style="font-size:15px;"> lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location 12 m
Natural resources:
guano, coconuts
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms) (2001)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system
People Glorioso Islands
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison along with a few
meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2005 est.)
Government Glorioso Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Glorioso Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Iles Glorieuses
Dependency status:
possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur
of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Legal system:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (possession of France)
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
Economy Glorioso Islands
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Communications Glorioso Islands
Communications - note: 1 meteorological station
Transportation Glorioso Islands
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Glorioso Islands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Glorioso Islands
Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Greece
Introduction Greece
Background:
Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829.
During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the
20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and
territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II,
Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied
by Germany (1941–44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war
between royalist supporters of the king and communist rebels.
Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece was able to join NATO
in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many
political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted
seven years. The 1974 democratic elections and a referendum created
a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. Greece joined
the European Community or EC in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992);
it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001.
Geography Greece
Location:
Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the
Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
39 00 N, 22 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 131,940 sq km
land: 130,800 sq km
water: 1,140 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries:
total: 1,228 km
border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km,
Macedonia 246 km
Coastline:
13,676 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:
mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas
or chains of islands
Elevation
