Christopher Stacy, age 16, of Concord, N.H., for his question:

WHERE IS QATAR?

Qatar is a small Arab country in southwestern Asia. It occupies a desert peninsula that juts from eastern Arabia into the Persian Gulf.,

People have lived in the area that is now Qatar for thousands of years. In 1916, the country became a protectorate of Great Britain, but it gained full independence in 1971. Qatar became a member of the Arab League and the United Nations that year.

Exploration for oil in Qatar began in 1930. Oil was discovered in 1939, but World War II began that year and delayed additional exploration until 1949.

Since the 1950s, oil has made Qatar a rapidly developing country. Leaders encourage industrial development with the goal of creating a modern state. Education is now being stressed.

Qatar is about the size of Delaware but only has a population of about 100,000. Delaware's population is about 630,000.

Summer temperatures in Qatar often rise above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The annual rainfall is about 4 inches. Drinking water must be distilled from water taken from the sea.