAPHY	Macau is situated on a tiny peninsula at the mouth of the Pearl River. Two bridges of 2.5km (1.5 miles) and 4.5km (2.8 miles) respectively link it to its nearest island of Taipa, which in turn is joined to the island of Côloane by a 2.2 km-/1.3 mile-long causeway. At the extreme northern end of the peninsula, on a narrow isthmus, is the imposing gateway (Portas do Cerco, or Border Gate), which leads to the Zhuhai and Zhongshan areas of the People's Republic of China. Some 60km (37.5 miles) to the east-northeast, across the mouth of the river, is Hong Kong.
GOVERNMENT	Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China since 1999. Head of State: President Jiang Zemin since 1999. Head of Government: Chief Executive.
LANGUAGE	The official languages are Chinese (Cantonese) and Portuguese. English is widely spoken by those engaged in trade, tourism and commerce.
RELIGION	The main religions are Buddhism, Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. The majority are Buddhists while 7% are Catholics.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 8.
ELECTRICITY	Usually 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

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Luxembourg

Luxembourg

AREA	2586 sq km (999 sq miles).
POPULATION	423,700 (1998).
POPULATION DENSITY	163.8 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Luxembourg-Ville.
CAPITAL POPULATION	79,500 (1998).
GEOGRAPHY	The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg shares borders to the north and west with Belgium, to the south with France and to the east with Germany. One-third of the country is made up of the hills and forests of the Ardennes, while the rest is wooded farmland. In the southeast is the rich wine-growing valley of Moselle. The capital, Luxembourg-Ville, is built on a rock overlooking the Alzette and Petrusse valleys.
GOVERNMENT	Constitutional monarchy. Luxembourg is a founding member of the European Union and the only Grand Duchy in the world. Head of State: Grand Duke Jean since 1964. Head of Government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker since 1995.
LANGUAGE	Lëtzeburgesch, a German-Moselle-Frankish dialect, became the officially recognised national language in 1984. French and German are generally used for administrative and commercial purposes. Many Luxembourgers also speak English.
RELIGION	91% Roman Catholic, with Protestant, Anglican and Jewish minorities.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

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Lithuania

Lithuania

AREA	65,301 sq km (25,213 sq miles).
POPULATION	3,701,253 (1999).
POPULATION DENSITY	56.7 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Vilnius.
CAPITAL POPULATION	578,412 (1999).
GEOGRAPHY	Lithuania is situated on the eastern Baltic coast and borders Latvia in the north, the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation and Poland in the southwest and Belarus in the southwest and east. The geometrical centre of Europe lies in eastern Lithuania near the village of Bernotai, 25km (16 miles) north of Vilnius. The landscape alternates between lowland plains and hilly uplands and has a dense, intricate network of rivers, including the Nemunas and the Neris. 1.5% of the country's territory is made up of lakes, of which there are over 2800. The majority of these lie in the east of the country and include Lake Druksiai and Lake Tauragnas.
GOVERNMENT	Republic. Declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1989. Head of State: President Valdas Adamkus since 1996. Head of Government: Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius since 1999.
LANGUAGE	Lithuanian is the official language. Lithuanian has a large number of dialects for such a small territory, including High Lithuanian (Aukstaiciai) and Low Lithuanian (Zemaiciai).
RELIGION	Predominantly Roman Catholic with Evangelical Lutheran, Evangelical Reformist, Russian Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim and Jewish minorities.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 2.
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz. European 2-pin plugs are in use.

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Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein

AREA	160 sq km (61.8 sq miles).
POPULATION	31,000 (1997).
POPULATION DENSITY	200.0 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Vaduz
CAPITAL POPULATION	5106 (1998).
GEOGRAPHY	Liechtenstein shares borders with Austria and Switzerland and lies between the upper reaches of the Rhine Valley and the Austrian Alps. The principality is noted for its fine vineyards.
GOVERNMENT	Imperial Principality with a hereditary constitutional monarchy. Principality established in 1719. Present Constitution from 1921. Head of State: Prince Hans Adam II since 1989. Head of Government: Prime Minister Mario Frick since 1993.
LANGUAGE	German; a dialect of Alemannish is widely spoken. English is also spoken.
RELIGION	Christian, predominantly Roman Catholic.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz. European 2-pin plugs are used.

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LlibyaArab Jamahiriya

LlibyaArab Jamahiriya

AREA	1,775,500 sq km (685,520 sq miles).
POPULATION	4,811,902 (1995).
POPULATION DENSITY	2.7 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Tripoli.
CAPITAL POPULATION	990,700 (1984).
GEOGRAPHY	Libya consists mostly of huge areas of desert. It shares borders with Tunisia and Algeria in the west, and Egypt in the east, while the Sahara extends across the southern frontiers with Niger, Chad and the Sudan. There are almost 2000km (1250 miles) of Mediterranean coast, with a low plain extending from the Tunisian border to the Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountain) area in the east. Inland the terrain becomes more hilly. Agriculture has developed mainly on the coast between Zuara and Misurata in the west and from Marsa Susa to Benghazi in the east. In the uplands of the old province of Cyrenaica and on Jebel Akhdar the vegetation is more lush. With the exception of the 'Sand Sea' of the Sarir Calanscio, and the Saharan mountains of the Sarir Tibesti, there are oases scattered throughout the country.
GOVERNMENT	Jamahiriya (state of the masses). Gained independence from Italy in 1951. Head of State: Muammar al-Qadhafi (Leader of the Revolution) since 1969. Head of Government: Premier Muhammad al-Manqush (Secretary of the General People's Committee) since 1998.
LANGUAGE	Arabic (which must be used for all official purposes), with some English or Italian. All road, shop and other signs are in Arabic. English is normally understood by people working in hotels, restaurants and shops.
RELIGION	Sunni Muslim.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 2.
ELECTRICITY	150/220 volts AC, 50Hz. All services may be intermittently disrupted by power cuts.

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Liberia

Liberia

AREA	97,754 sq km (37,743 sq miles).
POPULATION	2,879,000 (1997).
POPULATION DENSITY	29.5 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Monrovia.
CAPITAL POPULATION	668,000 (1990).
GEOGRAPHY	Liberia borders Sierra Leone, Guinea Republic and Côte d'Ivoire. The Atlantic coastline to the west is 560km (348 miles) long, of which over half is sandy beach. Lying parallel to the shore are three distinct belts. The low coastal belt is well watered by shallow lagoons, tidal creeks and mangrove swamps, behind which rises a gently undulating plateau, 500-800m (1640-2625ft) high, partly covered with dense forests. Inland and to the north is the mountain region which includes Mount Nimba at 1752m (5748ft) and Waulo Mountain at 1400m (4593ft). About half the country's population are rural dwellers.
GOVERNMENT	Republic. Gained independence from the USA in 1847. Head of State and Government: President Charles Ghankay Taylor since 1997.
LANGUAGE	English is the official language. The main local languages are Bassa, Dan (Gio), Kpelleh, Kru, Lorma and Mano.
RELIGION	Officially a Christian state, with more than 30 denominations represented; Islam is practised in the north and traditional animist beliefs exist throughout the country.
STANDARD TIME	GMT.
ELECTRICITY	110 volts AC, 60Hz.

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Lesotho

Lesotho

AREA	30,355 sq km (11,720 sq miles).
POPULATION	2,131,000 (1997).
POPULATION DENSITY	70.2 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Maseru.
CAPITAL POPULATION	170,000 (1990).
GEOGRAPHY	Lesotho is a landlocked country surrounded on all sides by South Africa. It is a mountainous kingdom situated at the highest part of the Drakensberg escarpment on the eastern rim of the South African plateau. Its mountainous terrain is cut by countless valleys and ravines, making it a country of great beauty. To the west the land descends through a foothill zone of rolling hills to a lowland belt along the border where two-thirds of the population live. Three large rivers, the Orange, the Caledon and the Tugela, rise in the mountains.
GOVERNMENT	Kingdom. Gained independence from the UK in 1966. Head of State: King Letsie III since 1996. Head of Government: Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili since 1998.
LANGUAGE	Sesotho and English.
RELIGION	Christian; mainly Anglican, Catholic and Lesotho Evangelical. The remainder belong to other denominations.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 2
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz

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Lativa

Lativa

AREA	64,589 sq km (24,938 sq miles).
POPULATION	2,439,800 (1999).
POPULATION DENSITY	37.8 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Riga
CAPITAL POPULATION	815,851 (1997).
GEOGRAPHY	Latvia is situated on the Baltic coast and borders Estonia in the north, Lithuania in the south, the Russian Federation in the east and Belarus in the southeast. The coastal plain is mostly flat, but inland to the east the land is hilly with forests and lakes. There are about 12,000 rivers in Latvia, the biggest being the River Daugava. The ports of Riga, Liepaja and Ventspils never freeze over during the winter.
GOVERNMENT	Republic. Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Head of State: President Guntis Ulmanis since 1993. Head of Government: Prime Minister Guntars Krasts since 1997.
LANGUAGE	Latvian is the official language. It is an Indo-European, non-Slavic and non-Germanic language and is similar only to Lithuanian. Russian and, increasingly, English are widely spoken. German may also be understood.
RELIGION	Predominantly Protestant (Lutheran) with Roman Catholic communities in the east of the country. There is also a Russian Orthodox minority.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz. European-style 2-pin plugs are in use.

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Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (Laos)

Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (Laos)

AREA	236,800 sq km (91,400 sq miles).
POPULATION	4,845,800 (1997).
POPULATION DENSITY	20.5 per sq km (1997).
CAPITAL	Vientiane.
CAPITAL POPULATION	555,100 (1997).
GEOGRAPHY	Laos is a landlocked country bordered to the north by China, to the east by Vietnam, to the south by Cambodia and to the west by Thailand and Myanmar. Apart from the Mekong River plains along the border of Thailand, the country is mountainous, particularly in the north, and in places is densely forested.
GOVERNMENT	People's Republic since 1975. Head of State: Khamtai Siphandon since 1996. Head of Government: Sisavat Keobounphan since 1998. Gained independence from France in 1953.
LANGUAGE	The official language is Lao, however many tribal languages are also spoken. French, Vietnamese and some English are also spoken.
RELIGION	The Laos-Lum (Valley Laos) people follow the Hinayana (Theravada) form of Buddhism. The religions of the Laos-Theung (Laos of the mountain tops) range from traditional Confucianism to Animism and Christianity.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 7.
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz.

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Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan

AREA	198,500 sq km (76,600 sq miles).
POPULATION	4,635,000 (1998).
POPULATION DENSITY	23.3 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Bishkek (Frunze).
CAPITAL POPULATION	585,800 (1996).
GEOGRAPHY	Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China. The majestic Tien Shan (Heavenly Mountains) range occupies the greater part of the area. Its highest peak is Pik Pobedy at 7439m (24,406ft).
GOVERNMENT	Republic. Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Head of State and Government: President Askar Akaev since 1990. Acting Prime Minister: Amangeldy Muraliyev, appointed by the President in 1999.
LANGUAGE	The official language is Kyrgyz, a Turkic language closely related to Uzbek, Kazakh, Turkmen and Turkish. Any attempt by a foreigner to speak Kyrgyz will be greatly appreciated. In deference to the large Russian population of Kyrgyzstan, Russian is also protected under law. In 1993 the Government undertook to replace the Russian Cyrillic Alphabet with the Turkish version of the Roman alphabet. Meanwhile most people can speak Russian, albeit often reluctantly. English is widely spoken by those involved in tourism. Uzbek, Kazakh, Tajik and various other regional languages and dialects are also spoken.
RELIGION	Predominantly Sunni Muslim with a Russian Orthodox minority.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 5 (GMT + 6 from second Sunday in April to Saturday before last Sunday in September).
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round 2-pin continental plugs are standard.

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Kuwait

Kuwait

AREA	17,818 sq km (6880 sq miles).
POPULATION	1,866,104 (1998).
POPULATION DENSITY	104.7 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Kuwait City.
CAPITAL POPULATION	28,859 (1995).
GEOGRAPHY	Kuwait shares borders with Iraq and Saudi Arabia. To the southeast lies the Persian Gulf, where Kuwait has sovereignty over nine small islands (the largest is Bubiyan and the most populous is Failaka). The landscape is predominantly desert plateau with a lower, more fertile coastal belt.
GOVERNMENT	Traditional Arab monarchy. Head of State: Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmed as-Sabah since 1978. Head of Government: Crown Prince Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah as-Salim as-Sabah since 1978. Gained full independence from the UK in 1961.
LANGUAGE	Arabic, but English is widely understood, especially in commerce and industry.
RELIGION	95% Muslim (mostly of the Sunni sect), with Christian and Hindu minorities.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 3.
ELECTRICITY	240 volts AC, 50Hz; single phase. UK-type flat 3-pin plugs are used.
COMMUNICATIONS	Telephone: Full IDD is available. Country code: 965. Outgoing international code: 00. Fax: Most hotels have facilities. Telegram: 24-hour telegram services are available at the Ministry of Post and Telegraph Offices, Abdullah Al Salem Square, Kuwait City, but must be handed to the post office (opening hours: 0700-1400 Saturday to Wednesday; 0700-1200 Thursday). Post: Airmail to Western Europe takes about five days. Press: The English-language newspapers are the Arab Times and the Kuwait Times. Although remaining loyal to the Royal family, the press enjoys a fair degree of freedom.

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Kiribati

Kiribati

AREA	810.5 sq km (312.9 sq miles).
POPULATION	77,853 (1996).
POPULATION DENSITY	96.1 per sq km.
CAPITAL	South Tarawa.
CAPITAL POPULATION	29,028 (1990).
GEOGRAPHY	Kiribati (pronounced 'Kiribass', formerly the Gilbert Islands) consists of three groups in the central Pacific: Kiribati (including Banaba, formerly Ocean Island), the Line Islands and the Phoenix Islands. The 33 islands, scattered across two million square miles of the central Pacific, are low-lying coral atolls with coastal lagoons. The exception is Banaba, which is a coral formation rising to 80m (265ft). The soil is generally poor, apart from Banaba, and rainfall is variable. Coconut palms and pandanus trees comprise the main vegetation. There are no hills or streams throughout the group. Water is obtained from storage tanks or wells.
GOVERNMENT	Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1979. Head of State and Government: President Teburoro Tito since 1994.
LANGUAGE	Kiribati and English.
RELIGION	Christianity (50% Roman Catholic), the Bahai Faith and Islam.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 12, except as follows: Canton Island, Enderbury Island: GMT +13; Christmas Island: GMT +14.
ELECTRICITY	240 volts AC, 50Hz.

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Kenya

Kenya

AREA	580,367 sq km (224,081 sq miles).
POPULATION	31,806,000 (1995).
POPULATION DENSITY	54.8 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Nairobi.
CAPITAL POPULATION	1,346,000 (1989).
GEOGRAPHY	Kenya shares borders with Ethiopia in the north, Sudan in the northwest, Uganda in the west, Tanzania in the south, and Somalia in the northeast. To the east lies the Indian Ocean. The country is divided into four regions: the arid deserts of the north, the savannah lands of the south, the fertile lowlands along the coast and around the shores of Lake Victoria, and highlands in the west, where the capital Nairobi is situated. Northwest of Nairobi runs the Rift Valley, containing the town of Nakuru and Aberdare National Park, overlooked by Mount Kenya (5200m/17,000ft), which also has a national park. In the far northwest is Lake Turkana (formerly Lake Rudolph). Kenya is a multi-cultural society; in the north live Somalis and the nomadic Hamitic peoples (Turkana, Rendille and Samburu), in the south and eastern lowlands are Kamba and Masai and the Luo live around Lake Victoria. The largest group is the Kikuyu who live in the central highlands and have traditionally been dominant in commerce and politics, although this is now changing. There are many other smaller groups and although Kenya emphasises nationalism, tribal and cultural identity is a factor. A small European settler population remains in the highlands, involved in farming and commerce.
GOVERNMENT	Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1963. Head of State and Government: President Daniel arap Moi since 1978; last re-elected in 1997.
LANGUAGE	Swahili is the official language and English is widely spoken. Many local languages are also spoken including Kikuyu and Luo.
RELIGION	Mostly traditional but there is a sizeable Christian population and a small Muslim community.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 3.
ELECTRICITY	220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are UK-type round 2-pin or flat 3-pin. Bayonet-type light sockets exist in Kenya.
COMMUNICATIONS	Telephone: IDD service is available to the main cities. Country code: 254 (followed by 2 for Nairobi, 11 for Mombasa and 37 for Nakuru). Outgoing international code: 000. International calls can sometimes be made direct or operator-assisted by dialling 0196. Public telephones work with coins or with phone cards (which may be purchased from post offices or from international call services in major towns); coin-operated phone booths are painted red, card-operated booths are painted blue. Major hotels also offer a phone service, but they usually charge up to 100% more. For local calls, it is useful to have plenty of small change available. Fax: This service is available to the public at the Main Post Office and the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, and at major hotels. Telegram: Overseas telegrams can be sent from all post and telegraphic offices and private telephones. Nairobi GPO is open 24 hours. Post: Post Offices are identified by the letters KP&TC (Kenya Posts & Telecommunications Corporation). Post boxes are red. Stamps can usually be bought at post offices, stationers, souvenir shops and hotels. Airmail to Western Europe takes up to four days, and the service is generally reliable. Post offices are open 0800-1700 Monday to Friday; 0900-1200 Saturday (main post offices). Press: The main dailies (all published in English) include Daily Nation, Kenya Times and The Standard. Nairobi is the main publishing centre.

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Kazalhstan

Kazalhstan

AREA	2,717,300 sq km (1,049,150 sq miles).
POPULATION	15,921,00 (1996).
POPULATION DENSITY	5.9 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Astana (formerly called Akmola).
CAPITAL POPULATION	287,000 (1993).
GEOGRAPHY	Five times the size of France and half the size of the United States, Kazakhstan is the second largest state in the Commonwealth of Independent States, and is bordered by the Russian Federation to the north and west, the Caspian Sea, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to the southwest, Kyrgyzstan to the south and China to the southeast. 90% of the country is made up of steppe, the sand massives of the Kara Kum and the vast desert of Kizilkum, while in the southeast of the country the mountains of the Tien Shan and the Altai form a great natural frontier with tens of thousands of lakes and rivers. The Aral Sea and Lake Balkhash are the country's largest expanses of water.
GOVERNMENT	Republic. Head of State: President Nursultan A Nasarbajev since 1990. Head of Government: Prime Minister Nurlan Balgymbayev since 1997.
LANGUAGE	The official language is Kazakh, a Turkic language closely related to Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Turkmen and Turkish. The Government has undertaken to replace the Russian Cyrillic alphabet with the Turkish version of the Roman alphabet. Meanwhile the Cyrillic alphabet is in general use and most people in the cities can speak Russian, whereas country people tend to only speak Kazakh. English is usually spoken by those involved in tourism. Uygur and other regional languages and dialects are also spoken.
RELIGION	Mainly Sunni Muslim. There are Russian Orthodox and Jewish minorities. There are ten independent denominations of Christianity. The Kazakhs do not express their religious feelings fervently – Kazakhstan is an outlying district of the Muslim world and a meeting point of Russian, Chinese and Central Asian civilisations. Islam plays a minor role in policy and there are no significant Islamic political organisations in the country.
STANDARD TIME	Kazakhstan is divided into three time zones: Eastern/Main Zone: GMT + 6 (GMT + 7 from March 28 to October 26). Central Zone: GMT + 5 (GMT + 6 from March 28 to October 26). Western Zone: GMT + 4 (GMT + 5 from March 28 to October 26).
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round 2-pin continental plugs are standard.

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Jordan

Jordan

AREA	97,740 sq km (37,738 sq miles).
POPULATION	5,774,000 (1997). An estimated 4,368,000 people live on the East Bank of the River Jordan; the remainder live on the West Bank, which is now administered by the Palestinian National Authority. Nearly half a million people in East Jordan are classified as Palestinian refugees and are maintained by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. Another quarter of a million people are reckoned to have been displaced by the events of the 1967 Middle East war.
POPULATION DENSITY	55.6 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Amman
CAPITAL POPULATION	1,696,300 (1996).
GEOGRAPHY	Jordan shares borders with Israel, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The Dead Sea is to the northwest and the Red Sea to the southwest. A high plateau extends 324km (201 miles) from Syria to Ras en Naqab in the south with the capital of Amman at a height of 800m (2625ft). Northwest of the capital are undulating hills, some forested, others cultivated. The Dead Sea depression, 400m (1300ft) below sea level in the west, is the lowest point on earth. The River Jordan connects the Dead Sea with Lake Tiberias (Israel). To the west of Jordan is the Palestinian National Authority Region. The east of the country is mainly desert. Jordan has a tiny stretch of Red Sea coast, centred on Aqaba.
GOVERNMENT	Constitutional Monarchy since 1952. Head of State: King Abdullah Ibn Hussein since 1999. Head of Government: Prime Minister Abdul Rauf al-Rawabdeh since 1999.
LANGUAGE	Arabic is the official language. English is also spoken, predominantly in the cities. French, German, Italian and Spanish are also spoken.
RELIGION	Over 90% Sunni Muslim, with Christian and Shi'ite Muslim minorities.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from April to September).
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz. Lamp sockets are screw-type, and there is a wide range of wall sockets.

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Jamaica

Jamaica

AREA	10,991 sq km (4244 sq miles).
POPULATION	2,530,000 (1995).
POPULATION DENSITY	230.2 er sq km.
CAPITAL	Kingston
CAPITAL POPULATION	643,801 (1991).
GEOGRAPHY	Jamaica is the third-largest island in the West Indies, a narrow outcrop of a submerged mountain range. The island is crossed by a range of mountains reaching 2256m (7402ft) at the Blue Mountain Peak in the east and descending towards the west with a series of spurs and forested gullies running north and south. Most of the best beaches are on the north and west coasts. The island's luxuriant tropical and subtropical vegetation is probably unsurpassed anywhere in the Caribbean.
GOVERNMENT	Constitutional monarchy. Gained independence from the UK in 1962. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor General Sir Howard Hanlon since 1991. Head of Government: Prime Minister P J Patterson since 1992.
LANGUAGE	The official language is English. Local patois is also spoken.
RELIGION	Protestant majority (Church of God, Anglican, Baptist and Methodist) with Roman Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Bahai communities. Rastafarianism, a religion based on belief in the divinity of the late Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie (Ras Tafari), is also widely practised.
STANDARD TIME	GMT - 5.
ELECTRICITY	110 volts AC, 50Hz, single phase. American 2-pin plugs are standard, but many hotels offer, in addition, 220 volts AC, 50Hz, single phase, from 3-pin sockets.

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Iitaly

Iitaly

AREA	301,323 sq km (116,341 sq miles).
POPULATION	57,380,000 (official estimate 1996).
POPULATION DENSITY	190.4 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Rome.
CAPITAL POPULATION	2,645,322 (1996).
GEOGRAPHY	Italy is situated in Europe and attached in the north to the European mainland. To the north the Alps separate Italy from France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Northern Italy: The Alpine regions, the Po Plain and the Ligurian-Etruscan Appennines. Piedmont and Val d'Aosta contain some of the highest mountains in Europe and are good areas for winter sports. Many rivers flow down from the mountains towards the Po Basin, passing through the beautiful Italian Lake District (Maggiore, Como, Garda). The Po Basin, which extends as far south as the bare slopes of the Appennines, is covered with gravel terraces and rich alluvial soil and has long been one of Italy's most prosperous regions. To the east, where the River Po flows into the Adriatic Sea, the plains are little higher than the river itself; artificial (and occasionally natural) embankments prevent flooding. Central Italy: The northern part of the Italian peninsula. Tuscany (Toscana) has a diverse landscape with snow-capped mountains (the Tuscan Appennines), lush countryside, hills and a long sandy coastline with offshore islands. Le Marche, lying between the Appennines and the Adriatic coast, is a region of mountains, rivers and small fertile plains. The even more mountainous regioni (administrative districts) of Abruzzo and Molise are bordered by Marche to the north and Puglia to the south, and are separated from the Tyrrhenian Sea and to the west by Lazio and Campania. Umbria is known as the 'green heart of Italy', hilly with broad plains, olive groves and pines. Further south lies Rome, Italy's capital and largest city. Within its precincts is the Vatican City. Southern Italy: Campania consists of flat coastal plains and low mountains, stretching from Baia Domizia to the Bay of Naples and along a rocky coast to the Calabria border. Inland, the Appennines are lower, mellowing into the rolling countryside around Sorrento. The islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida in the Tyrrhenian Sea are also part of Campania. The south is wilder than the north, with mile upon mile of olive trees, cool forests and rolling hills. Puglia, the 'heel of the boot', is a landscape of volcanic hills and isolated marshes. Calabria, the 'toe', is heavily forested and thinly populated. The Calabrian hills are home to bears and wolves. The Islands: Sicily (Sicilia), visible across a 3km (2-mile) strait from mainland Italy, is fertile but mountainous with volcanoes (including the famous landmark of Mount Etna) and lava fields, and several offshore islands. Sardinia (Sardegna) has a mountainous landscape, fine sandy beaches and rocky offshore islands. For more information on each region, see the Resorts & Excursions section below.
GOVERNMENT	Republic since 1861. Head of State: President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi since 1999. Head of Government: Prime Minister Massimi d'Alema since 1998.
LANGUAGE	Italian is the official language. Dialects are spoken in different regions. German and Ladin are spoken in the South Tyrol region (bordering Austria). French is spoken in all the border areas from the Riviera to the area north of Milan (border with France and Switzerland). German is spoken around the Austrian border. English, German and French are also spoken in the biggest cities and in tourism and business circles.
RELIGION	Roman Catholic with Protestant minorities.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in September).
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz.
COMMUNICATIONS	Telephone: Full IDD service. Country code: 972. Outgoing international code: 00. Local telephone directories are in Hebrew, but there is a special English-language version for tourists. Fax: This service is widely available. Telegram: Facilities are available to guests in most deluxe hotels in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and in main post offices. Post: Airmail to Europe takes up to a week. There are Poste Restante facilities in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Post office hours may vary but are generally: 0800-1230 and 1530-1830 Sunday to Thursday, 0800-1330 Wednesday and 0800-1200 Friday. All post offices are closed on Shabbat (Saturday) and holy days, although central telegraph offices are open throughout the year. Press: The main dailies are Ha'aretz, Yedioth Aharonoth and Ma'ariv. Newspapers are printed in a variety of languages, including English. Political and religious affiliations are common. The English-language daily is the Jerusalem Post, and the Jerusalem Post International Edition is published weekly and goes out to 95 countries.

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Israel

Israel

AREA	22,145 sq km (8550 sq miles).
POPULATION	5,836,000 (1997).
POPULATION DENSITY	263.5 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Jerusalem.
CAPITAL POPULATION	613,600 (1996, including East Jerusalem).
GEOGRAPHY	Israel is on the eastern Mediterranean, bordered by Lebanon and Syria to the north, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the south. The country stretches southwards through the Negev Desert to Eilat, a resort town on the Red Sea. The fertile Plain of Sharon runs along the coast, while inland, parallel to the coast, is a range of hills and uplands with fertile valleys to the west and arid desert to the east. The Great Rift Valley begins beyond the sources of the River Jordan and extends south through the Dead Sea (the lowest point in the world), into the Red Sea, continuing on into Eastern Africa.
GOVERNMENT	Republic. The state of Israel was founded in 1948. Head of State: Ezer Weizman since 1993. Head of Government: Prime Minister Ehud Barak since 1999.
LANGUAGE	Hebrew is the official language. Arabic is spoken by around 15% of the population. English is spoken in most places and other languages, including Russian, Romanian, French, Spanish, German, Yiddish, Polish and Hungarian are widely used.
RELIGION	Hebrew is the official language. Arabic is spoken by around 15% of the population. English is spoken in most places and other languages, including Russian, Romanian, French, Spanish, German, Yiddish, Polish and Hungarian are widely used.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from March to September).
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz. 3-pin plugs are standard; if needed, adaptors can be purchased in Israel.
COMMUNICATIONS	Telephone: Full IDD service. Country code: 972. Outgoing international code: 00. Local telephone directories are in Hebrew, but there is a special English-language version for tourists. Fax: This service is widely available. Telegram: Facilities are available to guests in most deluxe hotels in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and in main post offices. Post: Airmail to Europe takes up to a week. There are Poste Restante facilities in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Post office hours may vary but are generally: 0800-1230 and 1530-1830 Sunday to Thursday, 0800-1330 Wednesday and 0800-1200 Friday. All post offices are closed on Shabbat (Saturday) and holy days, although central telegraph offices are open throughout the year. Press: The main dailies are Ha'aretz, Yedioth Aharonoth and Ma'ariv. Newspapers are printed in a variety of languages, including English. Political and religious affiliations are common. The English-language daily is the Jerusalem Post, and the Jerusalem Post International Edition is published weekly and goes out to 95 countries.

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Ireland

Ireland

AREA	70,285 sq km (27,137 sq miles).
POPULATION	3,626,087 (1996).
POPULATION DENSITY	51.6 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Dublin.
CAPITAL POPULATION	952,700 (1996).
GEOGRAPHY	The Republic of Ireland lies in the north Atlantic Ocean and is separated from Britain by the Irish Sea to the east. The northeastern part of the island (Northern Ireland) is part of the United Kingdom. The country has a central plain surrounded by a rim of mountains and hills offering some of the most varied and unspoilt scenery in Europe – quiet sandy beaches, semi-tropical bays warmed by the Gulf Stream, and rugged cliffs make up the 5600km (3500 miles) of coastline.
GOVERNMENT	Republic. Head of State: President Mary McAleese since 1997. Head of Government: Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.
LANGUAGE	Irish (Gaelic) is the official language, spoken as a first language by about 55,000 people (mostly in the west). The majority speak English.
RELIGION	Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%.
STANDARD TIME	GMT (GMT + 1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before the last Sunday in October)
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz. 3-pin plugs are in use.
COMMUNICATIONS	Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 353 followed by the area code, omitting the initial zero. Outgoing international code: 00. Fax: Facilities are widely available. Post: Post office hours: 0900-1730/1800 Monday to Friday; 0900-1300 Saturday. Sub-post offices close at 1300 one day of the week. The Central Post Office is in O'Connell Street, Dublin. Press: There are several daily newspapers published in Dublin including The Irish Times, Evening Herald and the Irish Independent; and two in Cork. British dailies and Sunday papers are available.

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