Paradise Diving Malta PADI Gold Palm Resort based in the North of Malta Includes dive site information, facilities offered, client photo gallery and contact details.
Malta |- | align=center colspan=2 | |- |Official languages |Maltese and English |- |Capital |Valletta |- |Largest City |Birkirkara |- |President | Edward (Eddie) Fenech Adami |- |Prime Minister |Lawrence Gonzi |- |Religion |Catholicism |- |Area - Total - % water |Ranked 184th 316 kmē Negligible |- |Population - Total (2003) - Density |Ranked 211th 399,867 1262/km² |- |Independence - Date |From the UK September 21, 1964 |- |Currency |Maltese Lira |- |Time zone - in summer |CET (UTC+1) CEST (UTC+2) |- |National anthem |L-Innu Malti |- |Internet TLD |.mt |- |Calling Code |356 |- |Patron Saints |St. Paul St. Agatha Pope Pius V |} The Republic of Malta is a small and densely populated island nation in southern Europe. It consists of an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea directly south of Italy. These strategically located islands have been ruled and fought over by various powers over the centuries.
Demographics Of Malta Malta is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with about 1,160 inhabitants per square kilometer (3,000 per sq. mi.). This compares with about 32 per square kilometer (85 per sq. mi.) for the United States. Inhabited since prehistoric times, Malta was first colonized by the Phoenicians. Subsequently, Arabs, Italians, and the British have influenced Maltese life and culture to varying degrees. Most of the foreign community in Malta, predominantly active or retired British nationals and their dependents, centers around Sliema and surrounding modern suburbs. Roman Catholicism is established by law as the religion of Malta; however, full liberty of conscience and freedom of worship is guaranteed, and a number of faiths have places of worship on the island. Malta has two official languages--Maltese (a Semitic language) and English. The literacy rate has reached 90%, compared to 63% in 1946. Schooling is compulsory until age 16.
Politics Of Malta Under its 1964 constitution, Malta became a parliamentary democracy within the Commonwealth. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was sovereign of Malta, and a Governor-General exercised executive authority on her behalf, while the actual direction and control of the government and the nation's affairs were in the hands of the cabinet under the leadership of a Maltese prime minister.
Major resources of Malta are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited freshwater supplies, and has no domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism; the state-owned Malta drydocks employs about 3,800 people. In 1999, over 1 million tourists visited the island. Per capita GDP of $13,800 places Malta in the ranks of the less affluent EU countries. The island has joined the EU in 2004 despite having been the divided politically over the question earlier. The sizable budget deficit remains a key concern.
Buses: The route bus service in Malta comprises 508 buses, all of which are privately owned, in most cases by the drivers themselves. The fleet, deep yellow in colour with an orange band, are a collection of different models and hybrids.
Highways:
total: 1,742 km
paved: 1,677 km
unpaved: 65 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: none
Military Of Malta Military branches: Armed Forces of Malta (including land forces, [with subordinate air squadron and maritime squadron], and the Revenue Security Corps), Maltese Police Force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 99,107 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 78,909 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $60 million (2000 est.)
Foreign Relations Of Malta For the first several years of independence, Malta followed a policy of close co-operation with the United Kingdom and other NATO countries. This relationship changed with the election of the Labour Party (Malta) government in June 1971 led by Dom Mintoff. The NATO subheadquarters in Malta was closed at the request of the Labour Party government, and the U.S. 6th Fleet discontinued recreational visits to the country. After substantially increased financial contributions from several NATO countries (including the United States), British forces remained in Malta until 1979. Following their departure, the Labour government charted a new course of neutrality and became an active member of the Non-Aligned Movement. Malta is an active participant in the United Nations, the Commonwealth, and the Council of Europe, OSCE, the Non-Aligned Movement, and various other international organisations. In these fora, Malta has frequently expressed its concern for the peace and economic development of the Mediterranean region. The Nationalist Party (Malta) -(Partit Nazzjonalista) government is continuing a policy of neutrality and non-alignment but in a Western context. The government desires close relations with the United States and western Europe, with an emphasis on increased trade and private investment. In 1992, U.S. Navy ships started paying liberty calls again and currently do so a regular basis, albeit it's against the Constitution of Malta.
History Of Malta Malta has been inhabited since around 5200 BC and a significant pre-historic civilisation existed on the islands prior to the arrival of the Phoenicians who named the main island Malat, meaning safe haven. The islands later came under the control of first Carthage (400 BC) and then Rome (218 BC). During Roman rule, in A.D. 60, Saint Paul was shipwrecked on Malta at a place now called St. Paul's Bay. Malta was conquered by Arabs in 870 AD, who would greatly influence local culture, notably in the Maltese language. In 1090 they were finally replaced by the Sicilian Normans, namely by Roger I of Sicily, after which Malta became Christian again.
Geography Of Malta The Geography of Malta is dominated by water. As an archipelago of coralline limestone, located in the Mediterranean Sea, ~93 km south of Sicily, Italy, Europe; and ~300km north of Africa. Only the three largest islands Malta, Gozo, and Comino are inhabited. The country is ~316 km in area. Numerous bays along the indented coastline of the islands provide good harbours. The landscape of the islands is characterised by low hills with terraced fields. The highest point, at 253 m, is the Ta' Dmejrek on Malta Island. The capital is Valletta.