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The Principality of Liechtenstein is a country in west Europe. It has a total area of 160 km2, making it one of the world's smallest independent states. The climate is temperate with cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain and cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers. The terrain is mostly mountainous (the Alps) with the Rhine Valley in the western third of the country.
Natural resources are a hydroelectric potential, but Liechtenstein generates its revenue through international banking, much of it nefarious. The religion is 82.7% Roman Catholic, 7.1% Protestant, and 10.2% others. The official language is German with an Alemannic dialect (Swiss-German) also spoken.
Liechtenstein became a sovereign state in 1342 and its boundaries have remained unchanged since 1434, though the current nation dates from 1719 when it acquired its current name and ruling monarchy from the union of the counties of Vaduz and Schellenberg. Liechtenstein was represented abroad by Austria until 1919, then by Switzerland - with whom it maintains a customs union and close ties - until it was admitted to the United Nations in 1990. The currency of Liechtenstein is the Swiss franc. Liechtenstein is the only absolute monarchy in Europe, with the ruler able to dissolve parliament, sack ministers and the judiciary as he or she desires.
In the 21st century Liechtenstein became infamous as a tax haven, providing bank accounts for international criminals where funds could be hidden, Liechtenstein's laws forbidding the disclosure of account details to investigators from other countries seeking tax evaders etc.
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