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	Geography - note (2006)	Geography - note (2001)
Afghanistan	landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast to southwest divide the northern provinces from the rest of the country; the highest peaks are in the northern Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor)	landlocked
Akrotiri	British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus	-
Andorra	landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees	landlocked
Angola	the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo	Cabinda is separated from rest of country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Anguilla	the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles	-
Antigua and Barbuda	Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors and beaches; Barbuda has a very large western harbor	-
Argentina	second-largest country in South America (after Brazil); strategic location relative to sea lanes between the South Atlantic and the South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage); diverse geophysical landscapes range from tropical climates in the north to tundra in the far south; Cerro Aconcagua is the Western Hemisphere's tallest mountain, while Laguna del Carbon is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere	second-largest country in South America (after Brazil); strategic location relative to sea lanes between South Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage)
Armenia	landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range	landlocked
Aruba	a flat, riverless island renowned for its white sand beaches; its tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean; the temperature is almost constant at about 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)	-
Australia	world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; the invigorating tropical sea breeze known as the "Fremantle Doctor" affects the city of Perth on the west coast, and is one of the most consistent winds in the world	world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer
Azerbaijan	both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked	landlocked
Bahamas, The	strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited	strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain
Bahrain	close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf, through which much of the Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean	close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf which much of Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean
Bangladesh	most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers flowing from the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal	-
Bassas da India	the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano	-
Belarus	landlocked; glacial scouring accounts for the flatness of Belarusian terrain and for its 11,000 lakes	landlocked
Belgium	crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO	crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat of both the EU and NATO
Benin	sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands	no natural harbors
Bermuda	consists of about 138 coral islands and islets with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995	consists of about 360 small coral islands with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land, reclaimed and otherwise, was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995
Bosnia and Herzegovina	within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized borders, the country is divided into a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska or RS (about 49% of the territory); the region called Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro (Montenegro), and traditionally has been settled by an ethnic Croat majority in the west and an ethnic Serb majority in the east	within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized borders, the country is divided into a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska or RS (about 49% of the territory); the region called Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and traditionally has been settled by an ethnic Croat majority
British Indian Ocean Territory	archipelago of 55 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility	archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility
Brunei	close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave within Malaysia	close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave of Malaysia
Burkina Faso	landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black, Red, and White Voltas	landlocked
Burundi	landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote headstream of the White Nile	landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed
Cameroon	sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa; throughout the country there are areas of thermal springs and indications of current or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highest mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano	sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa
Canada	second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US border	second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 85% of the population is concentrated within 300 km of the US/Canada border
China	world's fourth largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US); Mount Everest on the border with Nepal is the world's tallest peak	world's fourth-largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US)
Clipperton Island	reef 12 km in circumference	reef about 8 km in circumference
Cocos (Keeling) Islands	islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation	two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation
Colombia	only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea	only South American country with coastlines on both North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea
Congo, Democratic Republic of the	straddles equator; has very narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo River and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean; dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands	straddles Equator; very narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo river and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean; dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands
Cook Islands	the northern Cook Islands are seven low-lying, sparsely populated, coral atolls; the southern Cook Islands, where most of the population lives, consist of eight elevated, fertile, volcanic isles, including the largest, Rarotonga, at 67 sq km	-
Costa Rica	four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San Jose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes, Irazu, erupted destructively in 1963-65	-
Cote d'Ivoire	most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region; apart from the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated	-
Cuba	largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles	largest country in Caribbean
Cyprus	the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia)	-
Dhekelia	British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus	-
Djibouti	strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; mostly wasteland; Lac Assal (Lake Assal) is the lowest point in Africa	strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; mostly wasteland
Dominica	known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" due to its spectacular, lush, and varied flora and fauna, which are protected by an extensive natural park system; the most mountainous of the Lesser Antilles, its volcanic peaks are cones of lava craters and include Boiling Lake, the second-largest, thermally active lake in the world	-
Dominican Republic	shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti	shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)
East Timor	Timor comes from the Malay word for "East"; the island of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands	-
Egypt	controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, a sea link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and juxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics; dependence on upstream neighbors; dominance of Nile basin issues; prone to influxes of refugees	controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, shortest sea link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and juxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics; dependence on upstream neighbors; dominance of Nile basin issues; prone to influxes of refugees
Equatorial Guinea	insular and continental regions widely separated	insular and continental regions rather widely separated
Estonia	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	landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993
Fiji	includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited	includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited
French Guiana	mostly an unsettled wilderness; the only non-independent portion of the South American continent	mostly an unsettled wilderness
French Polynesia	includes five archipelagoes (4 volcanic, 1 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	includes five archipelagoes; 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
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	-
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	there are 25 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Gaza Strip (August 2000 est.)
Georgia	strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia controls much of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them	-
Ghana	Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake	Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake; northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)
Glorioso Islands	the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system	-
Guadeloupe	a narrow channel, the Riviere Salee, divides Guadeloupe proper into two islands: the larger, western Basse-Terre and the smaller, eastern Grande-Terre	-
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 further 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	-
Heard Island and McDonald Islands	-	primarily used for research stations
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)	urban; landlocked; enclave of Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights
Honduras	has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean shoreline, including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast	-
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	landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin
Iles Eparses	Bassas da India: the atoll is a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano Europa Island and Juan de Nova Island: wildlife sanctuary for seabirds and sea turtles Glorioso Islands: the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system Tromelin Island: climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones in the western Indian Ocean; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)	-
India	dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes; Kanchenjunga, third tallest mountain in the world, lies on the border with Nepal	dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes
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	archipelago of 17,000 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	strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 97 km of Dublin
Israel	there are 242 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 0 in the Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem (August 2005 est.); Sea of Galilee is an important freshwater source	there are 231 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 25 in the Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem (August 2000 est.)
Jamaica	strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for the Panama Canal	strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for Panama Canal
Johnston Atoll	strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands, which have been expanded by coral dredging; North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging; the egg-shaped reef is 34 km in circumference; closed to the public; a former US nuclear weapons test site; site of now-closed Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS); most facilities dismantled and cleanup complete in 2004; some low-growing vegetation	strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands, which have been expanded by coral dredging; North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging; egg-shaped reef is 34 km in circumference; closed to the public; former US nuclear weapons test site; site of Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS); some low-growing vegetation
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	landlocked; Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km of territory enclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome
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	the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers on Mt. Kenya; 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	20 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, South	strategic location on Korea Strait	-
Kyrgyzstan	landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes	landlocked
Laos	landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand	landlocked
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	Nahr al Litani 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 meters above sea level	landlocked; surrounded by South Africa
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	-
Lithuania	fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are ancient glacial deposits	-
Luxembourg	landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world	landlocked
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	essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the two islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland
Macedonia	landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe	-
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of	-	landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
Malawi	landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most prominent physical feature	landlocked
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	1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago of 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	landlocked
Marshall Islands	Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is used as a US missile test range; 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	two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands; Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US missile test range
Martinique	the island is dominated by Mount Pelee, which on 8 May 1902 erupted and completely destroyed the city of Saint Pierre, killing 30,000 inhabitants	-
Mauritius	the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs	-
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	strategic location on southern border of US
Midway Islands	a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife observation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving; the refuge is temporarily closed for reorganization at present (2004)	a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife observation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving
Moldova	landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone	landlocked
Monaco	second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban	second smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban
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	-
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	-
Navassa Island	strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock but with enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus	strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock, but enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig-like 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	landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks
Netherlands Antilles	the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles are divided geographically into the Leeward Islands (northern) group (Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten) and the Windward Islands (southern) group (Bonaire and Curacao)	-
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	-
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	landlocked
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	-
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	-
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 most rugged and longest coastlines in the world	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 most rugged and longest coastlines in world; Norway is the only NATO member having a land boundary with Russia
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	includes World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands; archipelago of six island groups totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain
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	landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil
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	shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with Bolivia
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	-
Reunion	this mountainous, volcanic island has an active volcano, Piton de la Fournaise; there is a tropical cyclone center at Saint-Denis, which is the monitoring station for the whole of the Indian Ocean	-
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	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
Rwanda	landlocked; most of the country is savanna grassland with the population predominantly rural	landlocked; predominantly rural population
Saint Helena	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	harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns
Saint Kitts and Nevis	with coastlines in the shape of a baseball bat and ball, the two volcanic islands are separated by a three-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 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	the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
Samoa	occupies an almost central position within Polynesia	-
Sao Tome and Principe	the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are fairly mountainous	-
Senegal	westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave within Senegal	The Gambia is almost an enclave of 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	40 granitic and about 50 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	-
Slovakia	landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys	landlocked
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	-
South Georgia and the 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	the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good anchorage; reindeer, introduced early in this century, live on South Georgia
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	mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna that, for the most part, is increasingly threatened by new development; relatively small population, most of which lives 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; site of future seed repository under construction by the Global Crop Diversity Trust and the Norwegian Government	northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area
Switzerland	landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps	landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France and northern Italy, contains the highest elevations in Europe
Syria	there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 2005 est.)	there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 1999 est.)
Taiwan	strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the Luzon Strait	-
Tajikistan	landlocked; mountainous region dominated by the Trans-Alay Range in the north and the Pamirs in the southeast; highest point, Qullai Ismoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak), was the tallest mountain in the former USSR	landlocked
Tanzania	Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa; bordered by three of the largest lakes on the continent: Lake Victoria (the world's second-largest freshwater lake) in the north, Lake Tanganyika (the world's second deepest) in the west, and Lake Nyasa in the southwest	Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa
Togo	the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna	-
Tokelau	consists of three atolls, each with a lagoon surrounded by a number of reef-bound islets of varying length and rising to over three meters above sea level	-
Tonga	archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)	archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited)
Trinidad and Tobago	Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt	-
Tromelin Island	climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)	climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary
Turkey	strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas; Mount Ararat, the legendary landing place of Noah's Ark, is in the far eastern portion of the country	strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas
Turkmenistan	landlocked; the western and central low-lying, desolate portions of the country make up the great Garagum (Kara-Kum) desert, which occupies over 80% of the country; eastern part is plateau	landlocked
Turks and Caicos Islands	about 40 islands (eight inhabited)	30 islands (eight inhabited)
Tuvalu	one of the smallest and most remote countries on Earth; six of the coral atolls - Nanumea, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti, and Nukulaelae - have lagoons open to the ocean; Nanumaya and Niutao have landlocked lagoons; Niulakita does not have a lagoon	-
Uganda	landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers	landlocked
United Kingdom	lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France and linked by tunnel under the English Channel; because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal waters	lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France and now linked by tunnel under the English Channel; because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal waters
United States	world's third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) and by population (after China and India); Mt. McKinley is highest point in North America and Death Valley the lowest point on the continent	world's third-largest country (after Russia and Canada)
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges	Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands: scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife Johnston Atoll: Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands, which have been expanded by coral dredging; North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging; the egg-shaped reef is 34 km in circumference Kingman Reef: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public Midway Islands: a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife observation and photography Palmyra Atoll: the high rainfall and resulting lush vegetation make the environment of this atoll unique among the US Pacific Island territories; it supports one of the largest remaining undisturbed stands of Pisonia beach forest in the Pacific	-
Uruguay	second-smallest South American country (after Suriname); most of the low-lying landscape (three-quarters of the country) is grassland, ideal for cattle and sheep raising	-
Vanuatu	a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes	-
Venezuela	on major sea and air routes linking North and South America; Angel Falls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall	on major sea and air routes linking North and South America
Vietnam	extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km across at its narrowest point	-
Virgin Islands	important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean	important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural, deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
West Bank	landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers; there are 242 West Bank settlements and 29 East Jerusalem settlements in addition to at least 20 occupied outposts (August 2005 est.)	landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers; there are 231 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank and 29 in East Jerusalem (August 1999 est.)
Western Sahara	the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas	-
World	the world is now thought to be about 4.55 billion years old, just about one-third of the 13-billion-year age estimated for the universe	-
Yugoslavia	-	controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkey and the Near East; strategic location along the Adriatic coast
Zambia	landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zimbabwe	landlocked
Zimbabwe	landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zambia; in full flood (February-April) the massive Victoria Falls on the river forms the world's largest curtain of falling water	landlocked