Liechtenstein
(officially the
Principality of Liechtenstein
) is a
country
in
Western Europe
. It is the sixth
smallest
country in the
world
[8]
and, with
Uzbekistan
, one of only two doubly
landlocked
countries. This means that it is bordered by landlocked countries. Liechtenstein is located between
Austria
and
Switzerland
.
The official
language
in Liechtenstein is
German
. The capital of Liechtenstein is
Vaduz
, a very small town of 5,000 people. Liechtenstein is famous for its many private banks.
Liechtenstein is known as a
principality
. This means that the monarch has the title of
Prince
.
The territory that is now Liechtenstein was once split into two different
states
, the
County of Vaduz
and the
Lordship of Schellenberg
, which were both part of the
Holy Roman Empire
.
The
Liechtenstein family
wanted more power within the Holy Roman Empire. In the
17th century
, the
Holy Roman Emperor
made Karl Liechtenstein a
Prince
. Karl's descendant,
Hans Adam I
purchased
the lands of the County of Vaduz and the Lordship of Schellenberg and
united
them into one
principality
named Liechtenstein.
In
1806
, the Holy Roman Empire was broken up by
Napoleon
. With the fall of the Empire, Liechtenstein became a free
independent country
. Liechtenstein remained
neutral
during
World War I
and
World War II
.
Hitler
did have plans to invade Liechtenstein alongside
Switzerland
in the planned
Operation Tannenbaum
but never did.
Liechtenstein is located in the
European Alps
and is bordered to the east by the Austrian state of
Vorarlberg
, to the south by the canton of
Grisons
(
Switzerland
) and to the west by the canton of
St. Gallen
(Switzerland).
The
Rhine
forms the entire western border of Liechtenstein. Measured south to north the country is about 24 km (15 mi) long. Its highest point, the
Grauspitz
, is 2,599 m (8,527 ft).
Despite its Alpine location, prevailing southerly winds make the climate comparatively mild. In winter, the mountain slopes are well suited to winter sports.
Liechtenstein is a
constitutional monarchy
, meaning that the
head of state
is a
monarch
(with the title Prince Regnant) but has limited political powers. The Prince can
veto
legislations
, call for a
referendum
, create new
bills
and dissolve parliament.
The
legislature
is the
landtag
(or
diet
). There are 25
elected
members. The members of government are usually all members of the biggest
political party
.
- ↑
Raum, Umwelt und Energie
Archived
2011-10-12 at the
Wayback Machine
, Landesverwaltung Liechtenstein. Accessed on 2 October 2011
- ↑
Bevolkerungsstatistik 30. Juni 2010
Archived
2013-11-14 at the
Wayback Machine
, Landesverwaltung Liechtenstein. Accessed on 2 October 2011
- ↑
Bevolkerungsstruktur ? Band 1
Archived
2013-10-13 at the
Wayback Machine
, Liechtensteinische Volkszahlung 2000, Landesverwaltung Liechtenstein. Accessed on 2 October 2011.
- ↑
4.0
4.1
4.2
4.3
Key Figures for Liechtenstein
Archived
2009-09-17 at the
Wayback Machine
, Landesverwaltung Liechtenstein. Accessed on 2 October 2011.
- ↑
5.0
5.1
5.2
5.3
World Development Indicators
,
World Bank
. Accessed on 2 October 2011. Note: "PPP conversion factor, GDP (LCU per international $)" and "Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average)" for Switzerland were used.
- ↑
6.0
6.1
Bevolkerungsstatistik
Archived
2013-11-17 at the
Wayback Machine
. 30 June 2009, Landesverwaltung Liechtenstein. Accessed on 2 October 2011.
- ↑
Human Development Report 2010
(PDF)
. United Nations. 2010.
ISBN
9780230284456
. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on 8 November 2010
. Retrieved
4 November
2010
.
- ↑
Population by sex, rate of population increase, surface area and density
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