www.maltapost.com

The islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino, in the centre of the Mediterranean, have a total land area of just 316 square kilometres and lie midway between the south of Sicily and the north of Africa. The islands were created in the Triassic era, some 200 million years ago, and despite their size, are rich in archaeological remains, with temples dating back thousands of years. The islands enjoy a classic Mediterranean climate mix of moist winters and long, dry hot summers, with an average temperature of 19 degrees Celsius, although it can get much hotter when winds blow north from Africa. The stamp included in the 2007 folder is from a painting executed by well-known local artist John Martin Borg.