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Field Listing :: Flag description
This entry provides a written flag description produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time the entry was written. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags. Country
Flag description
Afghanistan
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), red,
and green, with the national emblem in white centered on the red
band and slightly overlapping the other two bands; the center of the
emblem features a mosque with pulpit and flags on either side, below
the mosque are numerals for the solar year 1298 (1919 in the
Gregorian calendar, the year of Afghan independence from the UK);
this central image is circled by a border consisting of sheaves of
wheat on the left and right, in the upper-center is an Arabic
inscription of the Shahada (Muslim creed) below which are rays of
the rising sun over the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is
great"), and at bottom center is a scroll bearing the name
Afghanistan; black signifies the past, red is for the blood shed for
independence, and green can represent either hope for the future,
agricultural prosperity, or Islam
note: Afghanistan had more changes to its national flag in the 20th
century than any other country; the colors black, red, and green
appeared on most of them
Akrotiri
the flag of the UK is used
Albania
red with a black two-headed eagle in the center; the design
is claimed to be that of 15th-century hero George Castriota
SKANDERBERG, who led a successful uprising against the Turks that
resulted in a short-lived independence for some Albanian regions
(1443-1478); an unsubstantiated explanation for the eagle symbol is
the tradition that Albanians see themselves as descendants of the
eagle; they refer to themselves as "Shkypetars," which translates as
"sons of the eagle"
Algeria
two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a
red, five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the
two-color boundary; the colors represent Islam (green), purity and
peace (white), and liberty (red); the crescent and star are also
Islamic symbols, but the crescent is more closed than those of other
Muslim countries because the Algerians believe the long crescent
horns bring happiness
American Samoa
blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is
based on the fly side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and
white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying
two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a war club known as a
"Fa'alaufa'i" (upper; left talon), and a coconut fiber fly whisk
known as a "Fue" (lower; right talon); the combination of symbols
broadly mimics that seen on the US Great Seal and reflects the
relationship between the United States and American Samoa