Editing Malta (section)

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Malta}}
[[File:Malta from space via laser ESA378503.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Satellite photo of Maltese islands]]

Malta is an [[archipelago]] in the central Mediterranean (in its [[Eastern Mediterranean|eastern basin]]), some {{convert|80|km|0|abbr=on}} from southern Italy across the [[Malta Channel]]. Only the three largest islands—[[Malta Island|Malta]] ({{langx|mt|Malta|links=no}}), [[Gozo]] ({{lang|mt|Għawdex}}), and [[Comino]] ({{lang|mt|Kemmuna}})—are inhabited. The islands of the archipelago lie on the Malta plateau, a shallow shelf formed from the high points of a [[land bridge]] between Sicily and North Africa that became isolated as sea levels rose after the [[Last Glacial Period|last ice age]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Island Landscape Dynamics: Examples from the Mediterranean |url=http://www.reading.ac.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.aspx?lID=12783 |access-date=20 December 2011 |archive-date=26 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926003836/http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/geog/GP183_Island_Landscapes_AMMINV_1Aa.pdf  |first1=A.M. |last1=Mannion |first2=I.N. |last2=Vogiatzakis |date=August 2007 |website=University of Reading }}</ref> The archipelago is located on the [[African Plate|African tectonic plate]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Commission for the Geological Map of the World |title=Geodynamic Map of the Mediterranean |url=http://earth.geology.yale.edu/RETREAT/maps/Mediterranean%20map2001sheet1%20tectonics&kinematics.jpg  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217180807/http://earth.geology.yale.edu/RETREAT/maps/Mediterranean%20map2001sheet1%20tectonics%26kinematics.jpg |archive-date=17 December 2008 |access-date=28 November 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Geothermal Engineering Research Office Malta |url=http://gerom.org/page.asp?ID=7  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404163225/http://gerom.org/page.asp?ID=7 |archive-date=4 April 2016}}</ref> Malta was considered an island of North Africa for centuries.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Falconer |first1=William |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B3Q29kWRdtgC&pg=PA50 |title=Dissertation on St. Paul's Voyage |last2=Falconer |first2=Thomas |date=1872 |publisher=BiblioLife |isbn=978-1-113-68809-5 |page=50 }}</ref> The seabed surrounding Malta's islands retains traces of ancient geomarine features, suggesting potential archaeological discoveries that could shed light on the region's prehistoric environment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Where Is Malta? {{!}} World Map, Facts, People & History of Malta |url=https://www.maltainfoguide.com/where-is-malta.html |access-date=17 November 2024 |website=Malta Info Guide |language=en}}</ref>

Numerous bays along the indented coastline of the islands provide good harbours. The landscape consists of low hills with terraced fields. The highest point in Malta is [[Ta' Dmejrek]], at {{convert|253|m|ft|abbr=on}}, near [[Dingli]]. Although there are some small rivers at times of high rainfall, there are no permanent rivers or lakes on Malta. However, some watercourses have fresh water running all year round at [[Baħrija]] near [[Ras ir-Raħeb]], at l-Imtaħleb and San Martin, and at Lunzjata Valley in Gozo.

[[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Malta belongs to the Liguro-Tyrrhenian province of the Mediterranean region within the [[Boreal Kingdom]]. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]], the territory of Malta belongs to the terrestrial [[ecoregion]] of [[Tyrrhenian-Adriatic sclerophyllous and mixed forests]].<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{Cite journal |last1=Dinerstein |first1=Eric |last2=Olson |first2=David |last3=Joshi |first3=Anup |last4=Vynne |first4=Carly |last5=Burgess |first5=Neil D. |last6=Wikramanayake |first6=Eric |last7=Hahn |first7=Nathan |last8=Palminteri |first8=Suzanne |last9=Hedao |first9=Prashant |last10=Noss |first10=Reed |last11=Hansen |first11=Matt |display-authors=1 |year=2017 |title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm |journal=BioScience |volume=67 |issue=6 |pages=534–545 |doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014 |issn=0006-3568 |pmc=5451287 |pmid=28608869 |last12=Locke |first12=Harvey |last13=Ellis |first13=Erle C |last14=Jones |first14=Benjamin |last15=Barber |first15=Charles Victor |last16=Hayes |first16=Randy |last17=Kormos |first17=Cyril |last18=Martin |first18=Vance |last19=Crist |first19=Eileen |last20=Sechrest |first20=Wes |last21=Price |first21=Lori |last22=Baillie |first22=Jonathan E. M. |last23=Weeden |first23=Don |last24=Suckling |first24=Kierán |last25=Davis |first25=Crystal |last26=Sizer |first26=Nigel |last27=Moore |first27=Rebecca |last28=Thau |first28=David |last29=Birch |first29=Tanya |last30=Potapov |first30=Peter |last31=Turubanova |first31=Svetlana |last32=Tyukavina |first32=Alexandra |last33=de Souza |first33=Nadia |last34=Pintea |first34=Lilian |last35=Brito |first35=José C. |last36=Llewellyn |first36=Othman A. |last37=Miller |first37=Anthony G. |last38=Patzelt |first38=Annette |last39=Ghazanfar |first39=Shahina A. |last40=Timberlake |first40=Jonathan |last41=Klöser |first41=Heinz |last42=Shennan-Farpón |first42=Yara |last43=Kindt |first43=Roeland |last44=Lillesø |first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow |last45=van Breugel |first45=Paulo |last46=Graudal |first46=Lars |last47=Voge |first47=Maianna |last48=Al-Shammari |first48=Khalaf F. |last49=Saleem |first49=Muhammad}}</ref>

The following uninhabited minor islands are part of the archipelago:

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* Barbaġanni Rock ([[Gozo]])
* [[Cominotto]] ({{lang|mt|Kemmunett}})
* Dellimara Island ([[Marsaxlokk]])
* [[Filfla]] ([[Żurrieq]])/([[Siġġiewi]])
* Fessej Rock
* [[Fungus Rock]] ({{lang|mt|Il-Ġebla tal-Ġeneral}}), ([[Gozo]])
* Għallis Rock ([[Naxxar]])
* [[Ħalfa Rock]] ([[Gozo]])
* Large Blue Lagoon Rocks ([[Comino]])
* [[Islands of St. Paul]]/Selmunett Island ([[Mellieħa]])
* [[Manoel Island]], which connects to the town of [[Gżira]], on the mainland via a bridge
* Mistra Rocks ([[San Pawl il-Baħar]])
* Taċ-Ċawl Rock ([[Gozo]])
* Qawra Point/Ta' Fraben Island ([[San Pawl il-Baħar]])
* Small Blue Lagoon Rocks ([[Comino]])
* Sala Rock ([[Żabbar]])
* Xrobb l-Għaġin Rock ([[Marsaxlokk]])
* Ta' taħt il-Mazz Rock
{{div col end}}

===Climate===
{{Main|Climate of Malta}}
Malta has a [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Csa''),<ref name=cia/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doi.gov.mt/en/islands/location.asp |title=The Maltese Islands|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703093532/http://www.doi.gov.mt/en/islands/location.asp |archive-date=3 July 2007 |publisher= Department of Information&nbsp;– Malta}}</ref> with mild winters and hot summers, hotter in the inland areas. Rain occurs mainly in autumn and winter, with summer being generally dry.

The average yearly temperature is around {{convert|23|°C|°F|abbr=on}} during the day and {{convert|15.5|°C|°F|abbr=on}} at night. In the coldest month&nbsp;– January&nbsp;– the typical maximum temperature ranges from {{convert|12|to|18|C|F}} during the day and minimum {{convert|6|to|12|C|F}} at night. In the warmest month&nbsp;– August&nbsp;– the typical maximum temperature ranges from {{convert|28|to|34|C|F}} during the day and minimum {{convert|20|to|24|C|F}} at night. Amongst all capitals in the continent of Europe, Valletta&nbsp;– the capital of Malta has the warmest winters, with average temperatures of around {{convert|15|to|16|°C|°F|abbr=on}} during the day and {{convert|9|to|10|°C|°F|abbr=on}} at night in the period January–February. In March and December average temperatures are around {{convert|17|°C|°F|abbr=on}} during the day and {{convert|11|°C|°F|abbr=on}} at night.<ref name="Met Office">[https://www.maltairport.com/weather/ Weather of Malta] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625202533/https://www.maltairport.com/weather/ |date=25 June 2017 }}&nbsp;– MET Office in Malta International Airport</ref> Large fluctuations in temperature are rare. Snow is very rare, although snowfalls have been recorded in the last century, the last one in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ltd |first=Allied Newspapers |title=Updated – 'Snowflakes' reported in several parts of Malta – Met Office 'monitoring' situation |date=31 December 2014 |url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20141231/local/updated-snowflakes-reported-in-several-parts-of-malta-met-office.550143 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930131435/https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20141231/local/updated-snowflakes-reported-in-several-parts-of-malta-met-office.550143 |archive-date=30 September 2017 |access-date=30 September 2017}}</ref>

The average annual sea temperature is {{convert|20|°C|0|abbr=on}}, from {{convert|15|-|16|C|F}} in February to {{convert|26|°C|0|abbr=on}} in August. In the 6 months&nbsp;– from June to November&nbsp;– the average sea temperature exceeds {{convert|20|°C|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="weather2travel">{{Cite web |title=Valletta Climate Guide |url=http://www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/malta/valletta.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101003085828/http://www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/malta/valletta.php |archive-date=3 October 2010 |access-date=5 June 2009}}</ref><ref name="maltaweather">{{Cite web |title=Malta's Climate |url=http://www.maltaweather.com/?page_id=37  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016040844/http://www.maltaweather.com/?page_id=37 |archive-date=16 October 2015 |access-date=5 November 2015 |website=maltaweather.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seatemperature.org/europe/malta/birzebbuga-december.htm |title=Birżebbuġa, Malta average sea temperature|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321074136/http://www.seatemperature.org/europe/malta/birzebbuga-december.htm |archive-date=21 March 2015|website= seatemperature.org}}</ref>

The annual average [[relative humidity]] is high, averaging 75%, ranging from 65% in July (morning: 78% evening: 53%) to 80% in December (morning: 83% evening: 73%).<ref name="weatherbase.com">{{Cite web |title=Valletta, Malta Travel Weather Averages |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=79561&refer=&units=metric |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403141404/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?refer=&s=79561&units=metric |archive-date=3 April 2016 |access-date=1 June 2015 |website=Weatherbase.com}}</ref>

[[Sunshine duration]] hours total around 3,000 per year, from an average 5.2 hours of sunshine duration per day in December to an average above 12 hours in July.<ref name=maltaweather /><ref name="noaa">{{Cite web |title=Climate Data for Luqa |url=ftp://dossier.ogp.noaa.gov/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-VI/ML/16597.TXT |access-date=15 October 2012 |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration}}</ref> This is about double that of cities in the northern half of Europe,{{Original research inline|date=March 2020}} for comparison: London&nbsp;– 1,461;<ref name="London_climate">{{Cite web |title=Met Office: Climate averages 1971–2000 |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235458/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/ |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=20 September 2011 |publisher=[[Met Office]]}}</ref> however, in winter it has up to four times more sunshine; for comparison: in December, London has 37 hours of sunshine<ref name=London_climate/> whereas Malta has above 160.

{{Weather box
|location = Malta ([[Luqa]] in the south-east part of main island, 1991–2020)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|width = auto
|Jan high C = 15.7
|Feb high C = 15.7
|Mar high C = 17.4
|Apr high C = 20.0
|May high C = 24.2
|Jun high C = 28.7
|Jul high C = 31.7
|Aug high C = 32.0
|Sep high C = 28.6
|Oct high C = 25.0
|Nov high C = 20.8
|Dec high C = 17.2
|year high C = 23.1
|Jan mean C = 12.9
|Feb mean C = 12.6
|Mar mean C = 14.1
|Apr mean C = 16.4
|May mean C = 20.1
|Jun mean C = 24.2
|Jul mean C = 26.9
|Aug mean C = 27.5
|Sep mean C = 24.9
|Oct mean C = 21.8
|Nov mean C = 17.9
|Dec mean C = 14.5
|year mean C = 19.5
|Jan low C = 10.1
|Feb low C = 9.5
|Mar low C = 10.9
|Apr low C = 12.8
|May low C = 15.8
|Jun low C = 19.6
|Jul low C = 22.1
|Aug low C = 23.0
|Sep low C = 21.2
|Oct low C = 18.4
|Nov low C = 14.9
|Dec low C = 11.8
|year low C = 15.9
|Jan precipitation mm = 79.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 73.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 45.3
|Apr precipitation mm = 20.7
|May precipitation mm = 11.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 6.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 0.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 17.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 60.7
|Oct precipitation mm = 81.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 91.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 93.7
|year precipitation mm = 580.7
|Jan precipitation days = 10.0
|Feb precipitation days = 8.2
|Mar precipitation days = 6.1
|Apr precipitation days = 3.8
|May precipitation days = 1.5
|Jun precipitation days = 0.8
|Jul precipitation days = 0.0
|Aug precipitation days = 1.0
|Sep precipitation days = 4.3
|Oct precipitation days = 6.6
|Nov precipitation days = 8.7
|Dec precipitation days = 10.0
|year precipitation days = 61
|unit precipitation days = 1.0&nbsp;mm
|Jan sun = 169.3
|Feb sun = 178.1
|Mar sun = 227.2
|Apr sun = 253.8
|May sun = 309.7
|Jun sun = 336.9
|Jul sun = 376.7
|Aug sun = 352.2
|Sep sun = 270.0
|Oct sun = 223.8
|Nov sun = 195.0
|Dec sun = 161.2
|year sun = 3054
|source 1 = ''Meteo Climate'' (1991–2020 Data),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luqa Weather Averages 1991–2020 |url=http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/listenormale-1991-2020-1-p138.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625082326/http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/listenormale-1991-2020-1-p138.php |archive-date=25 June 2022 |access-date=2 June 2015 |website=Meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org}}</ref> MaltaWeather.com (Sun data)<ref name="MaltaWeather">{{Cite web |title=Malta's Climate |url=http://www.maltaweather.com/information/maltas-climate/  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806124550/http://www.maltaweather.com/information/maltas-climate/ |archive-date=6 August 2015 |access-date=21 October 2013 |website=Maltaweather.com }}</ref>|date=October 2013}}

===Urbanisation===
[[File:Valletta, Malta.JPG|thumb|The main urban area of Malta. Valletta is the central peninsula.]]
According to [[Eurostat]], Malta is composed of two [[larger urban zones]] nominally referred to as "Valletta" (the main island of Malta) and "Gozo". The main urban area covers the entire main island, with a population of around 400,000.<ref>[http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=urb_lpop1&lang=en "Population on 1 January by age groups and sex – functional urban areas"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903213351/http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=urb_lpop1&lang=en |date=3 September 2015 }} Eurostat, 2015.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Population on 1 January by broad age group, sex and metropolitan regions |url=http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=met_pjanaggr3&lang=en  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822103143/http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=met_pjanaggr3&lang=en |archive-date=22 August 2016 |access-date=25 February 2019 |publisher=Eurostat}}</ref> The core of the urban area, the ''greater city'' of Valletta, has a population of 205,768.<ref name="Eurostat-city">[http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=urb_cpop1&lang=en "Population on 1 January by age groups and sex – cities and greater cities"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927224958/http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=urb_cpop1&lang=en |date=27 September 2015 }} Eurostat, 2015.</ref> According to the data from 2020 by [[Eurostat]], the Functional Urban Area and metropolitan region covered the whole island and has a population of 480,134.<ref name="Eurostat_FUA">{{cite web |date=2020 |title=Population on 1 January by age groups and sex – functional urban areas |url=http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=urb_lpop1&lang=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903213351/http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=urb_lpop1&lang=en |archive-date=3 September 2015 |access-date=5 March 2022 |website=[[Eurostat]]}}</ref><ref name="Eurostat-metro">{{cite web |date=2020 |title=Population on 1 January by broad age group, sex and metropolitan regions 2020 |url=http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=met_pjanaggr3&lang=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822103143/http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=met_pjanaggr3&lang=en |archive-date=22 August 2016 |access-date=5 March 2022 |website=[[Eurostat]]}}</ref> According to the United Nations, about 95 percent of the area of Malta is urban and the number grows every year.<ref name="WUP">[https://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wup2007/2007WUP_Highlights_web.pdf "World Urbanization Prospects"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525185336/http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wup2007/2007WUP_Highlights_web.pdf |date=25 May 2017 }} – Department of Economic and Social Affairs/Population Division, United Nations (Table A.2; page 79)</ref> According to ESPON and EU Commission studies, "the whole territory of Malta constitutes a single urban region".<ref name="ESPON-EUC">[http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/official/reports/coheter/coheter_en.pdf "Interim Territorial Cohesion Report"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423165806/http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/official/reports/coheter/coheter_en.pdf |date=23 April 2013 }} – Preliminary results of ESPON and EU Commission studies</ref>

Malta, with area of {{convert|316|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} and population of over 0.5&nbsp;million, is one of the [[List of sovereign states and dependent territories by population density|most densely populated]] countries worldwide. It is in some sources<ref name="GMB_Publishing">{{Cite book |last1=Terterov |first1=Marat |url=https://archive.org/details/doingbusinesswit00tert_454 |title=Doing Business with Malta |last2=Reuvid |first2=Jonathan |date=2005 |publisher=[[GMB Publishing]] |isbn=978-1-905050-63-5 |page=[https://archive.org/details/doingbusinesswit00tert_454/page/n194 167] |url-access=limited}}</ref><ref name="creativemalta">{{Citation |last=Creativemalta.gov.mt |title=Draft National Strategy for the Cultural and Creative Industries – Creative Malta |url=http://www.creativemalta.gov.mt/internationalisation/introduction  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728080308/http://www.creativemalta.gov.mt/internationalisation/introduction |access-date=17 August 2013 |archive-date=28 July 2013 }}</ref><ref name="doi">{{Citation |title=Flags, Symbols and their uses |url=https://www.gov.mt/en/About%20Malta/Pages/Flags-Symbols-and-their-use.aspx  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629143728/https://www.gov.mt/en/About%20Malta/Pages/Flags-Symbols-and-their-use.aspx |publisher=Department of Information of Malta |access-date=25 February 2019 |archive-date=29 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |year=2012 |title=Creativity Works – A report on Malta's Creative Economy strategy for the Cultural and Creative Industries – Part 3 |url=http://www.maltaculture.com/files/uploads/misc/PART%203%20Education-%20Route%20to%20Market%20-%20Internationalisation%20(8).pdf  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211080057/http://www.maltaculture.com/files/uploads/misc/PART%203%20Education-%20Route%20to%20Market%20-%20Internationalisation%20(8).pdf |archive-date=11 February 2017 |access-date=9 February 2017 |publisher=Malta Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Tourism |page=121}}</ref><ref>[https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/coins/html/mt.en.html Malta] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407084112/https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/coins/html/mt.en.html |date=7 April 2014 }} – European Central Bank.</ref> referred to as a [[city-state]]. Sometimes Malta is listed in rankings concerning cities<ref name="GFC">{{cite web|url=http://www.longfinance.net/images/GFCI18_23Sep2015.pdf |title=The Global Financial Centres|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227131528/http://www.longfinance.net/images/GFCI18_23Sep2015.pdf |archive-date=27 February 2017 |publisher=Qatar Financial Centre|year= 2015}}</ref> or metropolitan areas.<ref name="inta-aivn.org">[https://www.inta-aivn.org/images/cc/Metropolisation/background%20documents/Metropolitan_Europe_BBSR_Study.pdf Metropolitan areas in Europe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020042128/https://www.inta-aivn.org/images/cc/Metropolisation/background%20documents/Metropolitan_Europe_BBSR_Study.pdf |date=20 October 2016 }} – Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development, 2011.</ref>

===Flora===
{{main|Flora of Malta}}
[[File:Палеоцентаурея мальтийская.png|thumb|National plant: [[Cheirolophus crassifolius|Maltese centaury]] ({{lang|mt|Widnet il&#x2011;Baħar}}, since 1971)]]
Malta contains only 4.6 square kilometres of naturally regenerating forest, characterised by mature trees with a height of 2 to 5 meters. The overall area occupied by trees is estimated to be 320 square kilometres, which constitutes approximately 1.44% of the total land area of the archipelago. The most common indigenous tree species are the willow ([[Salix alba]]), poplar ([[Populus alba]]), olive (''[[Olive|Olea europaea]]''), carob (''[[Ceratonia siliqua]]''), oak (''[[Quercus ilex|Quericus ilex]] &'' [[Quercus rotundifolia]]), Aleppo pine (''[[Pinus halepensis]]''), laurel ([[Laurus nobilis]]) and fig (''[[Common fig|Ficus carica]]''), while the most common non-native trees are [[eucalyptus]], [[acacia]], [[date palm]] and [[Opuntia ficus-indica|opuntia]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 |page=22 |url=https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/33a5491a-bdfd-48a5-a6aa-b79599458add/content |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728180427/https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/33a5491a-bdfd-48a5-a6aa-b79599458add/content |archive-date=28 July 2024 |access-date=6 February 2025 |website=openknowledge.fao.org |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mifsud |first=Stephen |date=23 August 2002 |title=Wild Plants of Malta - Plant Family Index |url=https://maltawildplants.com/ |access-date=6 February 2025 |website=maltawildplants.com |language=en-us}}</ref> The Maltese islands are also home to a wide diversity of indigenous, sub-endemic and endemic plants.<ref>{{Cite web|title=State of the Environment Report 2005 - Sub-report 9: Biodiversity |url=https://era.org.mt/en/Documents/SOER%2005%20Sub%20Report%209%20-%20Biodiversity.pdf.pdf |date=January 2006 |website=[[Environment and Resources Authority]]  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107021301/https://era.org.mt/en/Documents/SOER%2005%20Sub%20Report%209%20-%20Biodiversity.pdf.pdf |archive-date=7 January 2018 |access-date=17 January 2020}}</ref> They feature many traits typical of a Mediterranean climate, such as drought resistance. Endemic plants include the national flower {{lang|mt|widnet il-baħar}} (''[[Cheirolophus crassifolius]]''), {{lang|mt|sempreviva ta' Malta}} ([[Helichrysum panormitanum subsp. melitense|''Helichrysum panormitanum'' subsp. ''melitense'']]), {{lang|mt|żigland t' Għawdex}} (''[[Hyoseris frutescens]]'') and {{lang|mt|ġiżi ta' Malta}} ([[Matthiola incana|''Matthiola incana'' subsp. ''melitensis'']]) while sub-endemics include {{lang|mt|kromb il-baħar}} ([[Jacobaea maritima|''Jacobaea maritima'' subsp. ''sicula'']]) and {{lang|mt|xkattapietra}} (''[[Micromeria microphylla]]'').<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mifsud |first=Stephen |title=Wild Plants of Malta and Gozo – Main Page |url=http://www.maltawildplants.com/  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201065313/http://www.maltawildplants.com/ |archive-date=1 February 2019 |access-date=24 January 2019 |website=Maltawildplants.com |language=en}}</ref> The biodiversity of Malta is severely endangered by habitat loss, invasive species and human intervention.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maltese Biodiversity under threat |date=13 February 2011 |url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2011-02-13/news/maltese-biodiversity-under-threat-287673/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124203324/http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2011-02-13/news/maltese-biodiversity-under-threat-287673/ |archive-date=24 January 2019 |access-date=24 January 2019 |website=The Malta Independent}}</ref>