Flowing gently, the Nafla stream tells a silent story of Liechtenstein. Nafla is more than just a waterway. It is a thread in the rich tapestry of this small nation.
Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked country. This means it is surrounded only by landlocked countries. To reach a coastline, you must cross at least two national borders. Liechtenstein shares borders with Switzerland and Austria. It is the world’s sixth-smallest sovereign state by area.
For centuries, farming communities have inhabited Liechtenstein. That goes back to the Late Stone Age. That’s around 4000 to 1800 BC. The Rhine plain has always been a focal point for settlement. The valleys are drained by the Samina River and the Ill River. This creates a triangular lowland. A drainage channel was built in 1930. It made the marshy country less so. This improved agricultural activities.
Liechtenstein was formed from two counties. They were Vaduz and Schellenberg. In 1719, they united and acquired the name Liechtenstein. It became an independent principality of the Holy Roman Empire. The name Liechtenstein means light or bright stone in German.
In 1866, Liechtenstein became fully independent. It remained neutral in both World War I and II. After World War II, rapid industrialization occurred.
Liechtenstein has a unique flag. It is blue and red with a yellow crown. Blue represents the sky. Red represents evening fires in homes. The crown represents the unity of the people and their prince. The flag was changed because Haiti had the same design. A yellow crown was added to avoid confusion.
The current head of state is Prince Hans-Adam II. The prince threatened to sell the country to Bill Gates in 2001. This was if the public did not support his reforms.
Liechtenstein has no airports and a small population. The country has won Olympic medals. It has won the most Olympic medals per capita. All medals are in Alpine skiing. The prince invites all Liechtensteiners to the Schloss Vaduz castle on National Day. They celebrate with wine or beer. Liechtenstein is one of the safest countries in the world to visit. It does not have an army.
Liechtenstein is unique being situated entirely within the Alpine massif. The country is Europe’s least visited. It is a member of the United Nations since 1990. Liechtenstein has the world’s second-highest GDP per capita.
Liechtenstein is also known as a tax haven. It has taken steps to comply with international tax laws. It has been removed from the OECD’s list of Unco-operative Tax Havens. The Nafla flows on. It reflects the enduring spirit of Liechtenstein.