Located in the Mediterranean Sea, just south of Sicily the Maltese archipelago basically consists of three islands. Malta, Gozo and Comino. Their total population is about 366.000.

The largest island of the group is Malta, from which the archipelaeo takes its name. It has a population of just over 320,000. Valletta, the capital, is the cultural, administrative, and commercial centre of the archipelago. Malta is well served with harbours, chief of which is the Valletta Grand Horbour. Its international airport is at Gudja, seven kilometres from the capital.

The second largest island is Gozo. It is topographically quite different from Malta, and is quaintly attractive for its less industrialised wav of life. Gozo can be reached from Malta by a regular helicopter service as well as a ferry-boat from Cirkewwa and Pieta', near Valletta.

Comino, Cominotto, Filfia and St Paul's Islet are the other major features of the archipelago. 0f these only Comino, sraddled between Malta and Gozo, sustains a very tiny population. Turned into a popular resort because of a couple of very fine beaches, Comino can be reached from Cirkewwa, either by boat or by excursion ferry during the summer months.

Position: The distance between Malta and the nearest point in Sicily is 93 km. The distance from the nearest point on the North African mainland (Tunisia) is 288 km. Gibraltar is 1,826 km to the west and Alexandria is 1,5 l0 km to the east.

This strategic position has allowed Malta to develop as an important trading post. The Malta Freeport is one of the Mediterranean's leading ports for container transhipments.

At the extreme points the Maltese Islands fall within the following positions:

North - 36 degrees, 00 Minutes N. Latitude
South - 35 degrees, 48 Minutes N. Latitude
East - 14 degrees, 35 Minutes E. Longitude
West - 14 Degrees, 11 Minutes E. Longitude

Area of the Maltese Islands and internal waters:

Maltese lslands 316 km
lnternal Waters 198 km

Maritime areas (excluding Maltese Islands and Internal Waters):

Territorial Waters 3,800 km
Fishing Zone 11,000 km
Continental Shelf 72,850 km

Physical Features: Malta has no mountains or rivers. A series of low hills with terraced fields on the slopes characterise the Island.

The coastline of Malta is well indented, thus providing numerous harbours bays creeks sandy beaches and rocky coves. The length of the shoreline round Malta is 136 km, and 43 km round Gozo.

Climate: It is the climate more than anything else, that has made Malta an important tourist resort in the centre of the Mediterranean. Not only does it never snow in Malta but one can be quite certain about the weather in summer as well as in winter. The total annual rainfall is about 50 cms (20 ins). The average winter temperature is 12 degrees C (54 F.). There are really only two seasons in Malta: the dry summer season and the mild winter season. The average rainfall is 578 mm (22.756 ins). Rain rarely, if ever, falls during the summer months.