Haiti

Map

• Total area: 27,750 km2
• Land area: 27,560 km2
• Comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
• Land boundaries: Dominican Republic 275 km
• Coastline: 1,771 km
• Disputes: claims US-administered Navassa Island
• Climate: tropical; Average Summer Temperature (July) 30°C - 35°C: Average Winter Temperature (December) 20°C - 26°C: The rainy season is between May & November. Although Haiti’s climate is tropical in nature, some of the mountainous areas are semi-arid. This semi-arid climate is caused by both deforestation on the island and also by the high mountains cutting off the moist eastern trade winds.
• Terrain: mostly rough and mountainous
• Natural resources: bauxite
• Land use: arable land 20%; permanent crops 13%; meadows and pastures 18%; forest and woodland 4%; other 45%; includes irrigated 3%
• Environment: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; deforestation; soil erosion: Note: shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic
• Haiti People Population: 6,431,977 (July 1992), growth rate 2.3% (1992)
• Birth rate: 42 births/1,000 population (1992)
• Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
• Net migration rate: -5 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
• Infant mortality rate: 104 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
• Life expectancy at birth: 53 years male, 55 years female (1992)
• Fertility rate: 6.2 children born/woman (1992)
• Nationality: Haitian Ethnic divisions: black 95%, mulatto and European 5%
• Religions: Roman Catholic is the official religion; Roman Catholic 80% (of which an overwhelming majority also practice Voodoo), Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% (1982)
• Languages: French (official) spoken by only 10% of population; all speak Creole
• Literacy: 53% (male 59%, female 47%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
• Labor force: 2,300,000; agriculture 66%, services 25%, industry 9%; shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1982)
• Organized labor: N/A
• Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)
• Economy Overview: About 75% of the population live in abject poverty. Agriculture is mainly small-scale subsistence farming and employs nearly three-fourths of the work force. The majority of the population does not have ready access to safe drinking water, adequate medical care, or sufficient food. Few social assistance programs exist, and the lack of employment opportunities remains one of the most critical problems facing the economy, along with soil erosion and political instability. Trade sanctions applied by the Organization of American States in response to the September 1991 coup against President Aristide have further damaged the economy.
• GDP: exchange rate conversion - $2.7 billion, per capita $440; real growth rate - 3.0% (1990 est.)

Hispaniolan Trogon(national bird)

Grenada

INFORMATION
•  Full name: Grenada
•  Capital City: Saint George's
•  Language: English (official)
•  Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$)
•  Religion: Roman Catholic, Protestant and Baha'i
•  National Anthem: Hail Grenada
•  Newspaper: Grenada Today, The Grenadian Voice
•  Places to Visit: Carriacou, St George's, Fort George, Grand Etang National Park, Grenada National Museum and many others.
•  Transport: One can avail several charter flights from Grenada's Point Salines International Airport.Avail direct flight from US that flies via San Juan, Puerto Rico. One can use the trental car from this airport to the required destination. Yachts also provide a pleasurable journey within the region.
•  Shopping: Leather crafts, jewelry, spices, straw goods and batik (printed fabrics)
Dove (national bird)

Peru

Map

Location:
Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador
Geographic coordinates:
10 00 S, 76 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 1,285,220 sq km
land: 1.28 million sq km
water: 5,220 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 5,536 km
border countries: Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km, Colombia 1,496 km (est.), Ecuador 1,420 km
Coastline:
2,414 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes
Terrain:
western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m
Natural resources:
copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 2.89%
permanent crops: 0.4%
other: 96.71% (2001)
Irrigated land:
11,950 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:
deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with Bolivia; a remote slope of Nevado Mismi, a 5,316 m peak, is the ultimate source of the Amazon River


Vicuna(national animal)

Croatia

Map

Geography
Croatia, or Republic of Croatia, a country in eastern Europe. Croatia lies in the northwest part of the Balkan Peninsula and includes all of the historic regions of Dalmatia and Slavonia, and most of the historic region of Istria. The total area is 21,830 square miles (56,538 km2). Croatia has a rocky coastline that gives way to hills and plains in the interior.

Manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, and timber production are mainstays of the economy. Croatia's leading manufacturing center is Zagreb. An important producer of cement and steel, other major products of Croatia include chemicals, petroleum, ships, and textiles. Bauxite and coal are its most valuable mineral resources.

Croatia has trade relations mainly with Austria, Germany, and Italy. Tourism also makes an important contribution to Croatia’s economy. Tourists come chiefly from the United Kingdom and also from Austria, Germany, and Italy. The most famous tourist sites are the resorts along the Adriatic coast and on the islands of Brac, Hvar, and Krk. Another tourist attraction is the historic walled city of Dubrovnik.

The chief crops grown in Croatia are corn, potatoes, soybeans, sugar beets, tobacco, and wheat. Fruits such as apples, cherries, grapes, olives, pears, and plums are among the other crops grown. Cattle, pigs, poultry, and sheep are also raised by farmers.

Dalmatian(national animal)

Iris

Bermuda

Map of Bermuda

Geography Bermuda
Location:
North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of South Carolina (US)
Geographic coordinates:
32 20 N, 64 45 W
Map references:
North America
Area:
total: 53.3 sq km
land: 53.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about one-third the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
103 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter
Terrain:
low hills separated by fertile depressions
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Town Hill 76 m
Natural resources:
limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2001)

national animal(Humpback whale)

Angola

Map of Angola

Geography
Angola, more than three times the size of California, extends for more than 1,000 mi (1,609 km) along the South Atlantic in southwest Africa. The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Congo are to the north and east, Zambia is to the east, and Namibia is to the south. A plateau averaging 6,000 ft (1,829 m) above sea level rises abruptly from the coastal lowlands. Nearly all the land is desert or savanna, with hardwood forests in the northeast.





National animal(Magnificent Frigatebird)

Algeria

Map of Algeria

Geography
Nearly four times the size of Texas, Algeria is bordered on the west by Morocco and Western Sahara and on the east by Tunisia and Libya. The Mediterranean Sea is to the north, and to the south are Mauritania, Mali, and Niger. The Saharan region, which is 85% of the country, is almost completely uninhabited. The highest point is Mount Tahat in the Sahara, which rises 9,850 ft (3,000 m).

(national animal) Fennec Fox