Trivia in Malta

National symbols

Flag: Vertical bicolor flag of red and white with the George Cross in the upper left corner

Emblem: Shield-shaped coat of arms surrounded by olive and palm branches, depicting the traditional Maltese fortress and crown

Trivia & facts

• The George Cross on the national flag was awarded by the British King honoring the courage of residents during World War II
• Maltese is the world's only Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet, though Arabic-based
• The name of the Maltese dog breed originates from Malta Island
• One of the countries with the highest concentration of diving sites in Europe
• Said to be the country with the most densely packed World Heritage sites per land area
• Known as a filming location for the movies 'Gladiator' and 'Game of Thrones'
• Cars drive on the left side due to British colonial legacy
• Water-scarce, relying on seawater desalination for about half of drinking water
• Postal boxes are red, with some still bearing the British royal crest
• The world's largest filming water tank is located in southeastern Malta