Coral Sea Islands
the flag of Australia is used
Costa Rica
five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double
width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical
disk toward the hoist side of the red band; Costa Rica retained the
earlier blue-white-blue flag of Central America until 1848 when, in
response to revolutionary activity in Europe, it was decided to
incorporate the French colors into the national flag and a central
red stripe was added; today the blue color is said to stand for the
sky, opportunity, and perseverence, white denotes peace, happiness,
and wisdom, while red represents the blood shed for freedom, as well
as the generosity and vibrancy of the people
note: somewhat resembles the flag of North Korea; similar to the
flag of Thailand but with the blue and red colors reversed
Cote d'Ivoire
three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side),
white, and green; orange symbolizes the land (savannah) of the north
and fertility, white stands for peace and unity, green represents
the forests of the south and the hope for a bright future
note: similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the
colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also
similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white,
and red; design was based on the flag of France
Croatia
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue -
the Pan-Slav colors - superimposed by the Croatian coat of arms; the
coat of arms consists of one main shield (a checkerboard of 13 red
and 12 silver (white) fields) surmounted by five smaller shields
that form a crown over the main shield; the five small shields
represent five historic regions, they are (from left to right):
Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia
note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of
Russia
Cuba
five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom)
alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the
hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center; the blue
bands refer to the three old divisions of the island: central,
occidental, and oriental; the white bands describe the purity of the
independence ideal; the triangle symbolizes liberty, equality, and
fraternity, while the red color stands for the blood shed in the
independence struggle; the white star, called La Estrella Solitaria
(the Lone Star) lights the way to freedom and was taken from the
flag of Texas
note: design similar to the Puerto Rican flag, with the colors of
the bands and triangle reversed
Curacao
on a blue field a horizontal yellow band somewhat below the
center divides the flag into proportions of 5:1:2; two five-pointed
white stars - the smaller above and to the left of the larger -
appear in the canton; the blue of the upper and lower sections
symbolizes the sky and sea respectively; yellow represents the sun;
the stars symbolize Curacao and its uninhabited smaller sister
island of Klein Curacao; the five star points signify the five
continents from which Curacao's people derive
Cyprus
white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the
name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two
green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches
symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek
and Turkish communities
note: the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag retains the
white field of the Cyprus national flag but displays narrow
horizontal red stripes positioned a small distance from the top and
bottom edges between which are centered a red crescent and a red
five-pointed star; the banner is modeled after the Turkish national
flag but with the colors reversed
Czech Republic
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red
with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
note: is identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia; uses
the Pan-Slav colors inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia
Denmark
red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the
flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side;
the banner is referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag) and is one
of the oldest national flags in the world; traditions as to the
origin of the flag design vary, but the best known is a legend that
the banner fell from the sky during an early-13th century battle;
caught up by the Danish king before it ever touched the earth, this
heavenly talisman inspired the royal army to victory; in actuality,
the flag may derive from a crusade banner or ensign
note: the shifted design element was subsequently adopted by the
other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
Dhekelia
the flag of the UK is used