Netherland - Land of Most Beautiful Flowers and Windmills

The Netherlands, on the coast of the North Sea, is twice the size of New Jersey. Part of the great plain of north and west Europe, the Netherlands has maximum dimensions of 190 by 160 mi (360 by 257 km) and is low and flat except in Limburg in the southeast, where some hills rise up to 322 m (1056 ft). About half the country's area is below sea level, making the famous Dutch dikes a requisite for the use of much of the land. Reclamation of land from the sea through dikes has continued through recent times. All drainage reaches the North Sea, and the principal rivers—Rhine, Maas (Meuse), and Schelde—have their sources outside the country.

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After centuries of foreign rules by the Romans, Franks, Burgunds, Habsburgs, and Spaniards in 1648 the Dutch Republic became a free and sovereign state. During the 17th century, also called the 'Golden Age', the Republic became increasingly prosperous and a major colonial power, thanks largely to the Dutch East India Company (VOC). In 1815, the northern and southern Netherlands – today's Netherlands and Belgium – were combined to form the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I but was invaded in World War II by Germany in May 1940 and occupied for five years.Today the Netherlands is a modern, industrialized nation and the third largest exporter of food. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EU, and participated in the introduction of the Euro in 1999

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Seychelles in Africa - One of the Most Beautiful Places in the World

Located in the Indian ocean about 1000 miles east of Kenya, the main islands have only been settled for about 200 years. Believed to be the peaks of an ancient mountain range, the granite rocks that make up the main islands are unique as are the hundreds of plant an animal species found no where else on earth due to the isolated nature of the islands. The warm waters, high standards and friendly people draw many year after year to these Jewels in the Ocean that are the Seychelles. Island names such as Mahe, Praslin, La Digue, Aldabra and Desroches have enchanted travelers for years .The Seychelles are known mainly for their exotic beaches.A characteristic of most beaches are the transparent waters, the white sand, and the frame of granite boulders and lush green vegetation behind the beach.

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