Sunday, August 10, 2008

Geography


Main article: Geography of Malta
Malta is an archipelago in the central Mediterranean Sea (in its eastern basin), some 93 km south of the Italian island of Sicily across the Malta Channel; east of Tunisia and north of Libya in Africa. Only the three largest islands Malta Island (Malta), Gozo (Għawdex), and Comino (Kemmuna) are inhabited. The smaller islands, such as Filfla, Cominotto and the Islands of St. Paul are uninhabited. Numerous bays along the indented coastline of the islands provide good harbours. The archipelago itself lies on the edge of the African tectonic plate, as it borders with the Eurasian plate. The landscape is characterised by low hills with terraced fields. The highest point is at Ta' Dmejrek on Malta Island at 253 metres (830 ft) near Dingli. Although there are some small rivers at times of high rainfall, there are no permanent rivers or lakes on Malta. However, some watercourses are found around the island that have fresh water running all year round. Such places are Baħrija, l-Intaħleb and San Martin. Running water in Gozo is found at Lunzjata Valley.
Malta implemented the Schengen Agreement on December 21, 2007. Customs and border controls remained at airports until March 2008.

The island of Comino
Contrary to popular belief, the south of Malta is not Europe's most southern point; that distinction belongs to the Greek island of Gavdos.
Phytogeographically, Malta belongs to the Liguro-Tyrrhenian province of the Mediterranean Region within the Boreal Kingdom. According to the WWF, the territory of Malta belongs to the ecoregion of Tyrrhenian-Adriatic sclerophyllous and mixed forests.

Islands
The main islands, and the only two inhabited ones, of the country are Malta Island and Gozo. Other islands that form part of the archipelago include: Comino (Kemmuna), Cominotto (Kemmunett, uninhabited), Filfla (uninhabited), Fungus Rock (Il-Ġebla tal-Ġeneral, uninhabited), Manoel Island (which is joined to the town of Gżira, on the mainland by a bridge), and the Islands of St. Paul (uninhabited). The Maltese Islands have been an independent republic since 1974. The centre of government, commerce and culture is the capital city of Valletta, on the eastern coast of Malta.
The islands in Malta are:
Barbaganni Rock
Comino
Cominotto
Crocodile Rock
Delimara Island
Filfla
Fessej Rock
Fungus Rock
Għallis Rock
Gozo
Halfa Rock
Large Blue Lagoon Rocks
Islands of St. Paul/Selmunett Island
Malta Island
Manoel Island
Mistra Rocks
Tac-Cawl Rock
Qawra Point/Ta`Fraben Island
Small Blue Lagoon Rocks
Sala Rock
Xrob l-Għaġin Rock

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