Historically, it so happened that humanity seeks to divide the vast expanses of our planet into separate pieces. In the course of thousands of years of conquest, each nation has secured its own territories - some have more, some have less.

We learned the names of most large countries at school, but few people remember about these states. They do not have huge armies or natural deposits, but are known for their tiny area. This compilation contains the 10 smallest countries in the world!

10 Maldives

This ranking of countries in descending order is headed by . Among the top tiny countries, they have the largest area - 298 km². But in terms of population density, this state can compete with any large country - more than 400 thousand people live here on such an area.

The Maldives consists of 26 atolls, which, in turn, are a chain of 1192 coral islands. The only city in the Maldives is Male, which is also the capital of this country. This amazing archipelago is a unique reef ecosystem, various types fish and marine organisms.

9 Saint Kitts and Nevis

This is not big country covers an area of 261 km² and consists of two islands - Saint Kitts and Nevis. It is located in the eastern part caribbean and has the title of the smallest state in the Western Hemisphere. The population of Saint Kitts and Nevis is small - only 50 thousand people.

The state is well known among tourists and the income from this destination is more than 70% of the country's GDP per year. It also processes sugar cane and shellfish. The largest city of this country, and concurrently the capital, is inhabited by 11 thousand people. Saint Kitts and Nesiv have their own army of 300 people.

8 Marshall Islands

The Republic of the Marshall Islands covers an area of 181.3 km² of land. It is located in the western part Pacific Ocean and is a chain of atoll islands. These islands were discovered in 1526 by Alonso de Salazar, and for many centuries passed as a colony from one country to another.

Today, these 34 atoll islands are real paradise. The territory of the republic has a unique head start and fauna, which, by the way, was almost destroyed by man. In the middle of the 20th century, Americans tested a hydrogen bomb here. The explosion was so powerful that it surpassed Hiroshima by 1000 times. However, local residents managed to slowly restore the ecosystem of the islands.

7 Liechtenstein

The European Principality of Liechtenstein is tiny and very famous in the world. Despite its area of 160 km², this state has a very powerful economy and developed industry. It can serve as an example for many powers due to its unique system of government in such a way that the people here lived very well.

Liechtenstein is located in Alpine mountains and borders Switzerland and Austria. The name of the country comes from the ruling dynasty, which has been ruling together with the Landtag for many years. The population of this European country small - about 36 thousand people.

6 San Marino

On the sixth line of our rating is the state of San Marino, which has an area of 60 km². It is unique in its location - it borders Italy on all sides. The name of the country was formed from the name of the saint who founded it according to ancient legend- stonemason Marin.

With modern borders, San Marino is considered the most ancient state in Europe, it was founded in 301. Almost the entire territory of the country (80%) is the foothills of the Apennines, so there is practically no arable land here. The population of the country is 33 thousand people with such a small area. This country has many unique architectural monuments on its territory.

5 Tuvalu

This small state in Polynesia has an area of 26 km². It consists of nine coral atolls, four of which make up the Tuvalu archipelago. The discoverer of the islands, Alvaro Mendanya de Neira, called them Lagoons, but they received their name Tuvalu only in 1975.

This a nice place, nevertheless, was ranked among the poorest countries as of 2016. The area of the islands is decreasing from year to year, so in 50 years, according to experts, Tuvalu may completely disappear from the face of the Earth as a state. The population of the country according to the latest data is just over 12 thousand people.

4 Nauru

The dwarf state of Nauru covers an area of 21 km² and was very popular in the middle of the 20th century. Such popularity was provided by phosphates, which the territory of this piece of land was full of. But today, only dilapidated mines remain from phosphates, and the country's ecology has been irretrievably damaged even for tourism.

Like the islands of Tuvalu, Nauru is located near the Republic of Kiribati and is located 42 km south of the equator. This country does not have an official capital, and the population is only 10 thousand people. But, unlike Tuvalu, this dwarf country again began to develop its economy and increase the birth rate.

3 Monaco

The third line of our rating is occupied by the well-known European Principality of Monaco. Probably everyone has heard about it, despite the fact that it occupies only 2.02 km². The legendary Monaco Grand Prix races are held here, and the casino in Monte Carlo is very famous among gambling enthusiasts.

The population of Monaco (with such and such an area!) Is 38 thousand people. This is a lot, but such popularity has its own explanation. For a long time there was no taxation in Monaco, so many businessmen, wealthy foreigners settled here and large companies were founded. Monaco is governed by Prince Albert II, who is assisted by a national council.

2 Vatican

The State of the Vatican, with its tiny area of 0.44 km², is a very powerful state that has been deciding the fate of many countries for many centuries. The country's population is equal to the number of employees - 836 people. At the same time, the Vatican has no economy, and the country's budget is replenished only through numerous donations from Catholic organizations.

Here is the residence of the Pope - the heart of the Catholic Church. The state is located inside Rome and is directly associated with Italy. But, despite the proximity, the Vatican gained its independence in 1929 and has since been independent country. By right, he has the title of the smallest country in the world, but there is another state that should be paid attention to.

1 Order of Malta

And the first place in this list is occupied by the state, which some countries do not recognize as a separate state unit. We are talking about the Order of Malta with a territory of 0.012 km². This Order has about 13,000 members who have the country's passports and use their own currency.

Not all countries recognize the sovereignty of the Order of Malta and consider it only at the level of diplomatic relations. The largest city Orders - Fort St. Angelo, which the country rents from Malta. If you do not take into account the shaky recognition of this sovereignty, then the Order is the smallest state in the world.

All these dwarf states rightfully take their place in the ranking of the smallest countries. They are unique and distinctive, and most of them, despite their small territory, are prosperous countries.

West Africa is a region with magnificent nature and rich resource potential. However, all the countries included in it are characterized by weak and unstable economies. Intertribal conflicts, frequent change of power, high mortality from tropical diseases, total poverty are the main problems here.

Geography of West Africa

Africa is the second largest continent on the planet. It hosts 55 states and five self-proclaimed unrecognized entities. Conventionally, the mainland is divided into five subregions, each of which unites states that are similar not only geographically, but also historically and culturally.

Starts in the central part of the Sahara. In the south and west it is limited by the Atlantic Ocean, and in the southeast by the mountains of Cameroon. The territory of the region covers all the main natural zones of the mainland, from deserts and tropical savannahs to equatorial forests. Most of it falls on the Sahel and Sudan ecoregions (not to be confused with the country), which are grassy steppes and light forests. Closer to the coast are mangroves and gallery forests.

The nature and resources of the region are full of diversity. Closer to the coast there is a dense river system. Monkeys, leopards, hippos, forest duikers, buffaloes, giraffes live in its valleys. Local savannas are inhabited by lions, cheetahs, hyena-like dogs, gazelles and antelopes. Due to the active development of the region in the past, many species are now considered vulnerable or close to extinction, so they can only be found in nature reserves and national parks.

West African countries

The western region of the mainland is considered the largest both in terms of population and the number of its constituent states - there are a total of 16. The largest in terms of population is Nigeria, which is home to 196 million people. It is followed by Niger (22 million people) and Mauritania (4.3 million people). The largest in area are Niger (1,267,000 km 2) and Mali (1,240,000 km 2).

The westernmost country in Africa is Cape Verde. It is also the smallest in the region in terms of area and population in the region. Cape Verde is located on the Cape Verde Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. About 600 kilometers separate them from the coast of the mainland.

The countries of West Africa do not enjoy much attention of travelers. infrastructure and transport system here they are practically not developed, and the conditions for recreation do not rise above the basic level.

Story

Almost all the states of West Africa are former colonies of Great Britain and France. They were the ones who retained their influence the longest. Before the advent of Europeans, large state formations existed in the region. The Empire of Ghana, the empires of Mali and Songhai were located here.

During the period of great geographical discoveries on the African coast Atlantic Ocean European pioneers appeared. At first, the development of the region was slow due to numerous tropical diseases - yellow fever, malaria, sleeping sickness, etc.

IN late XIX century, with the invention of medicines for local ailments, colonization accelerated. West Africa became the main supplier of ivory, precious stones and metals, as well as free labor. At that time, a huge number of mammals were exterminated in the region, including elephants, leopards, chimpanzees, and the slave trade reached a huge scale.

The first country to gain independence from the Europeans is Ghana (1957), followed in 1960 by Nigeria and Mauritania. Despite their free status, West African countries were in no hurry to abandon slavery, and cases of forced labor or human trafficking were recorded even in the 2000s. Mauritania has banned slavery since 1981, but even now it remains a country where slavery is not prosecuted by the authorities.

Country Economy

The region has significant resource potential. There are deposits of oil, tantalum, niobium, diamonds, gold, manganese, iron, tin, bauxite, uranium, tungsten, coal. Despite this, the industry in West African countries works mainly for the extraction of minerals, and their processing is carried out only at the initial level.

The extraction of some resources is still carried out with the help of manual labor. In some countries, such as Nigeria, spontaneous capture of deposits often occurs and resource wars are waged. All this is hardly regulated by the authorities, due to the developed corruption and frequent change of managers.

The basis of the economy of states is agriculture, as a rule, highly specialized. So, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana grow cocoa beans, Senegal and the Gambia grow peanuts, Nigeria makes palm oil, Guinea specializes in coffee, Togo specializes in coffee and cocoa. Countries located on the ocean coast are engaged in fishing and supplying seafood .

Beautiful and vibrant Africa is the second largest continent in the world. More than 1 billion people live in its open spaces. And its lands are conditionally divided into 5 regions. Traditionally, the countries of Africa, the list of which consists of 62 items, belong to the following regions:

South.
Western.
Northern.
East.
And Central.

This division is due to different geographical and climatic conditions, differences in cultures and forms of government of states.

There are dependent and independent territories in Africa. There are 37 countries with access to the seas and oceans. Present (10 units). And 16 countries located in the interior of the continent.

African countries: list of states of the southern region

South Africa keeps memories of the colonization period in its memory. Nuclear weapons were developed on its territory, which the government then abandoned. It includes countries such as:

Zimbabwe;
Mozambique;
Comoros;
Seychelles;
Mauritius Island;
Reunion;
Madagascar;
Lesotho;
Botswana;
Swaziland;
Namibia.

The largest country on this earth is the Republic of South Africa (South Africa). Almost the entire population of the Southern Region lives and works there. There are 11 official languages in this territory. The ethnic composition of South Africa is a diverse group of numerous religious associations.

proximity to the Atlantic and indian ocean do South Africa attractive for tourism. In the southern part of the continent all year round warm and humid. But the climate is temperate, so the heat is tolerated quite easily.

African countries: list of states of the Western region

The humid and windy climate of West Africa is directly dependent on the capricious trade winds. This territory consists of the following countries:

Sierra Leone;
Senegal;
Benin;
Burkina Faso;
Gambia;
Ghana;
Togo;
Guinea;
Guinea-Bissau;
Cape Verde;
Cameroon;
Mauritania;
Nigeria;
Niger;
Mali;
Liberia;
Ivory Coast;
Saint Helena.

The Western region is the birthplace of many African languages. Even today oral folklore is valued on its territory. And ceremonial dances are included in the program of every significant holiday.

The Cameroon Mountains are the natural boundary of this land in the east. In the south of the region itself, the legendary Sahara desert begins. And in the west, the natural boundary forms the Atlantic Ocean.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria a few years ago received the status of the largest oil producer. Most of the population speaks several dialects at once. 527 languages are officially recognized in this country. Among them there are 11 "dead" dialects, English and several other languages of the local ethnic group are taught in state schools.

Abuja is the Nigerian capital, chosen by the government as the most ethnically neutral place in the Western Region. After the completion of the main stages of construction in 1976, Abuja received the status of the main city of Nigeria instead of the overcrowded Logos.

African countries: list of states of the Northern region

A significant part of the Northern region is occupied by the sands of the Sahara desert. The largest states of the entire African continent border on the endless sandy sea:

Sudan;
Tunisia;
Algeria;
Morocco;
Libya;
SADR;
Egypt.

The Mediterranean natural area is considered very comfortable for living. Therefore, there are large tourist sites of the African continent, which are known throughout the world.

The economy of this region is in better condition than in other parts of Africa. The proximity of Europe affects not only the development of the region, but also its cultural heritage.

Tunisia is the country that has the most competitive economy among all African countries. About 10 million people live in Tunisia, most of whom speak Arabic. Almost the entire population of the northern state professes Islam. The Mediterranean climate makes Tunisia an important tourism sector. The country's culture contains a wide variety of trends that are organically woven into the daily life of the Tunisian people.

African countries: list of countries in the Eastern region

East of the mysterious Nile, there are several countries that make up the Eastern Region. Among them are such states as:

Ethiopia;
Eritrea;
Uganda;
Tanzania;
Somalia;
Mayotte;
Kenya;
Djibouti;
Zambia;
Comoros;
Malawi.

The climate of East Africa is arid central regions. But on the coast, it quickly changes to tropical. Former colonists set the borders of states rather arbitrarily. Due to the fact that cultural and religious directions were not taken into account, the development of the Eastern region is taking place at a very slow pace.

Kenya is not only a favorite place for tourists, but also a place that has amazing flora and fauna. In Kenya, there is a large number of nature reserves, which are protected by the international organization UNESCO.

In Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, people speak English and the local language, Swahili. For a long time this country was a colony of Great Britain.

African countries: list of states of the Central region

In the heart of Africa are the following states:

Angola;
Congo;
Sao Tome;
Equatorial Guinea.

These countries are endowed with a subequatorial climate. Thanks to extensive river system it is there that you can see endless forests consisting of evergreen and deciduous trees.

The Republic of the Congo is extremely rich in minerals. This circumstance several centuries ago contributed to the emergence of the African "gold" rush in the country.

The capital of the country unusual name Brazzaville is quite developed in terms of education. The literacy rate of the population there reaches 82%. The economy of the state is based on oil production and agriculture. The cultural sector is represented by folk art. The trend of contemporary art is also well developed.

All countries in Africa, the list of which is given above, are considered officially recognized states. Meanwhile, many territories of the African continent have recently embarked on the path of international recognition and so far are not real states. But they still have border symbols on some maps.

Anthropologists call Africa the cradle of civilization. According to research, human culture first appeared there. Paradoxically, in the place of origin of all living things, there are still corners where no human foot has set foot. Of the 29 million square meters, only a small part is inhabited by people. The rest of the space is deserts and tropical forests. African fauna is unique. this continent is not found anywhere else.

Exploring the countries of Africa, the list of which is so diverse, it is difficult to imagine that the Sahara Desert covers an area larger than the entire territory of the United States. Also on the territory of the continent, half of all the gold in the world is mined. And the name of this part of the world comes from one of the most ancient tribes "Afri".

In the east - the Cameroon mountains, in the south and west - the waves of the Atlantic, where the westernmost point of Africa is located - Cape Almadi in Senegal. Such natural boundaries are delineated West Africa, which is conditionally divided into two regions: the arid Sahel, which merges with the desert, and Sudan, which is more comfortable for living. Sixteen states are located in this part of the continent, the largest of which are Niger, Mali and Mauritania, and the smallest are Cape Verde (Cape Verde Islands).

Climate features, vegetation and animal world

The hardest climatic conditions- in the north of the Sahel, which captures the desert year after year. The region is officially recognized as one of the hottest on the planet - in winter the temperature rarely drops below +20 °C, and in summer it confidently stays at around +40 °C. At this time, all vegetation dies here, and the herbivorous inhabitants of the savannah (mainly antelopes and gazelles) migrate south.

West African countries, located in the Sahel, periodically find themselves on the verge of disaster due to a monstrous drought that can last up to five to six years. But in Sudan, agriculture is much better developed. Coffee, cocoa beans and cotton are grown and exported in Togo, peanuts and corn in Gambia, dates and rice in Mauritania.

Much more precipitation falls on the territory of Sudan than in the Sahel - they are brought by the summer monsoons. In addition, there are many rivers flowing here, so closer to the Atlantic the vegetation is more abundant (up to lush tropical forests), and the animal world is much richer.

History and modernity

West Africa attracted European colonialists as early as the 15th century - the British, Portuguese, French created fortified outposts on the coast, imposing their conditions local tribes. Most states succeeded in completely freeing themselves from the tutelage of metropolitans only in the second half of the last century.

As a legacy of such total dependence, the countries of West Africa received deep-seated enmity with neighbors who were ruled by other European "patrons". The region is famous for its political instability - military coups, riots and civil wars are not uncommon here.

The western part of Africa is rich in minerals. Ghana is one of the leading suppliers of gold, Nigeria's budget is 80% dependent on oil trade, diamonds are mined in Sierra Leone, and uranium is mined in Niger. At the same time, only raw materials enter the world market, the processing industry is undeveloped. Almost all countries of the region are included in the list of the poorest countries on the planet with a very unfavorable epidemiological situation and low level healthcare.

List of West African countries

Education

Mali (country). State in West Africa

August 30, 2015

Each country has many interesting features and details. There is a lot to be said about any of them. Especially if it is a distant and exotic land. For example, the African Republic of Mali. What is the first thing to know about her?

Geographical position

You can find Mali on the map in the west of the African continent. The territory of the country occupies almost one and a half million square kilometers, or to be more precise - 1.24. Twenty-two thousand of them are occupied by water, and all the rest are land. The size of the country can be better understood if you know that it is comparable to South Africa or twice the size of Texas. The length of the border is seven thousand two hundred and forty three kilometers. To the west of the country is Senegal, to the north - Algeria and Mauritania, to the east are Niger and Burkina Faso, to the south of Mali - the country of Côte d'Ivoire, formerly known as the Ivory Coast, as well as Guinea.

Capital and regions

As in any state, Mali has a complex system administrative division. According to it, eight regions are distinguished on the territory. A separate unit is the capital of Mali - Bamako. The regions are divided into districts, of which there are two hundred and eighty-eight in the country. In addition to the administrative division, there is also a geographical one. The nature of Mali is divided into five major regions. These are deserts in the north of the state, a transitional region - the Sahel, two types of savannas and the territory of the Niger Delta.

water basin

The largest river is the Niger, which flows from Guinea, crosses the territory of Mali and heads to the northeast. In the channel there are many branches, channels and lakes, as well as swamps. In the delta there are structures that allow the distribution of water for irrigation. Since the Republic of Mali is located in a rather dry region, the availability of hydraulic engineering is of great importance for it. Part of the artificial irrigation canals repeats the historical course of Niger. In the west of the country there is also the Senegal River, which appears as a result of the confluence of Bakoy and Bafing. Its delta contains the most low point Mali. The country is also distinguished by several hills. In the southwest, the sandstone of the mountains becomes the frame of the upper Niger basin and the Bani, which is a tributary.

mountain ranges

In addition to sandstone plateaus, there are other zones of uplift of the earth's crust on the territory. The mountains between the cities of Gao and Mopti are especially pronounced. To the east of the latter there is a remnant massif called Hombori. The highest point is a mountain of one thousand one hundred and fifty-five meters. This is a record not only for the array, but for the entire country. Another major elevation is the Adrar-Iforas plateau.

Vegetation

Despite the harsh hot climate that distinguishes Africa, Mali can boast of a variety of flora. Most of the territories are covered with various shrubs and grasses. On the territory of the Sahel, there are acacias, doum palms, baobabs, nere, kapok trees, shea butter, ceiba, wild plums and other exotic varieties. In the south there are ronnier palms, Senegalese cayis, terminalia, a variety of herbaceous plants.

Animal world

The fauna of Mali impresses with its incredible diversity. In the territories of desert regions, large antelopes are most often found - oryxes, addaxes, as well as gazelles, cheetahs, giraffes and striped hyenas. The savannas are inhabited by warthogs - African wild pigs, and various predators - jackals, lions and leopards. Antelopes are widespread. Unfortunately, the number of elephants is constantly decreasing. The rivers and lakes of Mali are of considerable importance. The country is engaged in fishing, the most valuable is the Nile perch, also known as the "captain". Insects are widely represented - bees, mosquitoes, termites, midges. Many varieties are dangerous to the health of animals and humans. The protection of vegetation and animals of the state is engaged in national park under the name of Boucle-du-Baoulet.

Natural resources

Various resources needed to active development states are well represented in Mali. The country boasts deposits of precious metals and stones - gold and diamonds are mined here. In addition, copper, bauxite, manganese, uranium, granite, lithium, and table salt can be found in the mines of Mali. There is also kaolin clay in the country.

Climatic conditions

The country is located in the tropical continental belt. To the south, where the capital of Mali is located, the climate is subequatorial. There are alternating dry and rainy seasons. The first lasts from November to June, and the second - from July to October. During the dry season, the country is dominated by northeasterly winds, which lead to sandstorms. In the center of Mali, Bamako, there are impressive temperature fluctuations within one day - in the evenings, at night and early in the morning it is cool here, and by noon the thermometer shows more than thirty degrees of heat. In the Sahara region, there are harmatana winds, which are characterized by hurricane force. The temperature here reaches forty-five degrees of heat. The southern territories differ in the maximum amount of precipitation - up to one and a half thousand millimeters falls here per year. There are regular droughts throughout the country. In the Sahara region, one hundred and fifty millimeters fall annually, near the city of Timbuktu - two hundred and thirty.

Peoples of Mali

Almost one hundred percent of the country's population is represented by Negroids. Only in some northern territories are there representatives of the Mediterranean type of Caucasians - Arabs and Tuareg. The ethnic diversity of Mali is impressive - the peoples of the state number in dozens. Most of them belong to the Niger-Cordo-Fan language family, there are also representatives of the West Atlantic, Afro-Asiatic and Volt. The most numerous people are the Bambara, the speakers of the most common language. Such an ethnic group can be found in the central part of the country. The next is Malinke with representatives in the west. Like the previous one, this people is mainly engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding.

Both the Senufo and the Mandé make a living from agriculture. On the banks of the Niger live the Songhai, engaged in nomadic pastoralism. In the most rocky regions live the Dogon, who surprisingly achieve success in agriculture in the most unfavorable areas. Tuareg deserve special mention. They are a nomadic people from the east. The Arabs are engaged in cattle breeding and trade in the area of Lake Fagibin and in the Sahara. Despite the fact that this people is not the most common, it greatly influences the development of the state. Thus, the Muslim religion spread under their influence and became the choice of the majority.

An interesting ethnic group are the Fulbe. Their appearance combines signs of the Negroid and Caucasian races. They have light brown skin. Fulani live on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and in the Sahel, as well as in the Niger Delta. The population that does not adhere to Muslim customs retains traditional beliefs. People worship plants, animals, stones, and also honor the spirits of their ancestors. Interestingly, some peoples accept Islam, but retain separate pagan beliefs. The country is characterized by a high rate of population growth - the last fifteen years the number of inhabitants has increased by more than two percent annually. Almost half of the citizens are under fifteen years old, and representatives of retirement age - no more than six percent.

State symbols of Mali

The country gained independence not so long ago. The symbolism appeared in 1961, after the country ceased to be part of the French community. As a flag, a canvas in the form of a quadrangle is used, the length of which is related to the width in the proportion of three to two. It is used on land for government, civil and military purposes. The flag is divided into three vertical stripes of the same size. At the pole there is a light green stripe, in the center - bright yellow, and on the edge - red. The first is a symbol of hope, fields and pastures, agriculture, on which the economy is based. In addition, it is a sign of constant innovation and modernization. Yellow denotes the wealth of the subsoil, which belongs to every inhabitant of the country. Finally, red is a sign of the struggle for freedom and independence. Previously, the flag of the colony was a French flag, complemented by a black kanaga figurine. This is an image of a person who was invented by supporters of the idea of the exclusivity of the Negroid race. The racist figurine was removed from the symbolism in 1961. Unusually, the colors of the flag are not on the coat of arms. It is a blue disc with a white falcon with a bow and arrows, complete with a crown.