New Zealand

New Zealand

AREA	266,171 sq km (102,374 sq miles).
POPULATION	3,800,000 (1998).
POPULATION DENSITY	14.2 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Wellington.
CAPITAL POPULATION	365,000 (1996, including Kapiti). Auckland, with a population of 1,015,000 (1996, including Pukekohe), is the largest urban area in the country.
GEOGRAPHY	New Zealand is 1930km (1200 miles) southeast of Australia and consists of two major islands, the North Island (114,470 sq km/44,197 sq miles) and the South Island (150,660 sq km/58,170 sq miles), which are separated by Cook Strait. Stewart Island (1750 sq km/676 sq miles) is located immediately south of the South Island, and the Chatham Islands lie 800km (500 miles) to the east of Christchurch. Going from north to south temperatures decrease. Compared to its huge neighbour Australia, New Zealand's three islands make up a country that is relatively small (about 20% more land mass than the British Isles). Two-thirds of the country is mountainous, a region of swift-flowing rivers, deep alpine lakes and dense subtropical forest. The country's largest city, Auckland, is situated on the peninsula that forms the northern part of North Island. The southern part of North Island is characterised by fertile coastal plains rising up to volcanic peaks. Around Rotorua, 240km (149 miles) south of Auckland, there is thermal activity in the form of geysers, pools of boiling mud, springs of hot mineral water, silica terraces, coloured craters and hissing fumaroles which make Rotorua a world-famous tourist attraction. The South Island is larger, although only about one-third of the population live there. The Southern Alps extend the whole length of the island, culminating in Mount Cook, the country's highest peak. In the same region are the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers. There are also four Associated Territories: The Cook Islands, about 3500km (2175 miles) northeast of New Zealand; Niue, 920km (570 miles) west of the Cook Islands (area 260 sq km/100 sq miles); Tokelau, three atolls about 960km (600 miles) northwest of Niue (area 12 sq km/4 sq miles) and the Ross Dependency, which consists of over 700,000 sq km (270,270 sq miles) of the Antarctic. Note: Cook Islands and Niue have separate individual sections.
GOVERNMENT	Constitutional monarchy since 1907. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II since 1952, represented locally by Governor-General Sir Michael Hardie Boys since 1996. Head of Government: Prime Minister Helen Clark since 1999.
LANGUAGE	English is the common and everyday language, but other languages are also spoken, including Maori, which is New Zealand's second official language (spoken by approximately 15% of the Maori population).
RELIGION	60% Christian: Anglican, Presbytarian, Roman Catholic and Methodist are all represented.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 12 (GMT + 13 from the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March). Chatham Island: GMT + 12.45 (GMT + 13.45 from the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March).
ELECTRICITY	230/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Most hotels provide 110-volt AC sockets (rated at 20 watts) for electric razors only.
COMMUNICATIONS	Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 64. Outgoing international code: 00. Most public phones take cards purchased from bookstalls; some also accept credit cards, but very few still accept coins. Fax: Most hotels provide facilities. Post: Post offices are open 0900-1700 Monday to Friday. Airmail to Western Europe takes four to five days and to the USA three to ten days. Press: The English-language daily newspapers with the highest circulation include New Zealand Herald, The Press, Evening Post and The Dominion.

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New Caledonia

New Caledonia

AREA	19,103 sq km (7376 sq miles).
POPULATION	200,000 (1997).
POPULATION DENSITY	10.5 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Nouméa.
CAPITAL POPULATION	70,000 (1997).
GEOGRAPHY	New Caledonia is an island group approximately 20,000km (12,428 miles) off the southeast coast of Australia. Mountains run the entire length of the main island. On the western side the land is relatively flat and forested by gum trees. The east coast is more mountainous with beautiful seashores fringed by tropical plants. Crystalline serpentine rock covers more than half the island. About 48km (30 miles) southeastwards lies Ile des Pins (Kunie), an island famed for its caves and grottoes containing stalactites and stalagmites. The Loyalty Group lies to the east of New Caledonia, the main islands being Ouvéa, Lifou and Maré. The remaining islands are the Chesterfield Group, Hinter, Huon Group, Matthew and Walpole.
GOVERNMENT	French Overseas Territory since 1957. Head of State: President Jacques Chirac, represented locally by High Commissioner Henri-Michel Comet since 1996.
LANGUAGE	French is the official language, but Polynesian and Melanesian are also spoken. English is also widely spoken.
RELIGION	Roman Catholic, Protestant.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 11 (GMT + 10 in summer)
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz. European-style, two-pin plugs are in use.

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Netherland

Netherland

AREA	33,939 sq km (13,104 sq miles).
POPULATION	15,517,000 (1996).
POPULATION DENSITY	457.2 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Amsterdam., Seat of Government: The Hague.
CAPITAL POPULATION	724,096 (1994)., 445,279 (1994).
GEOGRAPHY	The Netherlands shares borders to the south with Belgium and to the east with Germany, while the North Sea lies to the north and west. Large areas of The Netherlands have been reclaimed from the sea and consequently one-fifth of the country lies below sea level. The country is flat and level and is criss-crossed by rivers and canals. Areas reclaimed from the sea, known as polders, are extremely fertile. The landscape is broken by the forest of Arnhem, the bulb fields in the west, the lakes of the central and northern areas, and coastal dunes that are among the most impressive in Europe.
GOVERNMENT	Consitutional monarchy since 1848. Head of State: Queen Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard since 1980. Head of Government: Prime Minister, elected for a four-year term. Wim Kok (Partij van de Arbeid - Labour Party) si nce 1994.
LANGUAGE	Dutch is the official language. English, German and French are widely spoken foreign languages.
RELIGION	38% Roman Catholic, 30% Protestant; 26% do not profess any religion.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz. 2-pin European-style plugs are in use.
COMMUNICATIONS	Telephone: Full IDD is available. Country code: 31 (followed by 20 for Amsterdam, 10 for Rotterdam and 70 for The Hague). Outgoing international code: 00. Telephone information is given in French, English and German. The cheap rate is from 2000-0800 Monday to Friday. Calls can be made from public booths or post offices. Most booths only accept cards, which can be bought at post offices, VVV offices, and shops displaying the PTT-telephone card poster; and sometimes coins (25 cent, G1 and G2.5). Fax: Services are widely available and are also provided by some hotels. Telegram: Facilities are available at all main post offices; telegrams can also be sent directly from telephone kiosks. Post: Stamps are available from all post offices as well as from tobacconists and kiosks selling postcards and souvenirs. Mail within Europe takes approximately five days. Post offices are open 0900-1730 Monday to Friday. Some post offices in major towns are also open on late shopping nights (Thursday or Friday night) and 1000-1300 Saturday. There are all-night post offices in Amsterdam (Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, behind the Royal Palace) and Rotterdam (Coolsingel). Press: The main newspapers are De Telegraaf, De Volkskrant, Het Algemeen Dagblad and NRC Handelsblad (an evening paper). Foreign newspapers are widely available. Amsterdam was founded at the end of the thirteenth century, by the side of a dam on the river Amstel, hence its name, a derivative of the original Amsteldam. From the very beginning, Amsterdam and water were inextricably linked. The first inhabitants settled here owing to the prevalence of fresh water in the area. Exemption from paying tolls on Dutch waterways enabled the locals to make a living from fishing and trade, with the city's wealth reaching a peak in the Golden Age of the seventeenth century. The city's intimate relationship with water is no longer so dramatic, but visitors are likely to notice the water within minutes of arrival. In total, there are now 160 canals, measuring 75.5km (47 miles) in length and covering an area of 171 hectares (423 acres). Of course, visitors are just as likely to encounter water in the form of rain: a near constant in Amsterdam. The oldest part of the city is Nieuwmarkt. Around it lie the first canals - Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht - which were built to protect the city against invasion. Later, when Amsterdam became Europe's leading trade centre (with links to 625 foreign harbours), the canals were useful transport paths. Ocean-going ships would dock in the harbour and smaller boats would carry the goods to the warehouses along the canals. The prosperity of the Golden Age was accompanied by a political and religious tolerance that was unprecedented at the time. As a result, Amsterdam became a magnet for those who had been driven from their own countries; Flemish, Walloon and French Protestants, and Jewish merchants from Spain, Portugal and Central Europe flocked to the city. That tolerant stance continues into the present day; certain 'coffee shops' are allowed to sell soft drugs and the thriving sex industry is legal, with prostitutes paying taxes along with city bankers. But although Amsterdam is famous worldwide for its liberal attitudes, they do not play an overbearing part in the life of the city. Much more dominant is Amsterdam's cultural life. The city, once home to great artists such as Rembrandt and Van Gogh, boasts around 42 museums (including the well-known Rijksmuseum), 41 art galleries, 65 concert halls and theatres - all this in a city centre that is so compact it can be crossed on foot in less than an hour. Dutch architecture is also impressive. While many of the houses are narrow-fronted merchants' homes fronted by traditional Dutch ornamented gables and dating back to the seventeenth century, there are also some stunning twentieth-century buildings. Architects such as H P Berlage (De Beurs, the commodity exchange), Michel de Klerk (the 'Amsterdam School' of architecture) and Aldo van Eyck have earned Amsterdam an international reputation for modern masterpieces.

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Nepal

Nepal

AREA	147,181 sq km (56,827 sq miles).
POPULATION	21,127,000 (1996).
POPULATION DENSITY	143.5 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Kathmandu.
CAPITAL POPULATION	535,000 (1993).
GEOGRAPHY	Nepal is a landlocked kingdom sharing borders with Tibet to the north and northwest, and India to the west, south and east. The country can be divided into five zones: the Terai, the Siwaliks, the Mahabharat Lekh, the Midlands or Pahar and the Himalayas. The greater part of the country lies on the southern slope of the Himalayas, extending down from the highest peaks through hill country to the upper edge of the Ganges Plain. The hilly central area is crossed by the Lower Himalayas where there are eight of the highest peaks in the world, leading up to Mount Everest. Wildlife in Nepal includes tigers, leopards, gaur, elephants, buffalo and deer.
GOVERNMENT	Constitutional monarchy. Head of State: King Birendra Bir Bikram Sháh Dev since 1972. Head of Government: Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattari since 1999.
LANGUAGE	The official language is Nepali. There are many other languages, including Maithir and Bhojpuri. English is spoken in business circles and people involved in the travel trade.
RELIGION	Mainly Hindu and Buddhist with a small Muslim minority.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 5.45.
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz. There are frequent power cuts.

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Nauru

Nauru

AREA	21.3 sq km (8.2 sq miles).
POPULATION	9500 (1998).
POPULATION DENSITY	446.0 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Yaren District (no official capital).
CAPITAL POPULATION
GEOGRAPHY	Nauru is an oval-shaped outcrop, situated in the Central Pacific west of Kiribati, surrounded by a reef, which is exposed at low tide. Nauru is the world's smallest republic. There is no deep-water harbour on the island but offshore moorings are reputedly the deepest in the world. The island's beaches, interspersed by coral pinnacles, are bordered inland by a fertile coastal strip encircling the island. On the inner side of the fertile section there is a coral cliff, which rises to a height of 60m (200ft). Above the cliff is an extensive plateau bearing high-grade phosphate. The plateau is infertile and unpopulated, with the exception of a small fringe around a shallow lagoon and a few bush-like trees. Mining operations have gutted the island, and when the phosphates run out (probably by the turn of the century), the island will have to be re-landscaped owing to the disruption caused.
GOVERNMENT	Republic. Gained independence from Australia in 1968. Head of State and Government: President Rene Harris since 1999.
LANGUAGE	Nauruan and English are spoken.
RELIGION	Christian, mostly Nauruan Protestant Church.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 12.
ELECTRICITY	110/240 volts AC, 50Hz.

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Nambia

Nambia

AREA	193 sq km (74.5 sq miles).
POPULATION	87,971 (1996).
POPULATION DENSITY	455.8 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Oranjestad
CAPITAL POPULATION	20,046 (1991).
GEOGRAPHY	Aruba is the smallest island in the Leeward group of the Dutch Caribbean islands, which also include Bonaire and Curaçao. They are popularly known as the ABCs. As the westernmost island of the group, Aruba is the final link in the long Antillean chain, lying 20km (12.5 miles) off the Venezuelan coast. The island is 30km (19.6 miles) long and 9km (6 miles) across at its widest and has a flat landscape dominated by Jamanota Mountain (188m/617ft). The west and southwest coast, known as Palm Beach, boasts 11km (7 miles) of palm-fringed powder-white sands, while in complete contrast the east coast has a desolate, windswept shoreline of jagged rocks carved into weird shapes by the pounding surf.
GOVERNMENT	Dependency of the Netherlands. In 1986 Aruba separated from the rest of the Netherlands Antilles. Head of State: Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, represented locally by Governor Olindo Koolman since 1992. Head of Government: Prime Minister Jan Hendrik Eman since 1994.
LANGUAGE	The official language is Dutch. English and Spanish are also spoken. The islanders also speak Papiamento, which is a combination of Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, English and Indian languages.
RELIGION	80% of the population are Roman Catholic.
STANDARD TIME	GMT - 4.
ELECTRICITY	110 volts AC, 60Hz.

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Myanmar

Myanmar

AREA	676,552 sq km (261,218 sq miles).
POPULATION	46,402,000 (1997).
POPULATION DENSITY	68.6 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Yangon (Rangoon).
CAPITAL POPULATION	2,513,023 (1983).
GEOGRAPHY	Myanmar is a diamond-shaped country extending 925km (575 miles) from east to west and 2100km (1300 miles) from north to south. It is bounded by China, Laos and Thailand in the east, by Bangladesh and India in the north and by the Indian Ocean in the west and south. The Irrawaddy River runs through the centre of the country and fans out to form a delta on the south coast; Yangon stands beside one of its many mouths. North of the delta lies the Irrawaddy basin and central Myanmar, which is protected by a horseshoe of mountains rising to over 3000m (10,000ft), creating profound climatic effects. To the west are the Arakan, Chin and Naga mountains and the Patkai Hills; the Kachin Hills are to the north; to the east lies the Shan Plateau, which extends to the Tenasserim coastal ranges. Intensive irrigated farming is practised throughout central Myanmar, and fruit, vegetables and citrus crops thrive on the Shan Plateau, but much of the land and mountains are covered by subtropical forest.
GOVERNMENT	Socialist Republic since 1974. Power assumed by the army in 1988. Head of State and Government: General Than Shwe since 1992.
LANGUAGE	The official language is Myanmar (Burmese). There are over 100 dialects spoken in Myanmar. English is spoken in business circles.
RELIGION	87% Theravada Buddhist. The remainder are Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Animist.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 6.5.
ELECTRICITY	220/230 volts AC, 50Hz.

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Mozambique

Mozambique

AREA	799,380 sq km (308,641 sq miles).
POPULATION	15,740,000 (1997).
POPULATION DENSITY	19.7 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Maputo
CAPITAL POPULATION	966,000 (1997).
GEOGRAPHY	Mozambique borders Tanzania to the north, Zambia and Malawi to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and South Africa and Swaziland to the southwest. To the east lies the Indian Ocean and a coastline of nearly 2500km (1550 miles) with beaches bordered by lagoons, coral reefs and strings of islands. Behind the coastline a vast low plateau rising towards mountains in the west and north accounts for nearly half the area of Mozambique. The landscape of the plateau is savannah – more or less dry and open woodlands with tracts of short grass steppe. The western and northern highlands are patched with forest. The Zambezi is the largest and most important of the 25 main rivers which flow through Mozambique into the Indian Ocean. The major concentrations of population (comprising many different ethnic groups) are along the coast and in the fertile and relatively productive river valleys, notably in Zambezia and Gaza provinces. The Makua-Lomwe, who belong to the Central Bantu, live mainly in the area north of Zambezia, Nampula, Niassa and Cabo Delgado provinces. The Tsonga, who are the predominant race in the southern lowlands, provide a great deal of the labour for the South African mines. In the Inhambane coastal district are the Chopi and Tsonga, while in the central area are the Shona. The Makonde inhabit the far north. Mestizos and Asians live in the main populated area along the coast and in the more fertile river valleys.
GOVERNMENT	Republic since 1990. Gained independence from Portugal in 1975. Head of State: President Joaquím Alberto Chissano since 1986. Head of Government: Prime Minister Pascoal Manuel Mocumbi since 1994.
LANGUAGE	Portuguese is the official language. Many local African languages, such as Tsonga, Sena Nyanja, Makonde and Macua, are also spoken.
RELIGION	Christian (mainly Roman Catholic), Muslim and Hindu. Many also follow traditional beliefs.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 2.
ELECTRICITY	240 volts AC, 50Hz.

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Morocco

Morocco

AREA	710,850 sq km (274,461 sq miles).
POPULATION	28,000,000 (1999).
POPULATION DENSITY	39.3 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Rabat
CAPITAL POPULATION	1,385,872 (1994).
GEOGRAPHY	Morocco is located on the westernmost tip of north Africa, bordering Algeria to the east and Mauritania to the south and southeast, the Atlantic ocean to the west and the Mediterranean to the north. Running through the middle of the country is the Atlas mountain range, which leads to the fertile plains and sandy beaches of the Atlantic coast. The Middle Atlas range sweeps up from the south, rising to over 3000m (9850ft), covered with woodlands of pine, oak and cedar, open pastureland and small lakes. The Rif Mountains run along the north coast. The ports of Ceuta (Sebta) and Melilla on the north coast are administered by Spain.
GOVERNMENT	Constitutional monarchy since 1956. Gained independence from France in 1956. Head of State: King Mohammed VI since 1999. Head of Government: Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi since 1998.
LANGUAGE	The official language is Arabic, but Berber is spoken by a large minority. French is widely spoken throughout the country, except in the northern regions where Spanish is more predominant. English is also understood, particularly in the north and the main tourist areas.
RELIGION	Predominantly Muslim with Jewish and Christian minorities. Morocco's population and culture stems from a cross section of origins, including Berbers, Arabs, Moors and Jews.
STANDARD TIME	GMT.
ELECTRICITY	110/220 volts AC, 50Hz, depending on age and location of building.

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Montserrat

Montserrat

AREA	102 sq km (39.5 sq miles).
POPULATION	2850 (1998).
POPULATION DENSITY	27.9 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Plymouth (mostly destroyed by pyroclastic flows, August 1997).
CAPITAL POPULATION	Montserrat is one of the Leeward Islands group in the Eastern Caribbean. It is a volcanic island with black sandy beaches and lush tropical vegetation. There are three main volcanic mountains on the island and Chances Peak is its highest point at 915m (3002ft). The Soufrière group of hills house the volcano which began erupting in July 1995 and to date is continuously active. The Great Alps Waterfall, previously one of the most spectacular sights in the West Indies, has been destroyed by the volcano.
GEOGRAPHY	Montserrat is one of the Leeward Islands group in the Eastern Caribbean. It is a volcanic island with black sandy beaches and lush tropical vegetation. There are three main volcanic mountains on the island and Chances Peak is its highest point at 915m (3002ft). The Soufrière group of hills house the volcano which began erupting in July 1995 and to date is continuously active. The Great Alps Waterfall, previously one of the most spectacular sights in the West Indies, has been destroyed by the volcano.
GOVERNMENT	British Dependent Territory since 1632. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor Tony Abbott since 1997. Head of Government: Chief Minister David Brandt since 1997.
LANGUAGE	English.
RELIGION	Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist and other Christian denominations.
STANDARD TIME	GMT - 4.
ELECTRICITY	110/220 volts AC, 60Hz.

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Monaca

Monaca

AREA	1.95 sq km (0.75 sq mile).
POPULATION	29,972 (1998).
POPULATION DENSITY	15,370.2 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Monaco-Ville.
CAPITAL POPULATION	1234 (1987).
GEOGRAPHY	Monaco is second only to the Vatican as the smallest independent state in Europe. Set on the Mediterranean coast of France just a few miles from the Italian border, the principality is a constitutional monarchy and relies largely on foreign currency for an economic base. Its principal industry is tourism. The country is a narrow ribbon of coastline backed by the Alpes-Maritimes foothills, creating a natural amphitheatre overlooking the sea, with the population centred in four districts. Monaco-Ville is set on a rocky promontory dominating the coast. The Palace is the home of the Grimaldi family, the oldest ruling house in Europe. Monaco-Ville also boasts a fine Romanesque cathedral among its other attractions. La Condamine is the area around the Port, while Monte-Carlo is the main centre for business and entertainment. Fontvieille has been set aside as an area for new light industrial and residential development.
GOVERNMENT	Constitutional monarchy. Head of State: Prince Rainer III since 1949. Head of Government: Minister of State Michael Lévêque since 1997.
LANGUAGE	French. Monégasque (a mixture of French Provençal and Italian Ligurian), English and Italian are also spoken. Native Monégasques make up only a minority of Monaco's population.
RELIGION	Roman Catholic (Monaco has a Catholic Bishop) with Anglican minorities.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round 2-pin plugs are in use.

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Moldova

Moldova

AREA	33,700 sq km (13,010 sq miles).
POPULATION	4,312,000 (1997).
POPULATION DENSITY	127.6 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Chisinau (Kishinev).
CAPITAL POPULATION	667,100 (1992).
GEOGRAPHY	Moldova is a small landlocked state in southeastern Europe – one of the most highly populated republics of the former USSR. To the north, east and south Moldova, is bound by Ukraine; to the west by Romania. The River Prut constitutes the border with Romania. The country has rich pastures and wooded slopes, ideal for wine-growing.
GOVERNMENT	Republic since 1991. Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Head of State: President Petru Lucinschi since 1997. Head of Government: Prime Minister Ion Sturza since 1997.
LANGUAGE	The Constitution of 1994 described the official language as 'Moldovan' although it is considered to be virtually identical to Romanian. In 1940, after Soviet annexation, the Cyrillic script was introduced and was referred to as Moldavian up until 1989 when the Latin alphabet was reintroduced. Russian is still the most widely spoken language. The ethnic and linguistic make-up of Moldova is as follows: Moldovans 64.5%, Ukrainians 13.8%, Russians 13.0%, Gagauz 3.5%, Bulgarians 1.5%, Others 3.7%.
RELIGION	Mostly Eastern Orthodox Christian and other Christian denominations. A small amount of the population are Jewish. There are more than 850 churches, 11 Christian Orthodox monasteries, two Armenian churches and more than 60 churches of the Seventh Day Adventists. There is one synagogue (in Chisinau).
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz.

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Mexico

Mexico

AREA	1,953,162 sq km (761,603 sq miles).
POPULATION	94,400,000 (1998).
POPULATION DENSITY	48.3 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Mexico City.
CAPITAL POPULATION	18,000,000 (1998).
GEOGRAPHY	Mexico is at the southern extremity of North America and is bounded to the north by the USA, northwest by the Gulf of California, west by the Pacific, south by Guatemala and Belize, and east by the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Mexico's geographical features range from swamp to desert, and from tropical lowland jungle to high alpine vegetation. Over half the country has an altitude above 1000m (3300ft). The central land mass is a plateau flanked by ranges of mountains to the east and west that lie roughly parallel to the coast. The northern area of this plateau is arid and thinly populated, and occupies 40% of the total area of Mexico. The southern area is crossed by a range of volcanic mountains running from Cape Corrientes in the west through the Valley of Mexico to Veracruz in the east, and includes the magnificent volcanoes of Orizaba, Popocatépetl, Ixtaccíhuatl, Nevado de Toluca, Matlalcueyetl and Cofre de Perote. This is the heart of Mexico and where almost half of the population lives. To the south, the land falls away to the sparsely populated Isthmus of Tehuantepec whose slopes and flatlands support both commercial and subsistence agriculture. In the east the Gulf Coast and the Yucatán peninsula are flat and receive over 75% of Mexico's rain. The most productive agricultural region in Mexico is the northwest, while the Gulf Coast produces most of Mexico's oil and sulphur. Along the northwest coast, opposite the peninsula of Baja California, and to the southeast along the coast of Bahía de Campeche and the Yucatán peninsula, the lowlands are swampy with coastal lagoons.
GOVERNMENT	Republic since 1917. Gained independence from Spain in 1821. Head of State and Government: President Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León since 1994.
LANGUAGE	Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken.
RELIGION	90% Roman Catholic.
STANDARD TIME	Mexico spans three different time zones: South, Central and Eastern Mexico: GMT - 6 (Central Standard Time). (GMT - 5 from first Sunday in April to Saturday before last Sunday in October.) Nayarit, Sonora, Sinaloa and Baja California Sur: GMT - 7 (Mountain Time). (GMT - 6 from first Sunday in April to Saturday before last Sunday in October.) Baja California Norte (Pacific Time): GMT - 8 (GMT - 7 from first Sunday in April to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
ELECTRICITY	110 volts AC, 60Hz. US 2-pin (flat) plugs are usual.

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Mauritius

Mauritius

AREA	2040 sq km (788 sq miles).
POPULATION	1,147,756 (1997).
POPULATION DENSITY	582.9 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Port Louis.
CAPITAL POPULATION	146,499 (1997).
GEOGRAPHY	Mauritius is in the Indian Ocean, 2000km (1240 miles) off the southeastern coast of Africa, due east of Madagascar. The island-state stands on what was once a land bridge between Asia and Africa called the Mascarene Archipelago. From the coast, the land rises to form a broad fertile plain on which sugar cane flourishes. Some 500km (310 miles) east is Rodrigues Island, while northeast are the Cargados Carajos Shoals and 900km (560 miles) to the north is Agalega.
GOVERNMENT	Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1968. Head of State: President Cassam Uteem since 1992. Head of Government: Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam since 1995.
LANGUAGE	English is the official language. The most widely spoken languages are French, Creole, Hindi and Bhojpuri. Urdu and Chinese are also among the languages spoken.
RELIGION	51% Hindu, 31% Christian, 17% Muslim.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 4.
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz. UK-type 3-pin plugs are commonly used in hotels.

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Mauritania

Mauritania

AREA	1,030,700 sq km (397,950 sq miles).
POPULATION	2,351,000 (1996).
POPULATION DENSITY	2.3 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Nouakchott.
CAPITAL POPULATION	608,228 (1996).
GEOGRAPHY	Mauritania is bordered by Algeria, Mali, Western Sahara (Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic) and Senegal. To the west lies the Atlantic Ocean. Mauritania consists mainly of the vast Saharan plain of sand and scrub. Most of this area is a sea of sand dunes, but in places the land rises to rocky plateaux with deep ravines leaving isolated peaks. The Adrar plateau in the central region rises to 500m (1640ft) and the Tagant further south to 600m (1970ft). The area is scattered with towns, small villages and oases. The northern bank of the Senegal River, which forms the country's southern border, is the only area in the country with any degree of permanent vegetation and it supports a wide variety of wildlife.
GOVERNMENT	Republic. Gained independence from France in 1960. Head of State: President Maaouiya Ould Sid'Achmed Taya since 1984. Head of Government: Prime Minister Al-Afia Ould Mohammed Khouna since 1998
LANGUAGE	The official languages are Arabic and French. The Moors of Arab/Berber stock, speaking Hassaniya dialects of Arabic, comprise the majority of the people. Other dialects include Solinke, Poular and Wolof. English is rarely spoken.
RELIGION	Islam is the official religion. Despite ethnic and cultural differences among Mauritanians, they are all bound by a common Muslim attachment to the Malekite sect.
STANDARD TIME	GMT.
ELECTRICITY	127/220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round 2-pin plugs are normal. COMMUNICATIONS: Telephone: IDD is available in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou. Country code: 222 (no area codes). Outgoing international calls must go through the operator. Post: International postal facilities are limited to main cities. Airmail to Europe takes approximately two weeks. Press: Newspapers are in French and Arabic. The only daily is Ach-Chaab. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.

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Martonique

Martonique

AREA	1100 sq km (424.7 sq miles).
POPULATION	385,000 (1995).
POPULATION DENSITY	350.5 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Fort-de-France.
CAPITAL POPULATION	100,080 (1990).
GEOGRAPHY	The French Overseas Department of Martinique, a volcanic and picturesque island, is the northernmost of the Windward Caribbean group. The island is noticeably more rocky than those of the Leeward group, with beaches (of fine black or white or peppered sand) surrounded by sugar, palm, banana and pineapple plantations. Christopher Columbus called it 'the most beautiful country in the world' and before he named it in honour of St Martin, it was called Madinina ('island of flowers') by the native population.
GOVERNMENT	Martinique is an Overseas Department of France and as such is an integral part of the French Republic. Head of State: President Jacques Chirac since 1995, represented locally by Prefect Dominique Bellion since 1998. Head of Government: Claude Lise, President of the General Council since 1992.
LANGUAGE	The official language is French; a Creole patois is widely used.
RELIGION	The majority of the population is Roman Catholic.
STANDARD TIME	GMT - 4.
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz.

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Mangolia

Mangolia

AREA	1,566,500 sq km (604,829 sq miles).
POPULATION	2,422,800 (1999).
POPULATION DENSITY	1.5 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Ulaanbaatar
CAPITAL POPULATION	627,200 (1997).
GEOGRAPHY	Mongolia has a 3485km (2165-mile) border with the Russian Federation in the north and a 4670km (2902-mile) border with China in the south. From north to south it can be divided into four areas: mountain-forest steppe, mountain steppe and, in the extreme south, semi-desert and desert (the latter being about 3% of the entire territory). The majority of the country has a high elevation, with the principal mountains concentrated in the west. The highest point is the peak of Tavan Bogd, in the Altai Mountains, at 4374m (14,350ft). The lowest point, Khukh Nuur lake, in the east, lies at 560m (1820ft). There are several hundred lakes in the country and numerous rivers, of which the Orkhon is the longest at 1124km (698 miles).
GOVERNMENT	Republic. Declared independence from China in 1921. Head of State: President Natsagiyn Bagabandi since 1997. Head of Government: Prime Minister Rentsennyam Amarjargal since 1999.
LANGUAGE	Khalkh Mongolian is the official language. Kazak is spoken by 5% of the population. There are also many Mongolian dialects.
RELIGION	Buddhist Lamaism is the main religion.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 8 (Bayan Ulgii, Uvs & Khovd Aimags in western Mongolia GMT+7)
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz.

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Malta

Malta

AREA	316 sq km (122 sq miles).
POPULATION	376,513 (1997, excluding non-Maltese).
POPULATION DENSITY	1189.0 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Valletta.
CAPITAL POPULATION	7146 (1997).
GEOGRAPHY	The Maltese archipelago is situated in the middle of the Mediterranean, with the largest inhabited island, Malta, lying 93km (58 miles) south of Sicily and 290km (180 miles) from North Africa. Gozo and Comino are the only other inhabited islands. The landscape of all three is characterised by low hills with terraced fields. Malta has no mountains or rivers. Its coastline is indented with harbours, bays, creeks, sandy beaches and rocky coves. Gozo is connected to Malta by ferry and is more thickly vegetated, with many flat-topped hills and craggy cliffs. Comino, the smallest island, is connected to Malta and Gozo by ferry and is very sparsely populated.
GOVERNMENT	Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1964. Head of State: President Guido de Marco since 1999. Head of Government: Prime Minister Edward Fenech Adami since 1998.
LANGUAGE	Maltese (a Semitic language) and English are the official languages. Italian is also widely spoken.
RELIGION	Roman Catholic.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
ELECTRICITY	240 volts AC, 50Hz. UK-style 3-pin plug are in use.

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Maldives

Maldives

AREA	298 sq km (115 sq miles).
POPULATION	263,189 (1997).
POPULATION DENSITY	883.2 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Malé.
CAPITAL POPULATION	62,973 (1995).
GEOGRAPHY	The Maldives Republic is located 500km (300 miles) southwest of the southern tip of India and consists of about 1190 low-lying coral islands, of which only 200 are inhabited. Most of the inhabited islands are covered by lush tropical vegetation and palm trees, while the numerous uninhabited islands, some of which are mere sand spits or coral tips, are covered in shrubs. Each island is surrounded by a reef enclosing a shallow lagoon. Hundreds of these islands together with other coral growth form an atoll, surrounding a lagoon. All the islands are low-lying, none more than 2m (7ft) above sea level. The majority of the indigenous population do not mix with the tourist visitors, with the exception of those involved with tourism in the resorts and Malé.
GOVERNMENT	Republic since 1965. Gained independence from the UK in 1965. Head of State and Government: President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom since 1978.
LANGUAGE	The national language is Dhivehi. English is widely used as a business language in government offices and the commercial sector. Other languages are widely used within tourist areas.
RELIGION	The indigenous population is almost entirely Sunni Muslim.
STANDARD TIME	GMT + 5.
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round-pin plugs are used, although square-pin plugs are now becoming more common.

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Malaysia

Malaysia

AREA	329,758 sq km (127,320 sq miles).
POPULATION	21,169,000 (1996)
POPULATION DENSITY	64.2 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Kuala Lumpur.
CAPITAL POPULATION	1,231,500 (1995).
GEOGRAPHY	Malaysia is situated in central South-East Asia, bordering on Thailand in the north, with Singapore and Indonesia to the south and the Philippines to the east. It is composed of Peninsular Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the north coast of the island of Borneo, 650-950km (404-600 miles) across the South China Sea. Peninsular Malaysia is an area of forested mountain ranges running north–south, on either side of which are low-lying coastal plains. The coastline extends some 1900km (1200 miles). The west coast consists of mangrove swamps and mudflats which separate into bays and inlets. In the west, the plains have been cleared and cultivated, while the unsheltered east coast consists of tranquil beaches backed by dense jungle. Sarawak has alluvial and, in places, swampy coastal plains with rivers penetrating the jungle-covered hills and mountains of the interior. Sabah has a narrow coastal plain which gives way to mountains and jungle. Mount Kinabalu, at 4094m (13,432ft), is the highest peak in Malaysia. The major islands are Langkawi (a group of 99 islands), Penang and Pangkor off the west coast; and Tioman, Redang, Kapas, Perhentian and Rawa off the east coast.
GOVERNMENT	Constitutional monarchy since 1963. Gained independence from the UK in 1957. Head of State: King Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alhaj (Sultan of Selangor) since 1999. Head of Government: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mahatir Mohammad since 1981.
LANGUAGE	Bahasa Malaysia is the national and official language, but English is widely spoken. Other languages such as Chinese (Mandarin), Iban and Tamil are spoken by minorities.
RELIGION	Muslim (53%) and Buddhist (19%) majorities. The

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