Malta is the name given to 5 Maltese islands and is located in the Mediterranean Sea. The island country is about 60 miles south of Sicily. It includes the islands of Malta, Gozo, Kemmuna, Kemmunett, and Filfla.
Formerly a British colony, it became an independent nation in 1964. In 1974, it became a republic, as it remains in the present day. Valletta is its capital. It is almost twice the size of Washington DC.
The Maltese population, which has risen to over 401,880, is a mix of peoples of Arab, British, and Italian descent. The official languages are Maltese and English. Ninety-eight percent of the Maltese population is devout Roman Catholic.
Malta’s Mediterranean climate consists of dry, warm summers and mild, periodically wet winters. Heavy winds often occur on the islands.
Malta has no natural resources, rivers, or lakes, and there are few trees. It relies heavily on manufacturing and tourism for its economic growth. Clothing, textiles, and electronics are a few of the materials that are manufactured in Malta. Agricultural production is very poor. Its infertile soil limits homegrown agricultural products; however, potatoes, carrots, cereals, and cauliflower are produced in small amounts.
Malta residents elect a president every 5 years, who serves as the head of state. The prime minister is the head of government. There are two political parties – the Labor and Nationalist parties.
The unit of currency is the Maltese lira.
Web Sites
- BBC News: Malta
- Government, Politics, Law: Malta
- Legal-Malta: The Malta Business and Law Portal
- Malta on UNESCO
Catalog
Search the library's catalog for Malta.
Databases
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