MasterFeeds: January 2021

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Jan 24, 2021

#Infographic: What are the World’s Largest Countries?

Chart: Visualizing Countries by Share of Earth's Surface
countries by share of earth's surface

There are over 510 million square kilometers of area on the surface of Earth, but less than 30% of this is covered by land. The rest is water, in the form of vast oceans.

The largest countries by surface area are Russia (3.35%), Canada (1.96%), and China (1.88%). 

Together they occupy roughly 7.2% of Earth's surface. Russia is so big that even if we divided the country between its Asian and European sections, those new regions would still be the largest in their respective continents.

Visualizing Countries by Share of Earth's Surface
January 23, 2021 

Today's visualization uses data primarily from the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) to rank the world's countries by their share of Earth's surface.

Breakdown of Countries Share of Earth's Surface

The largest countries by surface area are Russia (3.35%), Canada (1.96%), and China (1.88%).

Together they occupy roughly 7.2% of Earth's surface. Russia is so big that even if we divided the country between its Asian and European sections, those new regions would still be the largest in their respective continents.

Antarctica, although not a country, covers the second largest amount of land overall at 2.75%. Meanwhile, the other nations that surpass the 1% mark for surface area include the United States (1.87%), Brazil (1.67%), and Australia (1.51%).

The remaining 195 countries and regions below 1%, combined, account for the other half of Earth's land surface. Among the world's smallest countries are the island nations of the Caribbean and the South Pacific Ocean. However, the tiniest of the tiny are Vatican City and Monaco, which combine for a total area of just 2.51 km².

The remaining 70% of Earth's surface is water: 27% territorial waters and 43% international waters or areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction

In the past, nations adhered to the freedom-of-the-seas doctrine, a 17th century principle that limited jurisdiction over the oceans to a narrow area along a nation's coastline. The rest of the seas did not belong to any nation and were free for countries to travel and exploit.

This situation lasted into the 20th century, but by mid-century there was an effort to extend national claims as competition for offshore resources became increasingly fierce and ocean pollution became an issue.

In 1982, the United Nations adopted the Law of the Sea Convention which extended international law over the extra-territorial waters. The convention established freedom-of-navigation rights and set territorial sea boundaries 12 miles (19 km) offshore with exclusive economic zones up to 200 miles (322 km) offshore, extending a country's influence over maritime resources.

Does Size Matter?

The size of countries is the outcome of politics, economics, history, and geography. Put simply, borders can change over time.

In 1946, there were 76 independent countries in the world, and today there are 195. There are forces that push together or pull apart landscapes over time. While physical geography plays a role in the identity of nations, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the former ruler of UAE, a tiny Gulf nation, put it best:

"A country is not measured by the size of its area on the map. A country is truly measured by its heritage and culture."

See the article online here: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/countries-by-share-of-earths-surface/


Jan 19, 2021

#MarketCap of #Bitcoin & #Crypto



Global #MarketCap of #Bitcoin & #Crypto Universe

Global Charts | CoinMarketCap

https://coinmarketcap.com/charts/

Jan 10, 2021

Will change come at last to #LatinAmerica’s leftist #Dictatorships?

#Cuba, #Nicaragua & #Venezuela look set for more of the same in 2021 says The Economist…

In Cuba the Castro dynasty will formally come to an end after more than 60 years. At a Congress of the ruling Communist Party in April, Raúl Castro (aged 89) will step down as its first secretary, having handed over the country's presidency in 2019 to Miguel Díaz-Canel, a younger party bureaucrat. (Raúl inherited both jobs from his elder brother, Fidel.) Cubans will be watching to see whether Mr Díaz-Canel becomes head of the party too, or whether he will share leadership, and whether the Stalinist or reformist wing of the party comes out on top in the new politburo. The Castros aren't quite finished: Raúl's son, Alejandro, runs the intelligence services.

Nicaragua's dictator, Daniel Ortega, will use an election in November to inaugurate his dynasty, seeking to turn his eccentric wife, Rosario Murillo, into his successor as president. Electoral fraud is guaranteed, and so is a new wave of protests.

Venezuela's political conflict will enter a new phase in 2021.

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