MONACO
(Principality of Monaco)

Capital: Monaco
Area: 2,020 sq.km.
Population: 38,400 people
Currency: Euro (EUR)

ABOUT THE PRINCIPALITY

Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, the French Principaute de Monaco, the sovereign principality located along the Mediterranean Sea in the middle of the resort area of French riviera (the French Riviera). The city of Nice is in 9 miles (15 km) to the West, the Italian border - 5 miles (8 km) to the East. The tiny territory of Monaco occupies a set of densely grouped hills and the cape which looks on the South over the Mediterranean Sea. However many unusual functions made Monaco one of the most magnificent tourist resorts in the world and gave it the glory much exceeding its sizes.

HISTORY

In 1848 the principality lost the nearby cities of Menton and Rokbryun and finally ceded them to France according to the French-Mongagsky contract of 1861. However the contract really restored independence of Monaco, and in 1865 the Customs union between two countries was established. Other contract signed with France in 1918 contains point providing that in case of disappearance of a dynasty of Grimaldi of Monaco will become the autonomous state under protection of France. Revision of the constitution in 2002 added women and their lawful children on a throne. In 1997 Grimaldi's family immortalized 700 years of board, and in 1999 prince Rainier III designated 50 years on a throne. After his death in April, 2005 it was replaced by his son Albert; Albert officially accepted a throne on July 12, 2005. The principality joined the United Nations in 1993. Though it is also not the member of the European Union (EU), Monaco gradually refused the French franc for single European currency euro by 2002.

CLIMATE

Many guests of Monaco alternate the hours between the beaches and boats, its international races on sports meets and also world famous Place du Casino, the game center in the section Monte Carlo which made Monte Carlo international a parable for extravagant demonstration and reckless dispersal of wealth. In the country temperate Mediterranean climate with the annual temperature averaging 61 °F (16 °C), and only about 60 days of rainfall. Average monthly temperatures fluctuate from 50 °F (10 °C) in January up to 75 °F (24 °C) in August.

GEOGRAPHY

Monaco - the sovereign city state with five quarters and ten chambers located on the French Riviera in Western Europe. It borders on department of France of the Alps-seaside from three parties, on the one hand, bordering on the Mediterranean Sea. Its center is approximately in 16 km from Italy and in only 13 km (8,1 miles) to the northeast from Nice, France. It has the area of 2,02 sq.km (0,78 quarter. Miles) or 202 hectares (500 acres) and the population of 38 400 people that does Monaco by the second-large and most densely populated country in the world. The country has overland border in only 5,47 km (3,40 miles), the coastline of 3,83 km (2,38 miles), the sea application which stretches for 22,2 km.