Malta, map of Malta

Brief information about the country

Оfficial name:  Republic of Malta

Location: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)

Total area: 316 sq km

Population: 401,880 (July 2007 est.). Ethnic groups: Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)

Capital: Valletta

Climate: Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers

Official language: Maltese (official), English (official)

The political structure: republic. President elected by the House of Representatives for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);

International organization participation: EU, UN, UNESCO, WTO.

How to get there: Malta possesses its own national carrier, Air Malta, with regular connections to many European, North African and Middle Eastern centres. Ryanair fly to/from London Luton, Dublin, Bremen, Pisa, Stockholm, Valencia and Girona. The island's international Airport is located at Luqa.

Time zone: 2 hours behind Moscow time.

Currency: Maltese lira (MTL); 1 MTL = 3.1696 USD

Religion:  Roman Catholic 98%

National Holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

The reference web-site “Wikipedia”