EUROPE

 

 

 

Albania

 

Formal Name:

Republic of Albania

Capital: Tirane

Other Major Cities:

 
Population: 3.4 million
Life Expectancy: 70 male, 75 female
Religion: Muslim 70%, Greek Orthodox 20%, Catholic 10%
Government:  
Language(s): Albanian

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Currency: New Lek
Per Capita: $1740
20th Century Recap:  
Fun Fact:  
Must see sights/landmarks:  
Useful Websites:    

 

Andorra

 

 
 
Formal Name:

Principality of Andorra

Capital: Andorra la Vella

Other Major Cities:

 
Population: 64,000
Life Expectancy:  
Religion: Catholic 86%
Government:  
Language(s): Catalan

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Currency: French franc, Spanish peseta
Per Capita: $8,956
20th Century Recap: From the 13th century Andorra has been co-governed by the French and Spanish. Skiing and duty free shopping have made this country a big tourist spot.
Fun Fact:  
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Useful Websites:    
Belgium
 
 
Formal Name:

Kingdom of Belgium

Capital: Brussels

Other Major Cities:

Brugge
Population: 10.1 million
Life Expectancy: 72 male, 79 female
Religion: Catholic 75%
Government:  
Language(s): Dutch, French, German

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Currency: Belgian franc
Per Capita: $25,820
20th Century Recap: austria was invaded during both World Wars. Still tense along the French and Flemish borders
Fun Fact:  
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Useful Websites:    
Bosnia and Herzegovina
 
 
Formal Name:

The Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina

 
Capital: Sarajevo

Other Major Cities:

 
Population: 3.5 million
Life Expectancy: 69 male, 75 female
Religion: Orthodox Catholic 31%, Roman Catholic 15%, Slavic Muslim 40%, Protestant 4%
Government:  
Language(s): Serbian, Croatian

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Currency: Bosnian dinar
Per Capita: $1540
20th Century Recap:

Yugoslavia was a blend of Muslim, Croats and Serbs but dissolved into war in 1992-1995. Yugoslavia dissolved into war in 1992. The countries of Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina were formed. The country of Serbia and Montenegro was formed from the remaining area of Yugoslavia.

Sarajevo was host of the Winter Olympics in 1984.

Fun Fact:    
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Bulgaria
 
 
Formal Name:

Republic of Bulgaria

Capital: Sofia

Other Major Cities:

 
Population: 8.8 million
Life Expectancy: 68 male, 75 female
Religion: Bulgarian orthodox 85%, Muslim 13%, Jewish 1%
Government: Democratic
Language(s): Bulgarian

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Currency: Lev
Per Capita: $2,130
20th Century Recap:

Ruled by the Turks 1396-1878

1908 became a kingdom

1947-1989 communist rule

Fun Fact:    
Must see sights/landmarks:    
Useful Websites:

travel-bulgaria.com

 

 

Byelorussia

 

 
 
Formal Name:

Republic of Belarus

Capital: Minsk

Other Major Cities:

Brest
Population: 10.1 million
Life Expectancy:  
Religion: Russian orthodox 60%, Roman Catholic 8%
Government:  
Language(s): Belorussian

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Currency: Byelorussia ruble
Per Capita: $2,160
20th Century Recap:

Formerly part of the USSR, reluctantly went independent in 1991

1986 Chernobyl explosion in Ukraine has affected environment

Fun Fact:    
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Croatia
 
 
Formal Name:

Republic of Croatia

Capital: Zagreb

Other Major Cities:

 
Population: 4.5 million
Life Expectancy: 68 male, 76 female
Religion: Roman Catholic 77%, Slavic Muslim 1%
Government:  
Language(s): Croatian

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Currency: Kuna
Per Capita: $5350
20th Century Recap: Part of yugoslavia that exploded into war in 1992.
Fun Fact:    
Must see sights/landmarks:    
Useful Websites: mint.hr  
Czech Republic
 
 
Formal Name:

Czech Republic

Capital: Prague

Other Major Cities:

69 male, 76 female
Population: 10.3 million
Life Expectancy:  
Religion: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Other Catholic 2%
Government:  
Language(s): Czech

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Currency: Czech Koruna
Per Capita: $6740
20th Century Recap:

Long time protests against Russia include the Prague Spring of 1968 and finally the "Velvet Revolution" of 1989 which lead to the fall of Communist USSR

Vaclav Havel, a playwright previously jailed for political writings and Amnesty International prisoner of conscience, was elected president in 1989.

Fun Fact: Milan Kunder among several known literary figures, hails from Prague  
Must see sights/landmarks:    
Useful Websites:

czechcenter.com

a-zprague.cz

pragueiguide.com

 
Estonia
 
 
Formal Name:

Republic of Estonia

Capital: Tallinn

Other Major Cities:

 
Population: 1.5 million
Life Expectancy: 66 male, 75 female 
Religion:  
Government:  
Language(s): Estonian

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Currency: Kroon
Per Capita:
$4,960
20th Century Recap: Part of the baltic states under USSR, Estonian are actually Finno-Ugric and the language is similar to Finnish
Fun Fact:    
Must see sights/landmarks:    
Useful Websites: visitestonia.com  
Faeroe Islands
 
 
Formal Name:

Faeroe Islands

Capital: Torshavn

Other Major Cities:

 
Population: 47,310
Life Expectancy: 73 male, 79 female
Religion:  
Government: Self governing territory of Denmark
Language(s):  

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Currency:  
Per Capita:  
20th Century Recap: Due to the Gulf Stream current these islands actually have a mild climate for their latitude.
Fun Fact:  
Must see sights/landmarks:  
Useful Websites:

FaroeIslands.com

puffin.com/travel

 
Finland
 
 
Formal Name:

Republic of Finland

Capital: Helsinki

Other Major Cities:

 
Population: 5.1 million
Life Expectancy: 71 male, 79 female
Religion: Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%
Government:  
Language(s): Finnish, Swedish

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Currency: Markka
Per Capita: $27,000
20th Century Recap:

Ruled by Russia from 1908-1917

Joined EU in 1995

Fun Fact:

 

Must see sights/landmarks:  
Useful Websites:

thekingsroad.com

finland-tourism.com

hel.fi/mato (Helsinki)

France
 
 
Formal Name:

The French Republic

Capital: Paris

Other Major Cities:

Nice, Aix en Provence, Brest
Population: 60.1 million
Life Expectancy: 73 male, 81 female
Religion: ROman Catholic 90%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%, Protestant 2%
Government:  
Language(s): French

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Currency: Franc
Per Capita: $23,470
20th Century Recap:  
Fun Fact:  
Must see sights/landmarks:  
Useful Websites:

franceguide.com

francetourism.com

officialcities.org/france

paris.org

 
Germany
 
 
Formal Name:

Federal Republic of Germany

Capital: Berlin

Other Major Cities:

Bonn, Munich
Population: 81.6 million
Life Expectancy: 72 male, 78 female
Religion: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 37%
Government:  
Language(s): German

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Currency: Deutsche Mark
Per Capita: $25,580
20th Century Recap:  
Fun Fact:  
Must see sights/landmarks:  
Useful Websites:

germany-tourism.de

lodging-germany.com

 

 

 

Gibraltar

 

 
 
Formal Name:

Gibraltar

Capital: Gibraltar

Other Major Cities:

 
Population: 28,000
Life Expectancy: 72 male, 78 female
Religion:  
Government: British territory
Language(s):  

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Currency:  
Per Capita:  
20th Century Recap: Located at the southern tip of spain the British have maintained military base and lately off-shore banking has grown
Fun Fact:    
Must see sights/landmarks:    
Useful Websites: gibraltar.gov.gi  
Greece
 
 
Formal Name:

Hellenic Republic

Capital: Athens

Other Major Cities:

 
Population: 10.5 million
Life Expectancy: 73 male, 78 female
Religion: Greek Orthodox 98% (duh!)
Government:  
Language(s): Greek

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Currency: Drachma
Per Capita: $13,700
20th Century Recap: Birthplace of the modern Olympics, Athens hosted the 2004 summer games
Fun Fact:    
Must see sights/landmarks:    
Useful Websites:

gnto.gr

athensguide.com

 
Hungary
 
 
Formal Name:

Republic of Hungary

 
Capital: Budapest

Other Major Cities:

 
Population: 10.1 million
Life Expectancy: 65 male, 74 female
Religion: Roman Catholic 68%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%
Government:  
Language(s): Hungarian

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Currency: Forint
Per Capita: $6330
20th Century Recap:  
Fun Fact:  
Must see sights/landmarks:  
Useful Websites:

hungarytourism.hu

gotohungary.com

 

 
Iceland
 
 
Formal Name:

Republic of Iceland

Capital: Reykjavik

Other Major Cities:

 
Population: 300,000
Life Expectancy: 75 male, 80 female 
Religion: Evangelical Lutheran 96%
Government:  
Language(s): icelandic

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Currency: Icelandic krona
Per Capita: $30,810
20th Century Recap: Gained independence from Denmark in 1944
Fun Fact: Iceland has over 200 volcanoes and geysers. In Iceland people heat their house with hot water from thermal baths and have to pay for cold water
Must see sights/landmarks:    
Useful Websites:

iceyourist.is

arctic.is

reyjavik.com

 
Ireland
 
 
Formal Name:

Republic of Ireland

Capital: Dublin

Other Major Cities:

Belfast, Galway, Killarney
Population: 3.6 million
Life Expectancy: 71 male, 77 female
Religion:  
Government:  
Language(s): Irish, English

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Currency: Irish pound
Per Capita: $26,900
20th Century Recap:

Northern Ireland still remains under British rule and remains a tension point for independence

Dublin's economy is the fastest in Europe in the last 10 yrs.

Fun Fact:    
Must see sights/landmarks:    
Useful Websites:
ireland.travel.ie
 
 

 

Kosovo

 

 
Formal Name:

 

 
Capital:  

Other Major Cities:

 
Population:  
Life Expectancy:  
Religion:  
Government:  
Language(s):  

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Currency:  
Per Capita:  
20th Century Recap:  
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Latvia
 
 
Formal Name:

Republic of Latvia

 
Capital: Riga

Other Major Cities:

 
Population: 2.6 million
Life Expectancy: 65 male, 75 female
Religion:  
Government:  
Language(s): Latvian

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Currency: Lats
Per Capita: $4070
20th Century Recap:

Independence from USSR in 1991

 

Fun Fact: Only 52% are ethnic Latvians  
Must see sights/landmarks:    
Useful Websites:

latviatravel.com

 
Liechtenstein
 
 
Formal Name:

Principality of Liechtenstein

Capital: Vaduz

Other Major Cities:

 
Population: 30,630
Life Expectancy: 66 male, 73 female
Religion: Roman Catholic 87%, Protestant 8%
Government:  
Language(s): German

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Currency: Swiss franc
Per Capita: $31,000
20th Century Recap:  
Fun Fact:    
Must see sights/landmarks:    
Useful Websites:    
Lithuania
 
 
Formal Name:

Republic of Lithuania

Capital: Vilnius

Other Major Cities:

 
Population: 3.7 million
Life Expectancy: 67 male, 76 female 
Religion:  
Government:  
Language(s): Lithuanian

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Currency: Litas
Per Capita: $4490
20th Century Recap:

One of the Baltic states that gained independence in 1991 from USSR

Russia finally withdrew in 1993

 
Fun Fact:    
Must see sights/landmarks:    
Useful Websites:

tourism.lt

 
Luxembourg
 
 
Formal Name:

Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Capital: Luxembourg

Other Major Cities:

 
Population: 400,000
Life Expectancy: 71 male, 78 female