Category Geography

               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.