Malta is an island nation, located in the Mediterranean Sea. Just south of Sicily, is this archipelago comprised of seven islands situated. Only three of the seven islands are inhabited. The terrain is made up of low hills and terraced fields that are accompanied with the Mediterranean climate. Once part of the British Empire, it gained its independence in 1964, later proceeding to become a republic of the Commonwealth in 1974.
The capital, Valletta housed its Parliamentary Republic government, which is overseen by a President and a Prime Minister. Malta became a member state of the European Union in 2004 and plans to enter the Eurozone in 2008, leaving its Maltese Lira behind. The Maltese culture has a diverse influence, although mostly Italian. This is very apparent in its cuisine, which also has influences such as from the Ottoman period. Malta offers many culturally diverse sites to visit, including the Mnajdra Temple, the Royal Opera House, the Auberge de Castille, and the Valletta Harbor. To truly experience the Maltese culture, once should participate in the Village Festivals, where the streets are filled with villagers, food, and lots of entertainment.
Quick Facts
Population: 409,836
Capital: Valletta
Per-capita GDP: $ 25800
Size: 316 km2
Time Zone: (GMT + 01:00 hour) Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris
Country information is adapted from public domain resources including the CIA World Fact Book and www.Wikipedia.org.
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