The Kingdom of the NetherlandsThe country called the Kingdom of the Netherlands, or more often simply the Netherlands, is an intriguing place. Common images associated with this country include decorative wooden shoes, large white Dutch hats on little girls, elaborate dike systems, wooden windmills, and fields of colorful tulips. A land of diverse and varied history, the Netherlands has overcome intriguing struggles over many centuries, influencing the world despite its small size. Among the smallest countries in Europe, the Netherlands ranks thirty-first out of forty-five countries. The country has many valuable resources, such as the famous Ruhr industrial area, 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 lowland coastal area, the country is well known for its historic quest to hold back the sea. The legendary story of the vigilant boy who prevented the dam from collapsing by plugging a small hole with his finger embodies the battle. The failure of a dike could have unleashed great devastation, allowing the sea to invade the inhabited lands that the Dutch had painstakingly reclaimed from the sea. The government continually implements reclamation programs, attempting to remove more and more territory from the sea through strategic dams and embankments. The climate is favorable; temperate, with marine characteristics. Cool summers and mild winters make the Netherlands attractive. Precipitation is evenly distributed, averaging 2-3 inches per month. Summer temperatures average in the 60s to 70s, while winter temperatures hover around the 40s. Located in continental Europe and bordering the North Sea, the Netherlands is located...... center of the map......e-world-factbook/geos/nl.html.Schaffner, Mrs. Tawnja. Author interview, October 30, 2011.Schuchart, Max. 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, Luxembourg (Benelux) and Barbados." United Nations treaties. 1971. http://untreaty.un.org/unts/1_60000/23/9/00044428.pdf .Wikipedia. "Mark Rutte." Wikipedia. 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Rutte.Wikipedia. "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 .