!!!Malta %%image_right [{GoogleMap location='Malta' type='embedded' zoom='bounds' width='450' height='350'}] %% [{Image src='mt-lgflag.gif' class='image_left' height='150' width='226'}] [{Image src='malta.jpg' class='image_left' }] Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through both world wars and remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. A decade later Malta became a republic. Since about the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU member in May 2004 and began using the euro as currency in 2008. %%menu-geo %%cols-r * %%icon-geo,geo %% [Geography|Geography/Europe/Malta/Geography] * %%icon-geo,maps %% [Maps|Geography/Europe/Malta/Maps] * %%icon-geo,culture %% [Culture|Geography/Europe/Malta/Culture] ---- * %%icon-geo,special %% [Special Information|Geography/Europe/Malta/Special_Information] * %%icon-geo,picture %% [Pictures|Geography/Europe/Malta/Pictures] * %%icon-geo,community %% [Community Contributions|Geography/Europe/Malta/Community_Contributions] %% %%