Where is Malta located? There is no doubt that Malta is still relatively unknown, which is why many people ask this question!
Our island lies in the center of the Mediterranean Sea and is the most southern of all the countries in Europe. This puts us midway between Gibraltar and Alexandria, and between Sicily and North Africa. We are closer to Europe than Africa.
Since Malta is in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, here are the distances from Malta to various points surrounding the archipelago.
Coordinates for Malta:
Coordinates for Gozo:
Malta's archipelago is situated on the Malta plateau, a shallow shelf that was formed by a land bridge that once connected Sicily and North Africa. Following the last ice age, rising sea levels caused this bridge to submerge, resulting in Malta's isolation in the Mediterranean.
Located on the African tectonic plate, Malta possesses a distinctive geological and cultural history. It has been considered an extension of North Africa for centuries. The seabed around the islands contains remnants of ancient geomarine features and prehistoric habitats.
This indicates the possibility of significant archaeological discoveries that could provide further insights into the ancient landscapes and ecosystems of this region.
Malta has been inhabited since people arrived here from Sicily around 5200 BC. The islands were always a location for great strategic importance as a naval base for shipping. Through the years until 1530, Malta was conquered by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, the Romans, Byzantines, the Moors, the Arabs, Normans, the Aragonese and the Spanish.
Between 1530 and 1798 the Knights of St. John occupied Malta and built Valletta, the current capital city of Malta. During their period in Malta, the Great Siege happened in 1565 against the Ottoman Empire (Turkish).
In 1798, Napolean Bonaparte captured Malta on its way to Egypt. Their reign remained active till 1800 when the British Empire set foot on the island. There was an Interregnum period where both the French and English reigned Malta up until officially making our island under the British sovereignty in 1814.
During the British Era, there were so many historical events that shaped our island as it is today, however the main ones were World War 1 and World War 2. During World War 2 (WW2), Malta was the most bombed country in the world suffering such massive devastation of around 154 days and nights of bombings. We lost so many historical landmarks due to dropping of around 6,700 tons of bombs. Malta announced their independence from the British in 1964.
After declaring independence, Malta has seen a number of historical events that shaped our island to what it is today as an independent island.
We have an in-depth timeline which can be found by clicking the link below.
Read Further: A Detailed History of Malta Timeline (5200BC to Present)
The people of Malta also known as Maltese, an ethnic group from the Maltese islands. We speak both Maltese and English.
Till now there are around 700,000 Maltese people spread around a number of different countries around the world including Malta.
The Maltese culture is something that the locals are proud of due to its unique concept and how it developed over time through a mixture of different cultures that have occupied the islands in the past.
How Big is Malta?
The total land area of all the Maltese archipelago is 316 square kilometers (122 square miles). Check our full guide the size of Malta.
How Big Is The Island Of Gozo?
Gozo is 14.5 kilometres (9 miles) long and 7.2 kilometres (4.47 miles) wide. Coastline is 56.01 kilometres (34.80 miles) long with a surface area of about 67.1 square kilometres.
Where is Malta close to?
Malta is located just under Sicily, which makes it the closest piece of land outside the Maltese islands. It is only 93 kilometers (57 miles) away.
Is Gozo in Malta?
No, Gozo is a separate island as it is geographically part of the Maltese Islands. You can reach by a 20-minute ferry crossing from Cirkewwa Malta to Mgarr Gozo.
Is Malta a country?
Our island is a country identified with its own government, constitution and parliament house which governs the country independently.
What is the capital city of Malta?
The capital city of Malta is Valletta, built by the Knights of St. John in 1566. It is known as one of the smallest capital cities in Europe. It is a major attraction for incoming tourists as it holds magnificent original fortifications including Baroque palaces and many churches.
Is Malta part of England?
No, Malta is an independent country since 1964 and became a Republic in 1974. Malta became a British Crown Colony in 1814 until 1964, meaning 150 years under British rule.
How big is Malta compared to other islands?
You can compare the size of our islands with the following islands: Malta 316 | Antigua 281 | Barbuda 431 | Maldives 298 | Sri Lanka 314 | U.S. Virgin Islands 346 - These numbers are in Kilometers Square
Is Malta part of Spain or Italy?
Malta is not part of Spain or Italy as it is an independent country.
Where is Malta Illinois?
Malta Illinois is a village in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States.
Is Malta part of Greece?
No, Malta is not part of Greece, and it never was.
Where Is Valletta In Malta?
Valletta is on the north-east side of the island. Valletta is the capital city of Malta. A fortified city, 455 years old.
Is Malta an Arab country?
No, Malta is not an Arab country, but the Arabs stayed in Malta from 87 to 1091 AD.
What is Malta's Geology made of?
If we look at it from the geological side, Malta is formed up entirely of composed sedimentary rocks.
These are sediments which were formed about 30 to 5 million years ago.
This means that there were continuous deposits of materials within the Mediterranean Sea.
Malta Info Guide is here to provide you with helpful information about our archipelago.
References
- NSO Statistics MaltaWe have used Discover Cars every time we rented a car. We highly recommend them due to their good service and good prices.
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