I've tallied the answers for the world coin giveaway, the winner is jayant! Please PM me your mailing address. Thanks to everybody who submitted responses, it was fun reading them. JJH, hammam88, and Marianne were all very, very close. The answers I used are as follows: 1) The Kuril Islands. The four islands in dispute are Kunashir, Iturup, Shikotan, and Habomai. The archipelago came under Japanese administration during the Edo Period, but was lost to the USSR by force at the end of World War II. 2) Both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan border 9 countries. In theory Sudan is the more correct answer since Tanzania is separated from the DRC by a Lake Tanganyika, but I accepted both. 3) Sikkim was occupied by Indian troops in 1949 and voted by referendum to become part of India in 1975. 4) Italy hosts the two independent enclaves of the Vatican City (0.4 square km) and San Marino (61 square km). 5) Bolivia has lost territory over the past 130 years to 5 bordering countries. To Chile (La Guerra del Pacifico 1879-1883), to Brazil (negotiated sale of Acre in 1903-1904), to Paraguay (Chaco War 1932-1935), and also to Argentina and Peru during varios border demarcation agreements and treaty settlements. 6) The Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) completed peaceful unification in 1990.
Thanks a lot! I'm very excited! I'll pm you my address, thanks for a great contest! Really liked the idea and questions!
