Liechtenstein: Background & Geography

Introduction Liechtenstein
Background:
 The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in 1806. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. Shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight have resulted in concerns about the use of the financial institutions for money laundering. Liechtenstein has, however, implemented new anti-money-laundering legislation and recently concluded a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US.
Geography Liechtenstein
Location:
 Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates:
 47 16 N, 9 32 E
Map references:
 Europe
Area:
 total: 160 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 160 sq km
Area - comparative:
 about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
 total: 76 km
border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km
Coastline:
 0 km (doubly landlocked)
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
 none (landlocked)
Climate:
 continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain:
 mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Elevation extremes:
 lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources:
 hydroelectric potential, arable land
Land use:
 arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 75% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
 NA sq km
Natural hazards:
 NA
Environment - current issues:
 NA
Environment - international agreements:
 party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
 along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation

See Also: