Category Geography

               Austria is a landlocked country in East Central Europe which borders the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland. Austria is a largely mountainous country, due to its location at the eastern end of the Alps. The official language of Austria is German.

               Austria is a federation of nine autonomous federal states. In fact, it is a federal parliamentary representative democratic republic. The capital and largest city, with a population exceeding 1.8, million, is Vienna. The country has developed a high standard of living and in 2014, was ranked 21st in the world for its Human Development index.

               Austria is now a member of European Union. A large number of international organizations that call its capital Vienna their home, these include, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

               Austria, with its well-developed market economy, skilled labour force, and high standard of living, is closely tied to other EU economies.

               The United, Arab Emirates is a constitutional federation of seven emirates; Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah. The federation was formally established on 2nd December 1971.

               The UAE occupies an area of 83,600 square kilometres along the south-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. It has grown from a quiet backwater, to one of the Middle East’s most important economic centres. The capital city is Abu Dhabi.

               The UAE’s oil reserves are the seventh-largest in the world while its natural gas reserves are the world’s seventeenth-largest. Arabic is the official language. The UAE joined the Arab League in 1971. It was a founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

            The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe that became a separate state in 1993 after Czechoslovakia split into two countries. Like many other European countries, the Czech Republic too is smaller in size. The Czech Republic covers an area of 78,866 square kilometres.

            The capital and largest city is Prague. The official language is Czech. The president is the formal head of state with limited and specific powers, most importantly to return bills to the parliament.

            Although large areas of the original forest cover have been cleared for cultivation and for timber, woodlands remain a characteristic feature of the Czech landscape.

            The Czech Republic possesses a developed high-income economy. The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. The nation’s currency is the Czech koruna.

            Panama is a country in Central America on the Isthmus of Panama, the land bridge between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean that connects North and South America. The capital and largest city is Panama City.

            Since 1914, the 82-km long Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, has afforded a long-sought shortcut for shipping and assures the country’s standing as one of the most strategic transportation hubs of the world.

            The home of several Native American peoples, such as the Guaymi, Kuna, and Choco, Panama became the first Spanish colony on the Pacific, celebrated as “the door to the seas and key to the universe”. Panama became an independent state in 1903, after gaining its sovereignty from Spain.

            Panama’s official language is Spanish although a large number of Panamanians are bilingual with English being the most common second language. Since 2010, Panama has been the second-most competitive economy in Latin America, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index. The currencies are the Balboa and the US dollar.

               Sierra Leone is a tropical country on the coast of West Africa, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in south west, Liberia in south east, and it is half surrounded by Guinea in north and north east. The original Portuguese name, Serra Lyoa (Lion Mountains); referred to the range of hills that surrounds the harbour.

               Sierra Leone became independent from the United Kingdom on 27th April, 1961. Sierra Leone has a population of seven million people. Its largest city, chief port and capital is Freetown, the city is situated in the northwest of the country at the coast of the North Atlantic Ocean. Free-town, commands one of the world’s largest natural harbours.

               Sierra Leone is a constitutional republic with a directly elected president. Although English is the official language, the Krio language, is the most widely spoken language, and is spoken by 97 per cent of the population. 

               Ireland is situated in the Atlantic Ocean and separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. It occupies the entire island except for the six counties that make up Northern Ireland. The capital and largest city is Dublin.

               Ireland is known for its wide expanses of lush, green fields. In fact, its nickname is the Emerald Isle.

               The island was an integral part of the United Kingdom from 1800 to 1922, when, by virtue of the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 6th, 1921, the Irish Free State was established as a self-governing dominion of the British Empire. In 1937, the present day Irish state, Ireland was established. Ireland remained a member of the British Commonwealth until 1948.

               Ireland was transformed from a largely agricultural society into a modern, high-technology economy. The government of Ireland consists of an elected parliament, which makes the laws, and a president, who is head of state.

               Ireland is a member of the European Union and is a founding member of the Council of Europe. The official currency is the Euro.