Malta

/ˈmɔːltə/

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an island and country in the Mediterranean Sea, to the south of Sicily. Its capital is Valletta and its official languages are Maltese and English. From 1530 to 1798 it was ruled by the Knights of St John, a military and religious organization. In 1814 it was taken over by Britain and became an important navy base. In the Second World War it was given the George Cross for resisting heavy German air attacks. Together with the islands of Gozo and Comino it became independent in 1964. Malta is a member of the Commonwealth and joined the European Union in 2004. Tourism is an important part of its economy, and many British people go there on holiday.马耳他（南欧岛国）