巴林(Bahrain)
正式名称巴林国（State of Bahrain）
君主立宪制国家。由巴林岛和约三十多座小岛组成，位於波斯湾内阿拉伯半岛沿海。面积661平方公里。人口约701,000（2001）。首都︰麦纳玛。人民多为阿拉伯人。语言︰阿拉伯语（官方语）。宗教：伊斯兰教（什叶派和逊尼派）。货币：巴林第纳尔（BD）。巴林岛占全国总面积7/8，与其东北部海岸以外的穆哈拉格岛和锡特拉岛，同为该国人口和经济中心。巴林岛长约43公里，宽约16公里，1986年建有一条长达25公里的堤道连接沙乌地阿拉伯。最高点在杜汉山（海拔132公尺）。经济属於混合国营和民营的开发中经济型态，以天然气和提炼石油为主。国家元首是埃米尔，政府首脑为首相。该地区长期以来都是重要的商业中心，有关其文字记载见於波斯、希腊及罗马之史料。7世纪起由阿拉伯人统治，1521～1602年间被葡萄牙人占领。1783年起由哈里发家族统治。後来与英国签订一系列条约，让英国负责其国防（1820～1971）。1968年英国从波斯湾撤军之後，巴林於1971年宣布独立。在波斯湾战争期间，是联军的一个指挥中心。1994年以後历经多次政治动乱事件，主要是由什叶派主导，他们企图要求政府恢复议会（1975年废）。
English version：
Bahrain
Country, constitutional monarchy, occupying an archipelago consisting of Bahrain Island and about 30 smaller islands, lying along the Arabian Peninsula in the Persian Gulf. Area: 255 sq mi (661 sq km). Population (1997 est.): 620,000. Capital: Manama. Most of the population is Arabic. Language: Arabic (official). Religion: Islam (official), divided between Sunnite and Shiite. Currency: Bahraini dinar. Bahrain Island accounts for seven-eighths of the country's total area and, with the islands of Al Muharraa and Sitra off its northeastern coast, constitutes the population and economic center of the country. Bahrain Island is 27 mi (43 km) long and 10 mi (16 km) wide, and is connected to Saudi Arabia by a 15-mi (25-km) causeway completed in 1986. The highest elevation is Ad-Dukhan Hill at 440 ft (132 m). The country has a developing mixed state and private-enterprise economy based largely on natural gas and petroleum refining. The chief of state is the emir and head of government is the prime minister. The area has long been an important trading center and is mentioned in Persian, Greek, and Roman references. It was ruled by Arabs from the 7th century AD, but then occupied by the Portuguese 1521-1602. Since 1783 it has been ruled by the Khalifah family, though through a series of treaties its defense remained a British responsibility 1820-1971. After Britain withdrew its forces from the Persian Gulf (1968), Bahrain declared its independence in 1971. It served as a center for the allies in the Persian Gulf War. Since 1994 it has experienced bouts of political unrest mainly by Shiites, who have attempted to get the government to restore the parliament (abolished in 1975).
