above sea
level
Liberia
facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by
lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland
grassy plateau supports limited agriculture
Libya
more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert
Liechtenstein
along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly
landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic
variations based on elevation
Lithuania
fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that
are ancient glacial deposits
Luxembourg
landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world
Macau
essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the
two islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland
Macedonia
landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and
Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
Madagascar
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along
Mozambique Channel
Malawi
landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's
most prominent physical feature
Malaysia
strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern
South China Sea
Maldives
1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited
islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago with
strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean
Mali
landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern,
cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the
northern, arid Saharan
Malta
the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three
largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino)
being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and
Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the
continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil
exploration
Man, Isle of
one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the
southwest, and is a bird sanctuary
Marshall Islands
two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and
1,152 islands; Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites;
Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US
missile test range
Martinique
the island is dominated by Mount Pelee, which on 8 May
1902 erupted and completely destroyed the city of Saint Pierre,
killing 30,000 inhabitants
Mauritania
most of the population concentrated in the cities of
Nouakchott and N
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