Archipelago with an area of ​​300 km 2. The smallest countries in the world by area

Incredible facts

It is incredibly difficult to calculate the total number of islands on our planet.

Every year new islands appear in the world, but the largest islands still remain in their places.

Here you can learn about the world's largest islands, the largest island states and even the largest lake islands.

NOTE: Australia is still considered more of a continent than an island, but if you consider it an island, then it is the largest island on Earth, with an area of ​​7,618,493 square meters. km.

1. Greenland Island

On our planet the most big island Greenland says. Its local name is Kalallit-Nunaat. The area of ​​the island is 2,166,086 square meters. km.

Population (2016): 57,728 people.

Highest point: Gunbjorn (3,700 meters).

Region: Greenland.

Country: Denmark.

Facts about Greenland

* The capital of Greenland, Nuuk, is the smallest capital city in the world. Its population is only 15,105 people (as of July 2009).

* It is believed that Greenland was inhabited in prehistoric times by various Paleo-Eskimo groups. However, archaeological research suggests that the Inuit settled here around 2500 BC.

* The first Europeans arrived here in 985. They were Norwegians and Icelanders. They were called the Norwegian Greenlanders.

The most interesting thing about beautiful island Greenland you can find out just below or by clicking HERE .

2. Island of New Guinea

Area – 785,753 sq. km.

Highest point: 4884 meters.

Population (2010): 9,500,000 people.

Countries: Indonesia, Papua New Guinea.

Facts about New Guinea

Mount Bagan - active volcano. Height 1730.

* Western part The islands of New Guinea are located in Indonesia, and its eastern part is in the territory of the state of Papua New Guinea.

* New Guinea is the largest island divided between countries.

* It is home to 11,000 species of plants, 600 rare species of birds, more than 400 species of amphibians, more than 450 species of butterflies, and approximately 100 species of mammals.

* In ancient times, this island was connected to the Australian continent.

* New Guinea was discovered for Europe in the 16th century by Spanish and Portuguese sailors.

* The island received its name from the Spanish navigator Inigo Ortiz de Retes. When he arrived on the island in 1545, it seemed to him that the local people were very similar to the aborigines who live in African Guinea.

3. Borneo Island

Area - 748,168 sq. km.

Archipelago: Malay Archipelago.

Country: Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia.

Highest point: Mount Kinabalu, 4095 meters.

Population (2010): 19,800,000 people.

Facts about Borneo Island

* On this island grows the largest flower in the world - Rafflesia, the smell of which, according to local residents, similar to the smell of a decaying corpse.

* In Borneo there is rain-forest, which is already more than 130 million years old. It is home to many species of rare animals: the Sumatran rhinoceros, Asian elephant, Bornean clouded leopard and others.

4. Madagascar Island

Area - 587,713 sq. km.

Country: Madagascar.

Highest point: 2961 meters.

Population (2008): 20,042,552 people.

Facts about Madagascar

* Millions of years ago, Madagascar was part of the same land, Gondwana, and about 60 million years ago, this island was the first to separate from the mainland and thereby became the first island on our planet.

* The first people came to Madagascar about 2000 years ago.

* The first European to notice this island was the Portuguese navigator Diego Diaz. This happened at the beginning of the 16th century, and after that Madagascar became one of the most important trading points on the way to India.

* Malagasy, French and English are spoken on the island.

* Since the island is rich in iron and aluminum, it was nicknamed the Great Red Island.

* The country of Madagascar ranks first in the cultivation and export of vanilla.

5. Baffin Island

Area - 503,944 sq. km.

Country: Canada.

Region: Nunavut.

Highest point: 2147 meters.

Population (2007): 11,000 people.

Facts about Baffin Island

* Baffin Island is a very cold and virtually uninhabited place.

* Thor Peak, named after the Norse god, can be found here. It is worth noting that Thor Peak is the highest cliff on our planet.

* Baffin Island was named after the famous British explorer William Baffin, who first described the island in 1616. It is believed that Baffin is its discoverer.

* More than half of the island's territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle. For this reason, there are polar days and nights here.

6. Sumatra Island

Area - 443,066 sq. km.

Country: Indonesia.

Highest point: 3800 meters.

Population (2010): 50,600,000 people.

Facts about Sumatra

* The island is home to the Toba volcano, which is believed to have caused the last ice age. About 70,000 years ago, this volcano exploded and released thousands of cubic kilometers of ash into the air, obscuring the rays of the Sun for many years. Today, in the caldera of the Toba volcano there is a beautiful lake of the same name, and in its center there is another island - Samosir, inside of which there is also a lake - Sidokhni.

* Scientists believe that the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano on the island led to the formation of a strait between the islands of Sumatra and Java. In 1883, the volcano exploded and, together with the island on which it was located, they sank to the bottom of the sea. Today, in its place a new mountain has formed - Anak-Krakatoa ("Child of Krakatoa"), which grows 7 meters every year.

* Batak tribes still live on the island. Before the adoption of Christianity, these tribes were cannibals.

* The most expensive coffee in the world, Kopi Luwak, is grown here in Sumatra. The fact is that there is only one animal on the island - the kopi luwak, which loves coffee berries. Of course, he chooses only the best berries. They are not completely digested by kopi-luwak. Locals collect them, wash them and roast them to create coffee.

7. Honshu Island

Area - 225,800 sq. km.

Country: Japan.

Highest point: 3776 meters.

Population (2010): 100,000,000 people.

Facts about Honshu Island

* On the island of Honshu there is Mount Fuji - the symbol of the land of the rising sun.

* Earthquakes are common here as Honshu is located at the intersection of 3 formation plates.

* The largest Japanese cities in Japan are also located here - Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kyoto.

8. UK Island

Area - 229,957 sq. km.

Archipelago: British Isles.

Country: United Kingdom.

Regions: England, Scotland, Wales.

Highest point: 1,344 meters.

Population (2011): 61,371,315 people.

Facts about Great Britain

* Great Britain is also called Albion, as it was previously known as the land of albinos. The Romans called the British Isles with the word “Britain” (lat. Britannia), which is where the name of this island came from. But they decided to add “Great” to the word “Britain” so that the country would be listed as a political unit. Today we have the island of Britain and a geopolitical unit called Great Britain.

* The Prime Meridian intersects the axis of the Greenwich Observatory located in London.

* Since the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a single state, then any person living on its territory can be called “British”, even if he is from Scotland or Northern Ireland.

9. Victoria Island

Area - 220,548 sq. km.

Country: Canada

Regions: Nunavut, Northwest Territories

Highest point: 665 meters

Population (2001): 1707 people.

Facts about Victoria Island

* Thomas Simpson was the first to discover this island in 1838. The British explorer decided to name the island in honor of the English Queen Victoria, who was also the Queen of Canada from 1867 to 1901.

* Here is the largest island within an island within an island.

10. Ellesmere Island

Area - 183,965 sq. km.

Country: Canada

Region: Nunavut.

Highest point: 2616 meters

Population (2006): 146 people.

Facts about Ellesmere Island

* Island decorated big mountains and ice fields. Ellesmere is the highest mountain part of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.

* The island has been shrouded in ice since the last ice age, but only 1/3 of its territory is covered by glaciers.

10 largest island states in the world

1. Indonesia - 1,912,988 sq. km.

2. Madagascar - 587,041 sq. km.

3. Papua New Guinea - 462,840 sq. km.

4. Japan - 377,837 sq. km.

5. Philippines - 300,000 sq. km.

6. New Zealand- 270,534 sq. km.

7. UK - 242,910 sq. km.

8. Cuba - 110,860 sq. km.

9. Iceland - 103,000 sq. km.

10. Ireland - 70,273 sq. km.

10 largest volcanic islands

These islands were formed as a result of volcanic eruptions at the bottom of the sea.

1. Sumatra, Indonesia - 473,481 sq. km.

2. Honshu, Japan - 225,800 sq. km.

3. Java, Indonesia - 138,794 sq. km.

4. Northern, New Zealand - 111,583 sq. km.

5. Luzon, Philippines – 109,965 sq. km.

6. Iceland – 103,000 sq. km.

7. Mindanao, Philippines - 97,530 sq. km.

8. Hokkaido, Japan – 78,719 sq. km.

9. New Britain, Papua New Guinea – 35,145 sq. km.

10. Halmahera, Indonesia – 18,040 sq. km.

10 largest lake islands

1. Manitoulin, Lake Huron, Canada - 2,766 sq. km.

2. René-Levasseur, Manicouagan Reservoir, Quebec, Canada – 2,000 sq. km.

3. Olkhon, Lake Baikal, Russia - 730 sq. km.

4. Isle Royale, Lake Superior, Michigan, USA - 541 sq. km.

5. Ukerewe, Lake Victoria, Tanzania - 530 sq. km.

Do you know how many times the largest island in Russia is smaller than the big island peace? Read the post and find out.

No. 10. Ellesmere (Canada) - 196,236 km2

Ellesmere, Canada's northernmost island, is one of the ten largest islands by area in the world. Due to the harsh climate, the island's population is about 150 people.

The remains of prehistoric animals have been repeatedly found on the territory of Ellesmere. The first settlers were nomads from Siberia. In 1250, the Thule people, the ancestors of the Eskimos, settled in the territory. But by the middle of the 18th century the island became deserted.

The island was discovered in 1616 by the English navigator William Baffin.

No. 9. Victoria (Canada) - 217,291 km2

In ninth place by area is Victoria Island (Canada). The island was discovered in 1838 during the expedition of British explorer Thomas Simpson.

In the 50s of the 20th century, there were several settlements on the island where meteorologists lived. By the end of the 20th century, the population increased due to Eskimo settlers who took up fishing activities here.

No. 8. Honshu (Japan) - 227,970 km2

Honshu is the largest island of the Japanese archipelago and ranks 8th in the ranking of the largest islands in the world. The largest Japanese cities are located on the island of Honshu: Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto, Hiroshima, etc.

The island is covered with many volcanoes, some of them active. The population of the island is more than 103 million people.

No. 7. Great Britain (UK) - 229,848 km2

Great Britain ranks 7th on the list of largest islands in the world and is the largest island among the British Isles and in Europe as a whole.

The history of Great Britain begins with the Roman conquest in 43 BC, but the island also had an earlier history.

Great Britain was inhabited by the Noto people several hundred thousand years ago. Modern man arrived in the British Isles before the last ice age, but retreated to southern Europe due to the glaciers covering the island. According to archaeological finds, after 12,000 BC e. The British Isles were repopulated. Around 4,000 BC e. the island was inhabited by people of the Neolithic culture.

Today the population of the island of Great Britain is more than 61 million people, making it the most densely populated area in Europe.

No. 6. Sumatra (Indonesia) - 443,066 km2

Sumatra is the sixth largest island in the world. It is located in two hemispheres at once, since the Equator passes almost through the middle of the island. The island belongs to Indonesia and is part of the Malay Archipelago. It is located in an area of ​​frequent earthquakes and tsunamis.

Today the population of the island of Sumatra is more than 50 million people. The main cities of Sumatra: Medan, Palembang, Padang. People of many nationalities live in Sumatra, about 90% profess Islam.

About 73 thousand years ago, the Toba volcano exploded on the island of Sumatra. This event resulted in 1,800 years of ice age and a reduction in the human population to 2,000 people.

The name of the island comes from the Sanskrit word samudra - “ocean” or “sea”.

No. 5. Baffin Island (Canada) - 507,451 km2

Baffin Island is the first largest island in Canada and the fifth largest in the world. Due to the harsh climatic conditions of the island, the population is about 11 thousand people. Largest populated area islands - Iqaluit.

The first description of the island was made by William Baffin in 1616, and the island was named after him.

No. 4. Madagascar (Madagascar) - 587,713 km2

The fourth place in the ranking is occupied by the island of Madagascar. Located in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa. The island is home to the state of Madagascar (the capital is Antananarivo). Today the population of the island of Madagascar is more than 24 million people.

Locals call Madagascar the red island because of the color of the soil. More than half of the animals found in Madagascar cannot be found on the mainland, and 90% of the plants are endemic.

No. 3. Kalimantan (Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei) - 748,168 km2

Kalimantan or Borneo is the third largest island in the world. It is divided between 3 countries: Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The island is located in the center of the Malay Archipelago.
Kalimantan means diamond river in the local language. It is named so due to its rich resources, in particular a large number diamonds

The first people settled Kalimantan about 40 thousand years ago. Today the population of the island is about 20 million people. More than 300 ethnic groups live on the island.

No. 2. New Guinea (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea) - 785,753 km2

There are still places in New Guinea where no man has ever been. This place attracts flora and fauna researchers as they can meet rare species animals and plants. More than 11 thousand species of plants, 600 unique species of birds, over 400 species of amphibians, 455 species of butterflies and about a hundred known species of mammals live here.

New Guinea has been inhabited by humans since at least 45 thousand years BC. e. from Asia. More than a thousand Papuan-Melanesian tribes descended from the first settlers. The absence of large animals suitable for domestication on the island hindered the development of agriculture and made cattle breeding impossible. This contributed to the preservation of the primitive communal system in large areas of New Guinea until the present day. The mountainous landscape contributed to the isolation of people from each other, as a result of which a huge variety of languages ​​appeared on the island.

The discoverer of New Guinea was the Portuguese Don Jorge de Menezes, who landed on the island in 1526. According to legend, he gave the island the name “Papua”, which translates as curly, due to the curly hair of the local aborigines.

Today the population of the island of New Guinea is more than 9.5 million people.
On the territory of New Guinea there is an ancient agricultural settlement of Kuka, showing the isolated development of agriculture over 7-10 thousand years and included in the List World Heritage UNESCO.

No. 1. Greenland (Denmark) - 2,130,800 km2

The largest island in the world is Greenland. The Green Country, as this island is also called, belongs to Denmark. Due to glacial cover (84% of the surface) and unfavorable climatic conditions Most of the island is uninhabited. Today the population of Greenland is more than 57 thousand people. The largest settlement on the island is Nuuk (Gothob).

Several thousand years before the arrival of Europeans, the island was inhabited by Greenlandic Eskimos, who call themselves Inuit. The Inuit have adapted to the extreme conditions of the Arctic climate and feel quite comfortable. From time immemorial they have been engaged in fishing and hunting.

The first European to enter the island was the Norman Gunbjorn in 875. In 982, Erik Raudi settled on the island with several comrades, expelled from Iceland for the crimes he had committed. Later they were joined by Norwegian Vikings. In 983, the first Norman colony was founded in Greenland.

After the settlement of Greenland by Europeans, the island was repeatedly passed from hand to hand. Until 1536, the island belonged to Norway, then it became part of Denmark, in accordance with the union between Denmark and Norway. In 1721, a Danish colony called Gotthob was officially established on the island. In 1814, after the dissolution of the union between Norway and Denmark, Greenland became the complete possession of Denmark.

The main activity of the Greenland population is fishing. But at the end of the 20th century, reindeer and sheep farming and oil production appeared. Tourism and air transport play a big role. More than 20 thousand tourists visit Greenland every year.

The largest island in Russia (Sakhalin) is 27 times smaller than the largest island in the world (Greenland).

The largest islands of Russia:
Sakhalin - 76600 km2
Northern - 48904 km2
Yuzhny - 33275 km2
Boiler house - 23200 km2
October Revolution - 13708 km2

Archipelagos - full list archipelagic countries and archipelagos belonging to different states, broken down by oceans and parts of the world.

What is an archipelago and what are they like?

Archipelago – it is a complex of islands located close to each other. By geological structure archipelagos are similar to each other. According to their origin, they are all:

• Mainland

This is the name for archipelagos that were originally part of the mainland, but as a result of the movement of tectonic plates, they separated from the land and formed a complex of islands. The most striking example of a mainland archipelago is the British Isles. Also, these include New Earth, New Zealand.

• Volcanic

These island complexes were formed as a result of volcanic activity, or are themselves volcanoes. Most often, in this case, the island is the top of a huge underground volcano, which peeks out from under the water. The most striking representatives of volcanic archipelagos are the Hawaiian Islands.

• Coral

A complex of islands that arose as a result of the growth and death of underwater corals. Islands can be shaped like a ring or a semicircle - they are called atolls. Most of the coral archipelagos are located in the Pacific Ocean. The most famous coral archipelago is the Marshall Islands.

• Alluvial

The complex of islands is not of natural origin. They are complex hydraulic structures that are installed in water areas. Alluvial islands do not formally have the status of archipelagos and islands, since they are not natural objects. The most famous man-made archipelago is the Isle of Palms located in the Emirates.

Of course, they are not deserted and many have small states. The islands that make up the territory are in contact with each other and have geographical and political unity.

On at the moment There are about 30 state TV stations in the world, located on archipelagos. These include the Philippines, Indonesia, Fiji. Archipelagic lines are used for contact between islands. All water space within these lines belongs to the archipelago-state.

The largest archipelagos

There are a huge number of archipelagos on our planet. The largest of them are

• Malay
• Japanese Islands
• British Isles.

The Malay archipelago is considered the best and largest in the world. Its area is 2 million square kilometers and it includes more than 10,000 islands. The lands of this giant are located in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The Malay Archipelago is home to many volcanoes and mountains, as well as many gas and oil fields. Fishing and farming predominate among the population.

The world's second largest archipelago is the Canadian Arctic. It is located in the Arctic Ocean. The area of ​​this archipelago is approximately 1.3 million sq. km. The main population is Eskimos. This complex includes the islands of Ellesmere, Victoria, and Baffin Island. The archipelago is topically composed of various trails, mountains and plateaus.

The next large archipelago is known to everyone - these are the same Japanese islands. They included many small islands, each of which is interconnected. Most of them are occupied by mountains and volcanoes, as well as coniferous forests. The geological situation there is extremely unstable - there are earthquakes and tsunamis. The bulk of the population is located directly Japanese island. Marine fishing is highly developed - fishing and crabs.

And last on the list, but not least, the archipelago is the British Isles. Its area is approximately 320 thousand square kilometers, the archipelago includes Great Britain, Ireland and many other small cities. Great Britain and Ireland are two states that are located on this territory.

List of archipelagos

This list shows all the existing archipelagos in the world. For our convenience, I divided them by territorial basis - the oceans where they are located, as well as into territorial subgroups of islands. Each of the lists is compiled in alphabetical order for your convenience. If there is a state on the territory of the archipelago, this will be noted in the list. You can find every archipelago on the planet, learn about it and perhaps consider it as a holiday destination.

Archipelagos of the Arctic Ocean –

complex northern islands located close to the Arctic. Characterized by a cold climate and low population density :

• Franz Josef Land
• Canadian Arctic Archipelago
• New Siberian Islands
• Belcher Islands
• Severnaya Zemlya
• New Earth
• Spitsbergen
• Queen Elizabeth Islands

Archipelagos of the Atlantic Ocean -

a vast complex of island clusters scattered in the Atlantic Ocean. This includes a number of European and African archipelagos, as well as island complexes of North and South America. This includes the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, and the British Isles:

Archipelagos located along the coast of Europe -

• British Isles
• Inner Hebrides
• Outer Hebrides
• Hebrides
• Channel Islands
• Isles of Scilly St Kilda
• Faroe Islands
• Shetland

Archipelagos located along the coast of Africa -

• Bay of beautiful islands
• Arquipelago dos Bijagos
• Bajuni Islands
• Saint Helena Islands
• Saad al-Din
• Sao Tome
• Tristan da Cuna

• Bermuda
• Outer Lands
• Canadian Arctic Archipelago
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• Tierra del Fuego
• Magdalena Islands
• St. Peter and Paul Rocks
• Fernando de Noronha
• South Sandwich Islands
• islands

Macarenesian archipelagos -

• Åland Islands
• Azores
• Wild Islands
• Canary Islands
• Madeira Islands

Archipelagos of the Baltic Sea -

• Östergotland Archipelago
• Södermanland Archipelago
• Småland Archipelago
• Caelix Archipelago
• Turku Archipelago
• Pitea Archipelago
• Luleå Archipelago
• Skellefteå Archipelago
• Heparanda Archipelago
• Eregrand Archipelago
• Sea of ​​the archipelago
• Western Estonian archipelago
• Stockholm archipelago
• Swedish arch-lag of the east coast

Archipelagos of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea -

• Los Roques Archipelago
• Greater Antilles
• West Indies
• Virgin Islands
• islands
• Lesser Antilles
• Windward Islands
• ABC Islands
• Leeward Antilles
• Puerto Rican Islands
• Leeward Islands
• Florida Keys

Archipelagos of the Mediterranean Sea -

• Campanian Archipelago
• Maddalena Archipelago
• Balearic Islands
• Venice Lagoon
• Dodecanese
• Ionian Islands
• Cyclades
• Sporades
• Tuscan archipelago

North Sea archipelagos -

• Frisian Islands

Archipelagos of the Indian Ocean -

A complex of archipelagos located in the territory Indian Ocean. They have a tropical climate and heat. The archipelagos here consist of a large number of small islands. One of the most prominent representatives is the artificial World Archipelago :

• Andaman Islands
• Bonaparte Archipelago
• Pirate Archipelago
• Chagos Archipelago
• Archipelago research
• Mergui Archipelago
• Zanzibar Archipelago
• Amirant Islands
• Cocos Islands (Keeling Islands)
• Comoros
• Langkawi
• Lakshadweep
• Kerguelen Islands
• Mascarene Islands
• World Archipelago
• Nicobar Islands
• Islands of the Mozambique Channel
• Socotra
• Houtman Abrolhos

Archipelagos of the Red Sea -

• Hurghada Archipelago
• Farasan Islands
• Dahlak Archipelago

Archipelagos of the Pacific Ocean -

this is the most large complex archipelagos. This includes a huge number of islands and all the world's largest archipelagos. Of particular interest are the Asian archipelagos - the number of islands that make them up is the largest in the world. This complex includes both the archipelagos of the Americas and the aforementioned Asian ones, as well as the archipelagos of circumtropical countries. The climate varies from temperate to tropical:

Archipelagos along the coast of the Americas -

• Andreanivsky Islands
• Aleutian Islands
• Alexandra Archipelago
• Chiloe Archipelago
• Guatecas Archipelago
• Guayaneco Archipelago
• Chonos Archipelago
• Patagonic Archipelago
• Wellington Archipelago
• Queen Adelaide Archipelago
• Fox Islands
• Channel Islands of California
• Islands of the Four Mountains

Archipelagos located along the coast of Asia -

• Ryukyu Archipelago
• Asian islands
• Gorong Archipelago
• Rio Archipelago
• Tambelan Archipelago
• Tadjuh Archipelago
• Uotubela Archipelago
• Cuio Archipelago
• Sulu Archipelago
• Chumphon Archipelago
• Solor Archipelago
• Greater Sunda Islands (Sunda Islands)
• Gang Arc

10

• Square: 316 km 2
• Population: 429,344 people
• Density: 1432 people/km 2
• Motto:"Valor and constancy"
• Form of government: Parliamentary republic, democracy
• Capital: Valletta

Republic of Malta - island state in the Mediterranean Sea. The name comes from the ancient Phoenician malat (“harbour”, “shelter”).

In 1964, Malta gained independence from Great Britain, and in 1974 a republic was proclaimed, but until 1979, when the last British government in Malta was eliminated naval base, the British Queen was still considered the head of state.

The territory of Malta is represented by the Maltese archipelago, consisting mainly of the islands of Malta and Gozo. It also includes uninhabited islands St. Paul and Filfla, the sparsely populated island of Comino, as well as tiny Cominotto and Filfoletta. The length of Malta is 27 km, the width is 15 km (less than the diameter of the Moscow ring road highway). Gozo is half the size, and Comino is only 2 km long. Malta is the only country in Europe that does not have permanent rivers or natural lakes.

9

• Square: 300 km 2
• Population: 341,256 people
• Density: 1,359 people/km 2
• Form of government: Presidential Republic
• Capital: Male

The Republic of Maldives is a South Asian country and is located on a group of atolls consisting of 1,192 coral islets in the Indian Ocean south of India.

The islands do not rise much above sea level: the most high point archipelago - on the southern Addu (Sienu) atoll - 2.4 m. Thanks to this, the Maldives are known as the lowest located state.

The total area is 90 thousand km², the land area is 298 km 2. The capital Male, the only city and port of the archipelago, is located on the atoll of the same name.

As for tourism, it is worth noting that all the main beauties of the Maldives are located below sea level, but there are no special attractions on land. There is the unremarkable capital of Male, many similar uninhabited islands where people like to have picnics, as well as a kind of “action” - a fishing excursion. Perhaps the only notable overwater excursion is the “Photo Flight”, a seaplane flight over the islands. Other popular excursions are a yacht cruise or a submarine dive. The most common way of spending time among tourists in the Maldives is diving, since there are coral reefs near every island. Also popular are windsurfing, catamaran sailing, water skiing, snorkeling, beach volleyball, tennis, billiards, squash and darts.

8

• Square: 261 km 2
• Population: 51,538 people
• Density: 164 people/km 2
• Motto:“The state comes before personal interests”
• Form of government: Parliamentary monarchy
• Capital: Buster

Island state in the Caribbean Sea. Includes 2 islands - Saint Christopher, also known as Saint Kitts (Saint Kitts, St. Kitts), and Nevis, from the ridge of the Lesser Antilles. Both islands are of volcanic origin, mountainous. Total length coastline- 135 km.

Saint Kitts and Nevis is the smallest country in the Western Hemisphere, both in terms of area and population.

It is a member of the British Commonwealth, headed by the Queen of Great Britain.

Two traditional industries of St. Kitts and Nevis - agriculture and tourism. The main agricultural crop is sugar cane (one third of cultivated land). Cotton is grown on the island of Nevis, coconut tree, pineapples. Coffee trees, bananas, peanuts, yams, and rice are also cultivated. Livestock farming is developed - goats and sheep are raised. Fishing is also one of the traditional industries. However, agricultural production provides no more than half of domestic food needs.

7

• Square: 181 km 2
• Population: 53,158 people
• Density: 293.7 people/km 2
• Motto:"Achievement through common effort, Marshallese"
• Form of government: Republic
• Capital: Majuro

The Micronesian nation of the Marshall Islands is a cluster of atolls and islands located in the Pacific Ocean just north of the equator.

The Marshall Islands are named after British Captain John Marshall (also known as William Marshall), who, along with fellow Captain Thomas Gilbert, for whom the neighboring Gilbert Islands are named, explored the archipelago in 1788 while transporting prisoners to New South Wales.

The land area of ​​the Marshall Islands is only 181.3 km2, while the area occupied by lagoons is 11,673 km2. The country is located on 29 atolls and 5 outlying islands, which are divided into two groups: 18 islands in the Ralik chain (translated from Marshallese as “sunset”) and 16 islands in the Ratak chain (or Radak; translated from Marshallese as “sunrise”). . Both chains are approximately 250 km apart and stretch from northwest to southeast for approximately 1200 km. The most important islands are the Kwajalein and Majuro atolls. The largest island of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Kwajalein is also the atoll with the largest lagoon in the world.

6

• Square: 160 km 2
• Population: 37,313 people
• Density: 229.56 people/km 2
• Motto:"For God, Prince and Fatherland"
• Form of government: nominally constitutional monarchy
• Capital: Vaduz

Principality of Liechtenstein - dwarf state in Central Europe. Liechtenstein borders Austria in the east and Switzerland in the west, its territory is completely surrounded by the territories of these states.

The Principality is located in the spurs of the Alps, the highest point is Mount Grauspitz (2,599 m). One of the largest rivers in Western Europe, the Rhine, flows through the western part of the country.

The Principality of Liechtenstein is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the prince. Legislative power belongs to the prince and the Landtag (parliament), Executive power is vested in the government, which is elected by the Landtag for the term of its powers and approved by the prince. The majority of the population speaks the Alemannic dialect of German.

This beautiful fairy-tale country, despite its very small size, is famous for its ancient history and rich cultural heritage. Picturesque natural landscapes, magnificent medieval architecture and, of course, fashionable ski resort famous all over the world.

The heart of Liechtenstein and its “pearl” is capital Vaduz. This is where most of the country's attractions are concentrated. The visiting card of not only the city, but the entire state is the magnificent princely castle of Vaduz. The beautiful architectural structure rises on a hill and can be seen from anywhere in the city.

5

• Square: 61 km 2
• Population: 32,742 people
• Density: 520 people/km 2
• Motto:"Freedom"
• Form of government: parliamentary republic
• Capital:

San Marino is located in Southern Europe, surrounded on all sides by Italian territory. Within its current borders, San Marino is the oldest state in Europe. The country is located on the southwestern slope of the triceps mountain range Monte Titano (738 m above sea level), rising above the hilly plain of the Apennine foothills.

The legendary foundation of San Marino dates back to the beginning of the 4th century. According to legend, in 301, a member of one of the first Christian communities from the island of Rab in the Adriatic Sea (the territory of modern Croatia), stonecutter Marino and his friends found refuge in the Apennines, on the top of Monte Titano. He opened quarries in the mountain, and then, seeking solitude, built himself a small cell on its top and retired from the world. The glory of his holy life attracted crowds of pilgrims to him, and soon a small monastery was formed near his cell. This monastery, named after its founder, Saint Marinus, undoubtedly existed already at the end of the 6th century and lived an independent life, not politically dependent on any of its neighbors.

San Marino has a republican form of government. The heads of state are two captain-regents appointed by the Great General Council.

Inbound tourism plays a significant role in the country's economy; up to 2 million people are involved in the tourism industry in the state every year, and more than 3 million tourists visit the country every year.

4

• Square: 26 km 2
• Population: 10,782 people
• Density: 431.00 people/km 2
• Motto:"Tuvalu - for Almighty God"
• Form of government: monarchy
• Capital: Funafuti

Tuvalu is a tiny state in Oceania with a population of about 11,000 people. Planes from Fiji fly here twice a week and almost certainly, in 50 years, this state will be under water, and now there is a targeted resettlement of local residents to other states, such as Fiji, New Zealand and Australia.

This Pacific nation is located in Polynesia and was called Ellis Islands until 1975. The modern name translated from the Tuvaluan language means “eight standing together” (referring to the eight traditionally inhabited islands of Tuvalu; the ninth - Niulakita - was settled relatively recently). The European discoverer of the islands, Alvaro Mendaña de Neira, named the archipelago the "Lagoon Islands", and in 1819 they received the name "Ellis Islands", which was used throughout almost the entire colonial era

Tuvalu is a collection of atolls and islands located in the Pacific Ocean just south of the equator. The land area of ​​Tuvalu is only 26 km 2, while the area occupied by lagoons is more than 494 km 2. The country is located on 5 atolls (Nanumea, Nui, Nukulaelae, Nukufetau, Funafuti), 3 low-lying coral islands (Nanumanga, Niulakita, Niutao) and one atoll/reef island (Vaitupu), stretching from northwest to southeast for 595 km .

A significant part of the population of Tuvalu lives in the capital and only city of the country, Funafuti - 47%.

3

• Square: 21 km 2
• Population: 9,488 people
• Density: 473.43 people/km 2
• Motto:"God's will comes first"
• Form of government: parliamentary republic
• Capital: There is no official capital; unofficial - the city of Yaren.

The Republic of Nauru is a dwarf state on the eponymous coral island in the western part Pacific Ocean. The origin of the word "Nauru" is unknown. As now, the Nauruans in the distant past called the island "Naoero".

There is no official capital or cities on the island. The presidential residence is located in Meneng District, while government offices and parliament are located in Yaren District. The entire population of the island lives along the coast, as well as around Lake Buada.

2

• Square: 2.02 km 2
• Population: 30,508 people
• Density: 18,679 people/km 2
• Motto:"God willing"
• Form of government: dualistic constitutional monarchy
• Capital:

A dwarf state associated with France, located in southern Europe on the coast of the Ligurian Sea near the French Cote d'Azur 20 km northeast of Nice; on land it borders with France. It is one of the smallest and most densely populated countries in the world. The Principality is widely known for its casino in Monte Carlo and the stage of the Formula 1 championship held here - the Monaco Grand Prix. The length of the coastline is 4.1 km, the length of land borders is 4.4 km. Over the past 20 years, the country's territory has increased by almost 40 hectares due to the drainage of marine areas.

The first people built their settlements on the territory of Monaco in the 10th century BC. e., they were Phoenicians. Much later the Greeks and Monoiki joined.

The history of modern Monaco begins in 1215 with the founding of a colony of the Genoese Republic on the territory of the principality and the construction of a fortress.

As of 2014, the population of Monaco is 37,800 people, but it is worth noting that most of the full citizens of the state are Monegasques. They are exempt from taxes and have the right to settle in the area of ​​the old city.

Monaco's economy is developing mainly due to tourism, gambling, the construction of new residences, as well as due to media coverage of the life of the princely family.

1

• Square: 0.44 km 2
• Population: 842 people
• Density: 1900 people/km 2
• Form of government: absolute theocratic monarchy
• Capital:

And, undoubtedly, the title of the most small state in the world belongs to the Vatican. Vatican City is a dwarf enclave state (the smallest officially recognized state in the world) within the territory of Rome, associated with Italy. The Vatican's status in international law is an auxiliary sovereign territory of the Holy See, the seat of the highest spiritual leadership of the Roman Catholic Church.

Diplomatic missions of foreign countries are accredited to the Holy See, not to the Vatican City State. Foreign embassies and missions accredited to the Holy See, due to the small territory of the Vatican, are located in Rome (including the Italian embassy, ​​which is thus located in its own capital.

In antiquity, the territory of the Vatican (lat. ager vaticanus) was not inhabited, since in Ancient Rome this place was considered holy. Emperor Claudius held circus games at this place. In 326, after the advent of Christianity, the Basilica of Constantine was erected over the supposed tomb of St. Peter, and from then on the site began to be inhabited.

The Vatican is a theocratic state ruled by the Holy See. The sovereign of the Holy See, in whose hands the absolute legislative, executive and judicial powers are concentrated, is the Pope, elected by the cardinals for a life term. After the death or abdication of the Pope and during the conclave until the enthronement of the new Pope, his duties (with significant restrictions) are performed by the Camerlengo.

The Vatican has a non-profit planned economy. Sources of income are primarily donations from Catholics around the world. Part of the funds comes from tourism (sale postage stamps, Vatican euro coins, souvenirs, museum admission fees). The majority of the workforce (museum staff, gardeners, janitors, etc.) are Italian citizens.

The Vatican budget is US$310 million.

The Vatican has its own bank, better known as the Institute of Religious Affairs.