Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / EUROPE
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Thursday, 28 December 2006, 23:54 GMT

Liechtenstein redraws Europe map

Snow covered mountains in principality of Liechtenstein Liechtenstein, the tiny principality wedged between Austria and Switzerland, has had its borders lengthened.

Modern measuring methods proved that Liechtenstein's borders are 1.9km (1.2 miles) longer than previously thought.

The border has been changed in some of the more remote corners of the mainly mountainous state, which has now grown in size by 0.5sq km (123 acres).

Liechtenstein, population 35,000, now boasts 77.9km (48.3 miles) of borders, an area of 160 sq km (62 sq miles).

The newly-discovered territory is equivalent to about the size of 50 football pitches.

Sixth smallest

Announcing its territorial expansion, the government of Liechtenstein said that some areas of the Alpine nation had never been properly measured until now.

Map Famous mainly for its sheer lack of size and some generous banking laws, the principality is a German-speaking territory that has maintained its independence since 1719.

Liechtenstein's royal family kept the principality neutral during both world wars, and then developed a reputation as a tax haven in the decades afterwards.

The current ruler, Prince Hans-Adam II, has a vast personal fortune and is said to be one of the richest heads of state in the world.

Despite its new-found territory, Liechtenstein is the sixth smallest independent state in the world, larger than only the Vatican City, Monaco, San Marino, and the Pacific island nations of Tuvalu and Nauru.

The next largest nation, the Marshall Islands, is some 20sq km bigger than Liechtenstein, and appears in little danger of being overtaken any time soon.



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Liechtenstein loses German claim (10 Feb 05 |  Europe )
Holocaust heirs win record payout (14 Apr 05 |  Americas )
Liechtenstein prince wins powers (16 Mar 03 |  Europe )
Liechtenstein takes Germany to court (01 Jun 01 |  Europe )
Liechtenstein banking crackdown (20 Jul 00 |  Business )
Swiss wind up Holocaust fund (03 May 02 |  Europe )
Country profile: Liechtenstein (25 Apr 01 |  Country profiles )
Timeline: Liechtenstein (25 Apr 01 |  Europe )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Liechtenstein Online
Liechtenstein News
Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German)
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©