Uzbekistan
along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly
landlocked countries in the world
Vanuatu
a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller
islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes
Venezuela
on major sea and air routes linking North and South
America; Angel Falls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest
waterfall
Vietnam
extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km
across at its narrowest point
Virgin Islands
important location along the Anegada Passage - a key
shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best
natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
Wake Island
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency
landing location for transpacific flights
Wallis and Futuna
both island groups have fringing reefs
West Bank
landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's
coastal aquifers; there are 242 Israeli settlements and civilian
land use sites in the West Bank and 29 in East Jerusalem (February
2002 est.)
Western Sahara
the waters off the coast are particularly rich
fishing areas
World
the world is now thought to be about 4.55 billion years old,
just about one-third of the 13-billion-year age estimated for the
universe