[dorianm421]

The Maltese archipelago consists of three main islands – Malta, Gozo and Comino. The smallest islands of the archipelago, Cominotto, Filfla and Saint Paul’s Islands, are uninhabited. The Maltese archipelago, having a northwest to southeast direction, has a maximum length of about 45km. Malta, the largest island, has a surface area of around 246 square kilometers; its maximum length is approximately 35km and its maximum width around 15km. Gozo, the second largest island, has a surface area of about 68 square kilometers, while Comino has a surface area of approximately 2.5 square kilometers and is the least inhabited island. The Maltese Islands are characterized by a number of natural harbours, many of them being sheltered. more

[horseracing12]

Gozo and Comino have more or less the same characteristics of northern Malta. Gozo is characterised by a chain of flat-topped hills, across which one finds many terraced fields and a series of valleys. The commonest rock types on Gozo are the Upper Coralline and the Globigerina Limestone.

[extrin]

The Maltese Islands are located in the central part of the Mediterranean Sea, between Sicily and the coast of North Africa. They are about 94km away to the south of Sicily, 354km to the north of Tripoli, and about 290km to the east of Tunisia.

[buybacklinks.seos]

Geologically, western and northern Malta consists of a chain of parallel hills and valleys. Western and eastern Malta is separated from the northern region by an extensive fault, which extends from Madliena to Ras ir-Raheb in the limits of Baħrija. The chain of hills in western and northern Malta consists mainly of wasteland, and the land is often neither suitable for land cultivation nor animal husbandry. On the other hand, the valleys of this part of the island are extremely fertile, as these are irrigated by the water springs that originate from the Upper Coralline uplands. The eastern part of Malta basically consists of a series of low hills that gently lead to an extensive plain towards the easternmost part of Malta. The most common type of rock occurring in this part of the island is the Globigerina Limestone, which is why there are a number of quarries, as it is relatively soft and can be easily worked by masons. here

[Kelaos]

The island of Malta possesses favourable conditions for the percolation and underground storage of water. The impermeable blue clays provide two distinct water tables between the limestone formations—the perched and the mean sea-level aquifer. The principal source for the public supply of water has for several centuries been the main sea-level water table. The absence of permanent streams or lakes and a considerable runoff into the sea, however, have made water supply a problem, which has been addressed with an intensive reverse-osmosis desalination program. About half of Malta’s daily water needs are supplied by desalination plants throughout the islands.

[Ryo]

The main physical characteristic of the island of Malta is a well-defined escarpment that bisects it along the Victoria Lines Fault running along the whole breadth of the island from Point ir-Raħeb near Fomm ir-Riħ Bay to the coast northeast of Għargħur at Madliena Fort. The highest areas are coralline limestone uplands that constitute a triangular plateau; Ta’ Żuta, which rises to 830 feet (253 metres) in the southwest, is the highest point. The uplands are separated from the surrounding areas by blue clay slopes, while an undercliff area is found where the coralline plateau has fallen and forms a subordinate surface between the sea and the original shore. The total shoreline of Malta is about 136 miles (219 km). here

[da2ce7]

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[Legion]

In northern Malta the escarpment is occasionally abrupt and broken by deep embayments. To the south, however, the plateau gradually descends from about 600 to 830 feet (180 to 250 metres) into undulating areas of globigerina (derived from marine protozoa) limestone less than 300 feet (90 metres) in elevation. The western area is characterized by deeply incised valleys and undercliff areas, while to the east there are several valley systems that descend to the central plains. [links]

[dorothymedney]

The landscape of the island of Gozo is characterized by broken upper coralline mesas, with the highest point being Ta’ Dbiegi Hill (636 feet [194 metres]). Gozo has a gentle easterly dip, so the lower coralline limestone, which forms high cliffs on the west coast, declines to below sea level but reappears on the east coast at Qala Point. Semicircular bays have formed on coastal cliffs where sinkholes have been invaded by the sea. The rounded bays at Xlendi and Dwejra on the west coast of Gozo originated as underground caverns with roofs that have collapsed.

[jontaylor]

Roman Catholicism is a major influence on Maltese culture. Various traditions have evolved around religious celebrations, notably those honouring the patron saints of towns and villages. The eight-pointed, or Maltese, cross, adopted by the Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem in 1126, is commonly linked with Malta’s identity and is printed on the country’s euro coin. Valletta is the capital city. more

[bootfast]

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[GLR444]

Since Neolithic times, for over 8,000 years, Malta has been populated and remains of the earliest inhabitants can still be found on the island. The large structures of Neolithic temples are still standing in the south of the island of Malta (Tarxien Temples, Hagar Qim, Mnajdra), and in Gozo (Ggantija).

[Pas]

The Knights improved living conditions across the Island building hospitals, stimulated trade and commerce and erected strong fortifications. During their rule, the Knights successfully held out for many months throughout the horrific fighting and massive assaults by Ottoman invaders, now coined The Great Siege of 1565. here

[bokab51]

The British Throne took over Malta after Napoleon’s demise and ruled the islands for the next 160 years. Malta was bombed persistently by German forces during World War II in an attempt to take over the Malta, which was known as a location of high strategic importance for both trade and conflict. Malta was bombed more heavily in 1942 than the whole blitz of London. The British and Maltese unified in their battle for survival and the Germans failed to conquer neither Malta, nor the Maltese.

[chorchonga]

In 1798 Napoleon’s army conquered the island, easily removing the Knights of St John from power, who had not been prepared for the force with which the French charged. In the six days that followed the conquest, a civil code was laid down for Malta. Slavery was abolished and all Turkish slaves were freed. Napoleon himself created a primary and secondary education system and a more scientific based university replaced the old one. [links]

[pharaon]

The island of Malta is a small independent nation state that is located in the centre of the Mediterranean in Europe and is the EU’s smallest member state.

[thekremlin]

The size of Malta’s population is roughly 400,000 whilst its geographical size is limited to around 316 square kilometres and as a result, Malta ranks highly on the list of most densely populated countries in the world. The leading religion in Malta is Roman Catholicism, followed by the vast majority of the population. [links]

[Suggester]

Comino is the smallest island of the three and is inhabited by only a few people. The island hosts a hotel renowned for its hospitality and facilities to spend relaxing holidays in Malta and is the location for one of Malta’s most beautiful bays: the Blue Lagoon. [links]

[fawkes]

Malta is an island nation that consists of three islands: main island Malta, Gozo and Comino. The country’s official languages are Maltese and English.

[ichi]

Of the three islands, Malta is by far the largest in geographical size, at around 246 square km (95 sq miles), with Gozo coming in second at only 67 sq km (26 sq miles), while Comino is the smallest of the inhabited Maltese islands at just 2.7 square km (1 sq mile). 84% Of the country’s population reside in Malta, where most urbanisation took place towards the North-Eastern side of the island, with Valletta and its Harbour areas at the centre of the most densely populated parts.