China:
world's fourth-largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US)

Christmas Island:
located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean

Clipperton Island:
reef about 8 km in circumference

Cocos (Keeling) Islands:
two coral atolls thickly covered with
coconut palms and other vegetation

Colombia:
only South American country with coastlines on both North
Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea

Comoros:
important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

Congo, Democratic Republic of the: straddles Equator; very narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo river and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean; dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands

Congo, Republic of the: about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them

Coral Sea Islands:
important nesting area for birds and turtles

Croatia:
controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea
and Turkish Straits