examples:
Palästina
a former British mandate on the east coast of the Mediterranean; divided between Jordan and Israel in 1948
Estland
a republic in northeastern Europe on the Baltic Sea
Lettland
a republic in northeastern Europe on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea
Nordpol
the northernmost point of the Earth's axis
Südpol
the southernmost point of the Earth's axis
Sri Lanka
a republic on the island of Ceylon; became independent of the United Kingdom in 1948
Kuba
a communist state in the Caribbean on the island of Cuba
Haiti
a republic in the West Indies on the western part of the island of Hispaniola; achieved independence from France in 1804; the poorest and most illiterate nation in the western hemisphere
Dominikanische Republik
a republic in the West Indies; located on the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola
Skandinavien
a group of culturally related countries in northern Europe; Finland and Iceland are sometimes considered Scandinavian
Fidschiinseln
an independent state within the British Commonwealth located on the Fiji Islands
Vorderer Orient
the area around the eastern Mediterranean; from Turkey to northern Africa and eastward to Iran; the site of such ancient civilizations as Phoenicia and Babylon and Egypt and the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity and Islam; had continuous economic and political turmoil in the 20th century
Israel
Jewish republic in southwestern Asia at eastern end of Mediterranean; formerly part of Palestine
Serbien
a historical region in central and northern Yugoslavia; Serbs settled the region in the 6th and 7th centuries
Australien
a nation occupying the whole of the Australian continent; Aboriginal tribes are thought to have migrated from southeastern Asia 20,000 years ago; first Europeans were British convicts sent there as a penal colony
Burkina Faso
a desperately poor landlocked country in western Africa; was formerly Upper Volta under French rule but gained independence in 1960
Indonesien
a republic in southeastern Asia on an archipelago including more than 13,000 islands; achieved independence from the Netherlands in 1945; the principal oil producer in the Far East and Pacific regions
Makedonien
the ancient kingdom of Philip II and Alexander the Great in the southeastern Balkans that is now divided among modern Macedonia and Greece and Bulgaria
Neuseeland
an independent country within the British Commonwealth; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1907; known for sheep and spectacular scenery
Sowjetunion
a former communist country in eastern Europe and northern Asia; established in 1922; included Russia and 14 other soviet socialist republics (Ukraine and Byelorussia and others); officially dissolved 31 December 1991
Russland
a federation in northeastern Europe and northern Asia; formerly Soviet Russia; since 1991 an independent state
Ukraine
a republic in southeastern Europe; formerly a European soviet; the center of the original Russian state which came into existence in the ninth century
Lateinamerika
the parts of North America and South America to the south of the United States where Romance languages are spoken
Türkei
a Eurasian republic in Asia Minor and the Balkans; on the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1918, the Young Turks, led by Kemal Ataturk, established a republic in 1923
Südpolargebiet
the region around the south pole: Antarctica and surrounding waters
Nordpolargebiet
the regions to the north of the Arctic Circle centered on the North Pole
Südwestafrika
a republic in southwestern Africa on the south Atlantic coast (formerly called South West Africa); achieved independence from South Africa in 1990; the greater part of Namibia forms part of the high Namibian plateau of South Africa
Afghanistan
a mountainous landlocked country in central Asia; bordered by Iran to the west and Russia to the north and Pakistan to the east and south
Algerien
a republic in northwestern Africa on the Mediterranean Sea with a population that is predominantly Sunni Muslim; colonized by France in the 19th century but gained autonomy in the early 1960s
Angola
a republic in southwestern Africa on the Atlantic Ocean; achieved independence from Portugal in 1975 and was the scene of civil war until 1990
Argentinien
a republic in southern South America; second largest country in South America
Burma
a mountainous republic in southeastern Asia on the Bay of Bengal
Burundi
a landlocked republic in east central Africa on the northeastern shore of Lake Tanganyika
Kambodscha
a nation in southeastern Asia; was part of Indochina under French rule until 1946
Kamerun
a republic on the western coast of central Africa; was under French and British control until 1960
Zentralafrika
a landlocked country in central Africa; formerly under French control; became independent in 1960
Tschad
a landlocked desert republic in north-central Africa; was under French control until 1960
Chile
a republic in southern South America on the western slopes of the Andes on the south Pacific coast
China
a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world
Kolumbien
a republic in northwestern South America with a coastline on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea; achieved independence from Spain in 1821 under the leadership of Simon Bolivar; Spanish is the official language
Kongo
a republic in central Africa; achieved independence from Belgium in 1960
Elfenbeinküste
a republic in western Africa on the Gulf of Guinea; one of the most prosperous and politically stable countries in Africa
Mexiko
a republic in southern North America; became independent from Spain in 1810
Benin
a country on western coast of Africa; formerly under French control
Togo
a republic on the western coast of Africa on the Gulf of Guinea; formerly under French control
Deutschland
a republic in central Europe; split into East Germany and West Germany after World War II and reunited in 1990
Ecuador
a republic in northwestern South America; became independent from Spain in 1822; the landscape is dominated by the Andes
Äthiopien
Ethiopia is a republic in northeastern Africa on the Red Sea; formerly called Abyssinia
Finnland
republic in northern Europe; achieved independence from Russia in 1917
Italien
a republic in southern Europe on the Italian Peninsula; was the core of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire between the 4th century BC and the 5th century AD
Rumänien
a republic in southeastern Europe with a short coastline on the Black Sea
Ruanda
a landlocked republic in central Africa; formerly a German colony
Kroatien
a republic in the western Balkans in south-central Europe in the eastern Adriatic coastal area; formerly part of the Habsburg monarchy and Yugoslavia; became independent in 1991
Jugoslawien
a mountainous republic in southeastern Europe bordering on the Adriatic Sea; formed from two of the six republics that made up Yugoslavia until 1992; Serbia and Montenegro were known as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia until 2003 when they adopted the name of the Union of Serbia and Montenegro
Slowenien
a mountainous republic in central Europe; formerly part of the Habsburg monarchy and Yugoslavia; achieved independence in 1991
Kanada
a nation in northern North America; the French were the first Europeans to settle in mainland Canada
Österreich
a mountainous republic in central Europe; under the Habsburgs (1278-1918) Austria maintained control of the Holy Roman Empire and was a leader in European politics until the 19th century
Bangladesh
a Muslim republic in southern Asia bordered by India to the north and west and east and the Bay of Bengal to the south; formerly part of India and then part of Pakistan; it achieved independence in 1971
Belgien
a monarchy in northwestern Europe; headquarters for the European Union and for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Bhutan
a landlocked principality in the Himalayas to the northeast of India
Botswana
a landlocked republic in south-central Africa that became independent from British control in the 1960s
Bolivien
a landlocked republic in central South America; Simon Bolivar founded Bolivia in 1825 after winning independence from Spain
Brasilien
the largest Latin American country and the largest Portuguese speaking country in the world; located in the central and northeastern part of South America; world's leading coffee exporter
Großbritannien
a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; `Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom
England
a division of the United Kingdom
Irland
a republic consisting of 26 of 32 counties comprising the island of Ireland; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1921
Schottland
one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; located on the northern part of the island of Great Britain; famous for bagpipes and plaids and kilts
Ägypten
a republic in northeastern Africa known as the United Arab Republic until 1971; site of an ancient civilization that flourished from 2600 to 30 BC
Indien
a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947
Nepal
a small landlocked Asian country high in the Himalayas between India and China
Tibet
an autonomous region of the Peoples Republic of China; located in the Himalayas
Iran
a theocratic Islamic republic in the Middle East in western Asia; Iran was the core of the ancient empire that was known as Persia until 1935; rich in oil
Irak
a republic in the Middle East in western Asia; the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia was in the area now known as Iraq
Japan
a constitutional monarchy occupying the Japanese Archipelago; a world leader in electronics and automobile manufacture and ship building
Kenia
a republic in eastern Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1963; major archeological discoveries have been made in the Great Rift Valley in Kenya
Kuwait
an Arab kingdom in Asia on the northwestern coast of the Persian Gulf; a major source of petroleum
Frankreich
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
Gabun
a republic on the west coast of Africa
Ghana
a republic in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea
Guinea
a republic in western Africa on the Atlantic; formerly a French colony; achieved independence from France in 1958
Guyana
a republic in northeastern South America; formerly part of the British Empire, but it achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1966
Niederlande
a constitutional monarchy in western Europe on the North Sea; half the country lies below sea level
Ungarn
a republic in central Europe
Island
an island republic on the island of Iceland; became independent of Denmark in 1944
Nordkorea
a communist country in the northern half of the Korean Peninsula; established in 1948
Südkorea
a republic in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula; established in 1948
Laos
a mountainous landlocked communist state in southeastern Asia; achieved independence from France in 1949
Libanon
an Asian republic at east end of Mediterranean
Lesotho
a landlocked constitutional monarchy in southern Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1966
Libyen
a military dictatorship in northern Africa on the Mediterranean; consists almost entirely of desert; a major exporter of petroleum
Liechtenstein
a small landlocked principality (constitutional monarchy) in central Europe located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland
Luxemburg
a grand duchy (a constitutional monarchy) landlocked in northwestern Europe between France and Belgium and Germany; an international financial center
Madagaskar
a republic on the island of Madagascar; achieved independence from France in 1960
Malaysia
a constitutional monarchy in southeastern Asia on Borneo and the Malay Peninsula; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1957
Mali
a landlocked republic in northwestern Africa; achieved independence from France in 1960; Mali was a center of West African civilization for more than 4,000 years
Mauretanien
a country in northwestern Africa with a provisional military government; achieved independence from France in 1960; largely western Sahara Desert
Monacco
a constitutional monarchy in a tiny enclave on the French Riviera
Mongolei
a landlocked socialist republic in central Asia
Marokko
a kingdom (constitutional monarchy) in northwestern Africa with a largely Muslim population; achieved independence from France in 1956
Mosambik
a republic on the southeastern coast of Africa on the Mozambique Channel; became independent from Portugal in 1975
Niger
a landlocked republic in West Africa; gained independence from France in 1960; most of the country is dominated by the Sahara Desert
Nigeria
a republic in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea; gained independence from Britain in 1960; most populous African country
Oman
a strategically located monarchy on the southern and eastern coasts of the Arabian Peninsula; the economy is dominated by oil
Pakistan
a Muslim republic that occupies the heartland of ancient south Asian civilization in the Indus River valley; formerly part of India; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947
Paraguay
a landlocked republic in south central South America; achieved independence from Spain in 1811
Peru
a republic in western South America; achieved independence from Spain in 1821; was the heart of the Inca empire from the 12th to 16th centuries
Polen
a republic in central Europe; the invasion of Poland by Germany in 1939 started World War II
Portugal
a republic in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; Portuguese explorers and colonists in the 15th and 16th centuries created a vast overseas empire (including Brazil)
Saudi-Arabien
an absolute monarchy occupying most of the Arabian Peninsula in southwest Asia; vast oil reserves dominate the economy
Senegal
a republic in northwestern Africa on the coast of the Atlantic; formerly a French colony but achieved independence in 1960
Sierra Leone
a republic in West Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1961
Singapur
a country in southeastern Asia on the island of Singapore; achieved independence from Malaysia in 1965
Somalia
a republic in extreme eastern Africa on the Somali peninsula; subject to tribal warfare
Südafrika
a republic at the southernmost part of Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1910; first European settlers were Dutch (known as Boers)
Andorra
a small republic in the eastern Pyrenees between Spain and France
Spanien
a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; a former colonial power
Sudan
a republic in northeastern Africa on the Red Sea; achieved independence from Egypt and the United Kingdom in 1956
Surinam
a republic in northeastern South America on the Atlantic; achieved independence from the Netherlands in 1975
Swasiland
a landlocked monarchy in southeastern Africa; member of the commonwealth that achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1968
Schweiz
a landlocked federal republic in central Europe
Syrien
an Asian republic in the Middle East at the east end of the Mediterranean; site of some of the world's most ancient centers of civilization
Thailand
a country of southeastern Asia that extends southward along the Isthmus of Kra to the Malay Peninsula
Uganda
a landlocked republic in eastern Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1962
Vereinigte Arabische Emirate
a federation of seven Arab emirates on the eastern Arabian peninsula; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1971; rich in oil reserves
Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika
North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776
Uruguay
a South American republic on the southeast coast of South America; achieved independence from Brazil in 1825
Venezuela
a republic in northern South America on the Caribbean; achieved independence from Spain in 1811; rich in oil
Vietnam
a communist state in Indochina on the South China Sea; achieved independence from France in 1945
Sambia
a republic in central Africa; formerly controlled by Great Britain and called Northern Rhodesia until it gained independence within the commonwealth in 1964
Zimbabwe
a landlocked republic in south central Africa formerly called Rhodesia; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1980
Albanien
a republic in southeastern Europe on the Adriatic coast of the Balkan Peninsula
Bulgarien
a republic in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe
Costa Rica
a republic in Central America; one of the most politically stable countries in Latin America
Guatemala
a republic in Central America; achieved independence from Spain in 1821; noted for low per capita income and illiteracy; politically unstable
Belize
a country on the northeastern coast of Central America on the Caribbean; formerly under British control
Honduras
a republic in Central America; achieved independence from Spain in 1821; an early center of Mayan culture
El Salvador
a republic on the Pacific coast of Central America
Nicaragua
a republic in Central America; achieved independence from Spain in 1821
Dänemark
a constitutional monarchy in northern Europe; consists of the mainland of Jutland and many islands between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
Norwegen
a constitutional monarchy in northern Europe on the western side of the Scandinavian Peninsula; achieved independence from Sweden in 1905
Schweden
a Scandinavian kingdom in the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula
Griechenland
a republic in southeastern Europe on the southern part of the Balkan peninsula; known for grapes and olives and olive oil