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  • 81Angola — Angolan, adj., n. /ang goh leuh/, n. a republic in SW Africa: formerly an overseas province of Portugal; gained independence Nov. 11, 1975. 10,623,994; 481,226 sq. mi. (1,246,375 sq. km). Cap.: Luanda. Formerly, Portuguese West Africa. * * *… …

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  • 82Ecuador — Ecuadoran, Ecuadorean, Ecuadorian, adj., n. /ek weuh dawr /, n. a republic in NW South America. 11,690,535; 109,483 sq. mi. (283,561 sq. km). Cap.: Quito. * * * Ecuador Introduction Ecuador Background: The Republic of the Equator was one of three …

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  • 83Ethiopia — /ee thee oh pee euh/, n. 1. Formerly, Abyssinia. a republic in E Africa: formerly a monarchy. 58,732,577; 409,266 sq. mi. (1,060,000 sq. km). Present boundaries include Eritrea. Cap.: Addis Ababa. 2. Also called Abyssinia. an ancient region in NE …

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  • 84Mauritania — Mauritanian, adj., n. /mawr i tay nee euh/, n. 1. Official name, Islamic Republic of Mauritania. a republic in W Africa, largely in the Sahara Desert: formerly a French colony; a member of the French Community 1958 66; independent 1960.… …

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  • 85Saudi Arabia — a kingdom in N and central Arabia, including Hejaz, Nejd, and dependencies. 20,087,965; ab. 600,000 sq. mi. (1,554,000 sq. km). Cap.: Riyadh. Cf. Mecca. * * * Saudi Arabia Introduction Saudi Arabia Background: In 1902 Abd al Aziz Ibn SAUD… …

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  • 86Syria — /sear ee euh/, n. 1. Official name, Syrian Arab Republic. a republic in SW Asia at the E end of the Mediterranean. 16,137,899; 71,227 sq. mi. (184,478 sq. km). Cap.: Damascus. 2. a territory mandated to France in 1922, including the present… …

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  • 87Belgium — /bel jeuhm/, n. a kingdom in W Europe, bordering the North Sea, N of France. 10,203,683; 11,779 sq. mi. (30,508 sq. km). Cap.: Brussels. French, Belgique /bel zheek /; Flemish, België /bel khee euh/. * * * Belgium Introduction Belgium Background …

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  • 88Latvia — /lat vee euh, laht /, n. a republic in N Europe, on the Baltic, S of Estonia, an independent state 1918 40; annexed by the Soviet Union 1940; regained independence 1991. 2,437,649; 25,395 sq. mi. (63,700 sq. km). Cap.: Riga. Latvian, Latvija… …

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  • 89Sierra Leone — Sierra Leonean /lee oh nee euhn/. /lee oh nee, lee ohn / an independent republic in W Africa: member of the Commonwealth of Nations; formerly a British colony and protectorate. 4,891,546; 27,925 sq. mi. (72,326 sq. km). Cap.: Freetown. * * *… …

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  • 90building construction — Techniques and industry involved in the assembly and erection of structures. Early humans built primarily for shelter, using simple methods. Building materials came from the land, and fabrication was dictated by the limits of the materials and… …

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