My Science School

              Slovenia is a small country in Southeastern Europe, to the south of Austria. Formerly a constituent republic of Yugoslavia, it is also bordered by Croatia, Hungary, and Italy. The country is almost land-locked; it has a short coastline at the Adriatic Sea between Italy and Croatia.

               The capital and largest city is Ljubljana. The territory is mostly mountainous with a mainly continental climate. Over half of the territory is covered by forest. The human settlement of Slovenia is dispersed and uneven.

               About nine-tenths of Slovenia’s people are ethnically Slovenes. They are descendants of settlers who arrived in the 6th century. The Slovenes are a South Slavic people with a unique language.

               Slovenia is part of the European Union, and the Euro is their currency. Long regarded as one of the best-performing new EU members, Slovenia was dragged into a deep recession by the European financial crisis in 2012. Slovene is the official language of Slovenia.

               Fiji is an island country situated in the South Pacific Ocean about 3,000 km east of Australia and 2,000 km north of New Zealand. The archipelago consists of some 330 islands and 540 islets. Of the 330 islands, about 110 are inhabited. The majority of Fiji’s islands were formed through volcanic activity starting around 150 million years ago.

               Fiji became an independent state in 1970, after gaining its sovereignty from the United Kingdom. Fiji is one of the most developed economies in the Pacific, relying heavily on its tourism and sugar industries. The population of Fiji is around 898,760. The capital, Suva, is on the southeast coast of the largest island, Viti Levu.

               The climate in Fiji is tropical marine and warm year round with minimal extremes. The country’s currency is the Fijian dollar. Official languages of this island nation are English and Fiji Hindi.

               Kuwait is an oil rich, family-run emirate in the Middle East, situated on the Arabian Peninsula, bordering the north-western corner of the Persian Gulf.

               Kuwait has a strong economy backed by the world’s sixth largest oil reserves. Kuwait’s massive oil reserves make it one of the world’s richest countries. Kuwait became an Independent state in 1961, after gaining its sovereignty from the United Kingdom.

               In 1990, Kuwait was invaded, and later annexed, by Iraq’s Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi occupation came to an end in 1991 after military intervention by coalition forces. At the end of the war, there were extensive efforts to rebuild national infrastructure.

               Kuwait is a constitutional state with a semi-democratic political system. The Kuwaiti dinar is the highest valued currency in the world. The capital of the country is Kuwait city.

               Swaziland, officially Kingdom of Swaziland is a country in the eastern flank of South Africa, where it adjoins Mozambique.

               The landlocked Kingdom of Swaziland is the last absolute monarchy in Africa. Swaziland became an independent state in 1968, after gaining its sovereignty from the United Kingdom.

               Swaziland is one of the smallest countries in Africa. The name Swazi is the Anglicized name of an early king and nation builder, Mswati II, who ruled from 1840 to 1868.

               According to UNICEF Swaziland has the highest HIV prevalence rate in the world. The HIV-Aids virus has killed countless Swazis who have left behind thousands of orphans.

               Some 210,000 people, out of a population of 1.2 million, are estimated to be living with HIV. Elections are held every five years to determine the House of Assembly and the Senate majority. The current constitution was adopted in 2005.

               The official languages are Swazi, and English. The currencies used are the South African rand and the Swazi lilangeni.

               Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor, is a relatively new nation, situated in the eastern half of the island of Timor, at the eastern ‘end’ of the Lesser Sunda Islands, north of the Timor Sea and Australia. The country is bordered by Indonesia in the west, and the Savu Sea in north.

               The capital and largest city is Dili, the spoken languages are Tetum and Portuguese, Indonesian, English. East Timor achieved independence on 20th May 2002, from Indonesia.

               In 1999, following the United Nations-sponsored act of self-determination, Indonesia relinquished control of the territory. Thus, East Timor became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century, and joined the United Nations.

               The head of state of East Timor is the President of the Republic, who is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. Much of the country is mountainous. It is characterized by distinct rainy and dry seasons. The currencies used are the United States dollar, and the East Timor centavo coins.

            The Bahamas are a coral archipelago of around 700 islands and more than 2,000 rocks and cays in the West Atlantic south-east of the coast of Florida, USA, and northeast of Cuba.

            Formerly a British colony the Bahamas became an independent country within the Commonwealth in 1973. About 30 islands are inhabited, the most important of which are New Providence, in the middle of the group, where the capital Nassau is situated.

            The Bahamas is one of the richest countries in the Americas, with an economy based on tourism and finance. The climate is cooler than other countries in the Caribbean region but still pleasantly mild in winter. The yellow elder was chosen as the national flower of the Bahamas because it is native to the Bahama Islands, and it blooms throughout the year. The official language of the Bahamas is English.

            The Bahamas is a constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, represented by the Bahamian governor-general who acts on the advice of the Prime Minister.

 

               Montenegro is a small country in south-eastern Europe. Podgorica is the capital and largest city of the country.

               For much of the 20th century, Montenegro was a part of Yugoslavia and from 2003 to 2006; it was a component of the federated union of Serbia and Montenegro.

               Montenegro became an independent state in 2006, after gaining its sovereignty from the federated union of Serbia and Montenegro. Tourism, steel making, aluminium and food processing represent its major industries. The World Tourism and Travel Council placed Montenegro first on its list of countries where tourism is a strategic industry. Classified by the World Bank as an upper middle-income country, Montenegro is a member of the NATO and UN. The official language is Montenegrin.

               Located in the region of Oceania, an island country Vanuatu covers 12,189 square kilometres of land. It consists of a chain of 13 principal, and many smaller islands. The islands were initially home to the Melanesians for over 2,500 years. Then, in the 15th century, European explorers and missionaries began arriving, and the islands changed forever.

               Vanuatu became an independent state in 1980, after gaining its sovereignty from the United Kingdom. The name Vanuatu means ‘Our Land Forever’ in one of the locally used Melanesian languages. Port-Vila, on Efate, is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre.

               Most of the islands are inhabited; some have active volcanoes. Vanuatu is mountainous and much of it is covered with tropical rainforests. Like most of the area, it is prone to earthquakes and tidal waves.

               In 2015, it was hit by a cyclone which caused widespread damage. The official languages are Bislama, French, and English.

 

               The state of Qatar is an independent emirate, an Arabic Islamic monarchy, in the Gulf region. It occupies the small Qatar Peninsula on the north-eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula.

               Before World War II, Qatar was one of the world’s poorest nations. Its main source of revenue came from pearling and fishing. But as oil reserves were discovered and developed in the 1940s, the country attained a high income. Today, Qatar has one of the world’s largest reserves of oil and natural gas. Qatar is classified by the UN as a country of very high human development.

               Arabic is the official language of Qatar. The capital of the country is Doha, and the currency is the Riyal.

 

               The Gambia is the smallest country in mainland Africa, with an extent of about 330 km east to west, and less than 50 km north to south.

               It is a former British colony, forming an enclave within Senegal, a former French colony. The Gambia is one of the most densely populated countries in West Africa.

               The Gambia River, the nation’s namesake, flows through the centre of Gambia, and empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

               The Gambia achieved independence on 18th February 1965, as a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth, with Elizabeth II as Queen of the Gambia. But, the country is now not in the Commonwealth, as they left the organization in 2013. The Gambia’s economy is dominated by agriculture, fishing, and tourism. About two-thirds of the population is engaged in raising livestock or growing crops like rice. English is the official language of the Gambia. The capital of the country is Banjul, and the currency of the Gambia is the Dalasi.

               Jamaica, the third largest island in the Caribbean Sea, is situated west of Hispaniola, and south of Cuba, about 870 km south east of Miami. The national capital is Kingston.

               Jamaica’s landscape is mostly mountainous. Christopher Columbus, was first sighted the island in 1494.

               Jamaica became an independent state in 1962, after gaining its sovereignty from the United Kingdom. Jamaica is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.

               Kingston is the capital city of Jamaica. The official language is Standard Jamaican English. Jamaica is known for reggae, a type of popular music created in the 1960s. The national currency is the Jamaican dollar.

               Jamaica is a member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, Non-Aligned Movement, Organization of American States, United Nations and World Trade Organization.

               Lebanon is in the Middle East, where it borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, and Syria to the north. Lebanon shares a border with Israel.

               Lebanon consists of a narrow strip of territory, and is one of the world’s smaller sovereign states. The capital is Beirut. Lebanon has a heterogeneous society composed of numerous ethnic, religious, and kinship groups.

               Lebanon became an independent state in 1943, after gaining its sovereignty from France. Lebanon was the site of some of the oldest human settlements in the world. Lebanon has been a member of the UN since its founding.

               The currency of Lebanon is the Lebanese pound. Lebanon has a moderate Mediterranean climate. With its high literacy rate and traditional mercantile culture, Lebanon has traditionally been an important commercial hub for the Middle East. It was the first Arab country to permit private radio and TV.

               Located in the continent of Asia, Cyprus has a total area of 9,251 square kilo-metres. Cyprus is an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean, and is the third largest and third most populous island in the Mediterranean. It is located south of Turkey.

               In 1960 Cyprus became Independent of Britain as the Republic of Cyprus. Nicosia is the capital city of Cyprus. Nicosia is also the political centre of Cyprus.

               The country has been renowned since ancient times for its mineral wealth, and natural beauty. Cyprus is a major tourist destination in the Mediterranean. The currency of the country is the Euro. The official languages are Greek and Turkish.

            Brunei, situated on the northern shore of the island of Borneo in the South China Sea, is one of the smallest yet richest states in the world.

            The country is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak. It has a population of less than 500,000.

            A British protectorate since 1888, Brunei was the only Malay state in 1963 which chose to remain so rather than join the federation that became Malaysia.

            Brunei achieved independence in 1984. Brunei’s political system is governed by the constitution and the national tradition of the Malay Islamic monarchy.

            The nation has been ruled by the same family for hundreds of years. Its ruling royals possess a huge private fortune and its largely ethnic-Malay population enjoys generous state handouts and pays no taxes.

            Brunei is a member of the Commonwealth and ASEAN. The capital of Brunei is Bandar Seri Begawan. The official language of Brunei is Standard Malay. The currency is the Brunei dollar.

               Vatican City is the world’s smallest fully independent nation-state. It is also the smallest by population. Situated on the western bank of the Tiber River, the Vatican City’s 3.2 kilometre border is landlocked by Italy.

               The Vatican City has served as the official home of the pope of the Catholic Church since 1377. However, Vatican City was not declared an independent state until the Lateran Treaty of 1929, which created the independent state of Vatican City for the Catholic Church. Today, nearly 75 per cent of the Vatican’s citizens are members of the clergy.

               Along with the centuries-old buildings and gardens, the Vatican maintains its own banking and telephone systems, post office, pharmacy, newspaper, and radio and television stations. Its 600 citizens include the members of the Swiss Guard, a security detail charged with protecting the pope since 1506.

               The most significant building in Vatican City is St. Peter’s Basilica. The church is built on Vatican Hill, across the Tiber River from the historic centre of Rome. This was the site where Saint Peter, the chief apostle, died a martyr, and where he was buried in AD 64.

               It is the Italian language that is used by most of those located within the state; however the official documents are written in Latin.