Pamela Henrioud, age 10, of Doraville, Georgia, for her question:

Which is the world's smallest country?

The small country of Luxembourg is tucked into a pocket where France, Belgium and Germany come together. It covers an area of 999 square miles. The state of Georgia has room for about 59 little countries of this size. But Luxembourg is not the smallest country in the world. In southern Europe, tucked between France and the Mediterranean Sea, is Monaco.

This tiny country has beaches and docks, a heliport and a railroad. It also has the famous casinos of Monte Carlo and the palace of Prince Rainier III. Yet all of it fits into an area of 414 acres. But even Monaco is not the smallest country in the world. Roman Catholics rate Vatican City as a separate country. Its boundaries enclose an area of 108.7 acres in the heart of Rome. Vatican City is the world's smallest country. It is far smaller than the tiny country of Monaco.