Andorra
three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red,
with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the
latter band is slightly wider than the other two so that the ratio
of band widths is 8:9:8; the coat of arms features a quartered
shield with the emblems of (starting in the upper left and
proceeding clockwise): Urgell, Foix, Bearn, and Catalonia; the motto
reads VIRTUS UNITA FORTIOR (Strength United is Stronger); the flag
combines the blue and red French colors with the red and yellow of
Spain to show Franco-Spanish protection
note: similar to the flags of Chad and Romania, which do not have a
national coat of arms in the center, and the flag of Moldova, which
does bear a national emblem
Angola
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a
centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half
a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and
sickle); red represents liberty, black the African continent, the
symbols characterize workers and peasants
Anguilla
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer half
of the flag; the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in an
interlocking circular design on a white background with a
turquoise-blue field below; the white in the background represents
peace; the blue base symbolizes the surrounding sea, as well as
faith, youth, and hope; the three dolphins stand for endurance,
unity, and strength
Antigua and Barbuda
red, with an inverted isosceles triangle based
on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal
bands of black (top), light blue, and white, with a yellow rising
sun in the black band; the sun symbolizes the dawn of a new era,
black represents the African heritage of most of the population,
blue is for hope, and red is for the dynamism of the people; the "V"
stands for victory; the successive yellow, blue, and white coloring
is also meant to evoke the country's tourist attractions of sun,
sea, and sand
Argentina
three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white,
and light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun
with a human face known as the Sun of May; the colors represent the
clear skies and snow of the Andes; the sun symbol commemorates the
appearance of the sun through cloudy skies on 25 May 1810 during the
first mass demonstration in favor of independence; the sun features
are those of Inti, the Inca god of the sun
Armenia
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange;
the color red recalls the blood shed for liberty, blue the Armenian
skies as well as hope, and orange the land and the courage of the
workers who farm it
Aruba
blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the
lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the
upper hoist-side corner; the star represents Aruba and its red soil
and white beaches, its four points the four major languages
(Papiamento, Dutch, Spanish, English) as well as the four points of
a compass, to indicate that its inhabitants come from all over the
world; the blue symbolizes Caribbean waters and skies; the stripes
represent the island's two main "industries": the flow of tourists
to the sun-drenched beaches and the flow of minerals from the earth
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
the flag of Australia is used
Australia
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side
quadrant known as the Commonwealth or Federation Star, representing
the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901; the star
depicts one point for each of the six original states and one
representing all of Australia's internal and external territories;
on the fly half is a representation of the Southern Cross
constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four
larger, seven-pointed stars
Austria
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red;
the flag design is certainly one of the oldest - if not the oldest -
national banners in the world; according to tradition, in 1191,
following a fierce battle in the Third Crusade, Duke Leopold V of
Austria's white tunic became completely blood-spattered; upon
removal of his wide belt or sash, a white band was revealed; the
red-white-red color combination was subsequently adopted as his
banner