Monaco Exports

Data regarding the exports and international trading partners of MONACO is sparse, hence why it was not included in the original Exports series on GeoFact of the Day. The following items are major exports of Monaco, according to the Encyclopedia of the Nations at NationsEncyclopedia.com: cards, cosmetics and other beauty products, glassware, packaged food, perfume, pharmaceuticals, postage stamps, precision machinery, and re-exports from other countries.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, countries and territories buying and importing most of those exports include Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and a majority of other countries (unlisted). Trade is predominantly conducted with other European countries, especially European Union members.

For the complete list of the world's countries and their main exports and trading partners, access the Countries & Their Exports post (↗) — published today!

Places to Visit in Monaco

Famous for its Monaco Grand Prix race, casinos, beaches, idyllic harbors, and opulence, the Principality of MONACO offers plenty of reasons to convince visitors to stay for days and weeks on end. For travelers wanting to visit a large portion of a country's territory, Monaco offers a chance to do that! In fact, Monaco is the world's second-smallest country (after Vatican City) — covering only a 2 km² and 0.77 mi² area. Since Monaco practically has something for everyone — and there are too many attractions and tourist spots to list here — the list below is sort of an itinerary for newcomers to Monaco. An interactive Google Map below shows you the geographic location of each site.

Auditorium Rainier III — more information from GeoFact of the Day (↗)

Espace Fontvieille Chapiteau (a circus arena)

Exotic Garden

Louis II Football Stadium

Monte Carlo Casino

Monte Carlo Harbor

Museums: Monaco Top Cars Collection, Naval Museum, New National Museum, Oceanographic Museum, Museum of Old Monaco, Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology, Museum of Stamps and Coins

Palace Square (Place du Palais)

Prince's Palace

Princess Antoinette Park

Princess Grace Botanical Garden

World's 10 Smallest Countries and Their Popular Places

While the following countries are the world's ten smallest ones, these are all worthy destinations for any bucket-list globetrotter! Including popular attractions or sites of interest in each country, this list is sorted based on land area. Otherwise, a country such as the MARSHALL ISLANDS would not be featured due to the vast amount of ocean water within its polygonal borders. Starting with the world's smallest country, drum roll please...

#1 ● ● ● ● ● VATICAN CITY ● ● ● ● ● 0.44 km² and 0.17 mi²
Popular Places:   Saint Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro), St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro), Sistine Chapel in the Apostolic Palace, Grotto of Lourdes, Sacristy, Audience Hall, Roman Curia, various museums, and Palace of the Tribunal
Blog Post (↗)

#2 ● ● ● ● ● MONACO ● ● ● ● ● 2 km² and 0.77 mi²
Popular Places:   Casino Monte Carlo, Monaco Grand Prix race (Circuit de Monaco), Auditorium Rainier III (↗), Monte Carlo Harbor, Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, Princess Grace Botanical Garden, Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Prince's Palace, and Place du Palais
Blog Post (↗)

#3 ● ● ● ● ● NAURU ● ● ● ● ● 21 km² and 8.1 mi²
Popular Places and Activities:   Anibare Bay, Central Plateau, Japanese WWII guns and bunkers, Buada Lagoon, scuba diving and snorkeling, Parliament House, and Moqua Well
Blog Post (↗)

#4 ● ● ● ● ● TUVALU ● ● ● ● ● 26 km² and 10.04 mi²
Popular Places and Activities:   Funafuti Marine Conservation Area, scuba diving and snorkeling, various beaches and resorts, Tuvalu National Library, and Tuvalu Women's Handicraft Center
Blog Post (↗)

#5 ● ● ● ● ● SAN MARINO ● ● ● ● ● 61 km² and 24 mi²
Popular Places:   Centro Storico Di San Marino, Guaita Castle, Piazza della Liberta, Cesta Tower, Mounte Titano (↗), Palazzo Pubblico, Basilica del Santo Marino, and San Marino Adventures (↗) ecotourist theme park
Blog Post (↗)

#6 ● ● ● ● ● LIECHTENSTEIN ● ● ● ● ● 160 km² and 62 mi²
Popular Places:   Vaduz Castle, Liechtenstein Center, national museum, The Main Square in Vaduz, Postage Stamp Museum, Museum of Fine Arts (Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein), Cathedral of St. Florin, Burg Gutenberg castle, and various ski resorts
Blog Post (↗)

#7 ● ● ● ● ● MARSHALL ISLANDS ● ● ● ● ● 181 km² and 70 mi²
Popular Places and Activities:   Alele Museum, Library, and National Archives; Arno Atoll; Bikini Atoll; Cathedral of the Assumption; various beaches; and scuba diving and snorkeling
Blog Post (↗)

#8 ● ● ● ● ● SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS ● ● ● ● ● 261 km² and 101 mi²
Popular Places and Activities:   Brimstone Hill Fortress, Greg's Safaris, Clay Villa Plantation House & Gardens, Romney Manor, Botanical Gardens of Nevis, St. Kitts Scenic Railway, scuba diving and snorkeling, sightseeing tours/excursions, and various beaches and resorts
Blog Post (↗)

#9 ● ● ● ● ● The MALDIVES ● ● ● ● ● 298 km² and 115 mi²
Popular Places and Activities:   Alimatha Island, Biyadoo Island, Male Fish Market, Grand Friday Mosque, Manta Point, Banana Reef, Sultan Park, Tiny Island Marine Conservation Center, spas, scuba diving and snorkeling, yoga/pilates, and various beaches
Blog Post (↗)

#10 ● ● ● ● ● MALTA ● ● ● ● ● 316 km² and 122 mi²
Popular Places:   Mdina Old City, St. John's Cathedral, Fort Rinella, Upper Barrakka Gardens, Azure Window geologic arch, Malta Classic Car Collection Museum, Malta Falconry Center, Rotunda (Church of St. Mary), Valletta Waterfront, Casa Rocca Piccola, Hagar Qim Temples, Dingli Cliffs, and various beaches
Blog Post (↗)

Monaco Endangered Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ for MONACO in Western Europe lists two critically endangered species and six endangered species. There are no extinct species in Monaco featured on the Red List. Balearic Shearwater birds and European Eels are critically endangered. Monaco's endangered species are all aquatic — they are the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Blackchin Guitarfish, Bushy Coral, Common Rorqual baleen whales, Dusky Grouper, and Violinfish. Access my Monaco post for more information about this tiny, wealthy principality!

Auditorium Rainier III

Known for its casinos, massive wealth, and Grand Prix Formula 1 auto race, the tiny country and principality of MONACO features high-end developments sitting along the Mediterranean Sea's coast. One of these developments is Monte Carlo's Auditorium Rainier III, with its hexagonal mosaic roof showing off its brilliant colors in the satellite image above. Auditorium Rainier III is a 1,000-seat concert and entertainment venue, featuring the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra since 2002. The historic, circa-1878 Opéra de Monte-Carlo appears behind the auditorium (top-right) in the photograph below. This opera house is barely shown in the satellite image's top-left corner. The following information seems to be rather difficult to find: Auditorium Rainier III was built in 1978. Finally, the attraction's rooftop masterpiece was created by artist Victor Vasarely (1906-1997).

Smallest Countries in Europe

The smallest country in Europe, and as a matter of fact the whole world, is VATICAN CITY. Being the center of attention in current events because of Pope Benedict XVI's resignation and the Catholic Church's quest to find a new pope, the Vatican City is only 0.17 square miles and 0.44 square kilometers in area. It is located inside Rome, Italy's capital, to the left of the main metropolitan area.

Six other European countries are less than 1,000 square miles in area. They are particularly dispersed throughout Western Europe. They are ANDORRA (south of France, north of Spain), LIECHTENSTEIN (west of Austria, east of Switzerland), LUXEMBOURG (east of Belgium, west of Germany), MALTA (island country in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Italy), MONACO (on the Mediterranean coast, southeast of France), and SAN MARINO (enclave inside northeast Italy).

Monaco

Officially known as the Principality of Monaco (Principauté de Monaco in French) and known for its casinos and racing events (Monaco Grand Prix, etc.), MONACO is a wealthy yet tiny country located in Western Europe. It is nestled along a picturesque Mediterranean Sea coastline, bordering France. The nearest major city to Monaco in France is Nice. Monaco's official language is French, while Italian, Ligurian (Monégasque), and Occitan (about 4,500 speakers) are also widely spoken languages. As of December 2015, Monaco's total population is 38,400; Monaco has the highest population density of any country in the world (the territory of Macau territory is even higher) with over 19,000 people per square kilometer. According to Ethnologue, the Monégasque language is Monaco's de facto language of national identity and is split into two major dialects: Genoese and Monégasque. Since Monaco is a city-state, its capital is indeed Monaco (Monaco-Ville). The state's four quartier regions are La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte Carlo (home of the Auditorium Rainier III), and Fontvieville. The former currency of Monaco was the Monegasque Franc, and its ISO 4217 currency code was MCF. The Monegasque people used this currency until 2002, when the Euro became Monaco's currency.

This post was updated on July 29th, 2016.