|
|
|
       
| |
|
|
Liechtenstein:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other pages in this profile of Liechtenstein:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
| |
Background |
Definition The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops during the Napoleanic wars, it became a sovereign state in 1806 and joined the Germanic Confederation in 1815. Liechtenstein became fully independent in 1866 when the Confederation dissolved. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. In 2000, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money-laundering legislation and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US went into effect in 2003. |
| |
Location |
Definition Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland |
Geographic coordinates |
Definition 47 16 N, 9 32 E |
Map references |
Definition Europe |
Area |
Definition - World rank and map total: 160 sq km land: 160 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative |
Definition about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC |
Land boundaries |
Definition total: 76 km border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km |
Coastline |
Definition 0 km (doubly landlocked) |
Maritime claims |
Definition none (landlocked) |
Climate |
Definition continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers |
Terrain |
Definition mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third |
Elevation extremes |
Definition lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m |
Natural resources |
Definition hydroelectric potential, arable land |
Land use |
Definition - World rank and map arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% other: 75% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
Definition NA |
Natural hazards |
Definition NA |
Environment - current issues |
Definition NA |
Environment - international agreements |
Definition party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
Geography - note |
Definition along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation |
|
Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |