TEN FACTS ABOUT MALTA

Malta is a group of islands in the Mediterranean sea. It may be tiny, but it is home to boats with eyes and some of the world's oldest existing man-made structures. Here are ten facts about Malta...

FACT ONE
Malta is one of the world's smallest countries. It is approximately to 204th largest country out of about 236 countries and the smallest country in the European Union. However, it is the eighth most densely populated country in the world. Lots of people must like living there!

FACT TWO
The Republic of Malta is actually a group of seven islands. The largest is Malta itself, followed by Gozo (about 6 kilometres away from Gozo, or just under 4 miles). In between Malta and Gozo is the tiny island of Comino in between the two. The other four Maltese islands are uninhabited.

FACT THREE
Almost half of Malta's population live in the country's capital, Valletta. The population of Malta, including Gozo and Comino, is approximately 410,000. About 199,000 live in and around Valletta and about 6,400 live in Victoria/Rabat, Gozo's largest city. Comino has only 4 permanent residents.

FACT FOUR
A citizen of Malta is a Maltese (not a Malteser - that's a chocolate treat! lol). Residents of Gozo are known as Gozitans.

FACT FIVE
Malta has two official languages: Maltese and English. Maltese is spoken by almost the entire population of Malta. Almost 90% of the population speak English. Italian was once the official language of Malta up to 1934, when it was replaced by Maltese and English. Interestingly, more Maltese people speak Italian now than when it was the official language.

FACT SIX
Maltese fishing boats are painted in bright colours. Also painted on them are a pair of eyes on each side at the front, a tradition which goes back to ancient Phoenician times. These are the Eyes of Osiris which are said to protect the fishing boats from evil spirits.

FACT SEVEN
The island of Filfla is a small island which is also part of Malta. It is situated about 5 kilometres (3 miles) south of Malta and is uninhabited. It is forbidden to set foot on the island without special permission, or to fish within 1.9 nautical miles of it. This is because it is a nature reserve and also so you don't get blown up as there are potentially unexploded weapons in the area. An earthquake in 1856 resulted in half a Filfla sinking into the sea, taking with it the only building on the island, a chapel built in 1343.

FACT EIGHT
The United Kingdom awarded the George Cross to Malta in 1942 as a recognition of the country's bravery during the Second World War when it came under heavy attack by Italian and Nazi bombers. Malta became independent from the UK on 21st September 1964 but their flag still features the George Cross in its top left hand corner.

FACT NINE
The great-great-grandfather of Britney Spears was born in Malta in 1873. His name was Edward Richard Portelli

FACT TEN
Malta is home to ancient Megalithic Temples. These are some of the oldest man-made structures in the world, with some thought to have been built back in 3600 BC, over 5000 years ago. This makes them older than the pyramids in Egypt, the Great Wall of China, and Stonehenge in England.