The Kingdom of the NetherlandsThe country called the Kingdom of the Netherlands, or more often simply The Netherlands, is a fascinating place. Common images associated with this country include decorative wooden shoes, large white Dutch hats on little girls, elaborate sea wall systems, wooden windmills, and fields of colorful tulips. A land of diverse and varied history, the Netherlands has overcome intriguing struggles over several centuries, having impacted the world despite its small size. Among small countries in Europe, the Netherlands ranks thirty-first out of forty-five countries. The country has many valuable assets, such as the famous Ruhr industrial zone, coveted by ambitious Germans during World War II. It would be an understatement to say that the physical geography of the Netherlands is unique. Primarily a coastal plain area, the country is well known for its historic quest to hold back the sea. The legendary story of the alert little boy who prevented the sea wall from breaking by plugging a small hole with his finger epitomizes the battle. A break in the dike could cause great devastation, allowing the sea to take over the inhabited land that the Dutch had painfully reclaimed from the sea. The government continually implements reclamation programs, attempting to reclaim more and more of land from the sea by means of strategic breakwaters and sea walls. The climate is favorable; temperate, with marine characteristics. Cool summers and mild winters make the Netherlands attractive. Precipitation is evenly distributed, averaging 2 to 3 inches per month. Summer temperatures average in the 60s and 70s, and winter temperatures hover in the 40s. Located in continental Europe and bordering the North Sea, the Netherlands lies...... in the middle of paper ......e-world-factbook/geos/nl.html.Schaffner, Ms. Tawnja. Interview conducted by the author, October 30, 2011. Schuchart, Max. The Netherlands. New York: Walker and Company, 1972. State, Paul F. A Brief History of the Netherlands. New York: Facts on File, 2008. United Nations. “Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg (Benelux) and Barbados. » United Nations treaties. 1971. http://untreaty.un.org/unts/1_60000/23/9/00044428.pdf. Wikipedia. “Marc Rutte.” Wikipedia. 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Rutte.Wikipedia. "The Netherlands." Wikipedia. 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands#ClimateWikipedia. “Same-sex marriage in the Netherlands.” Wikipedia. 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_the_Netherlands. World Trade Organization (WTO). “Members and observers”. World Trade Organization. 2011. http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org6_e.htm .