A national flag is a flag that represents and symbolizes a country. Flags come in many shapes and designs, which often represent something about the country or people that the flag represents. Common design elements of flags include shapes such as stars, stripes, and crosses, layout elements such as including a canton (a rectangle with a distinct design, such as another national flag), and the overall shape of a flag, such as the aspect ratio of a rectangular flag (whether the flag is square or rectangle, and how wide it is) or the choice of a non-rectangular flag. Sometimes these flags are used to represent languages.
Many countries with shared history, culture, ethnicity, or religion have similarities in their flags that represent this connection. Sets of flags in this list within the same category may represent countries' shared connections, or the design similarity may be a coincidence.
Circle
One circle in center
One circle on hoist
Bangladesh
Greenland (autonomous territory of Denmark)
North Korea
Namibia
New Caledonia (French overseas collectivity)
Palau
Portugal
Rwanda
One broken or implied circle
Afghanistan (2013–2021)
Cape Verde
Cook Islands (associated state of New Zealand)
Dominica
Eritrea
Europe (various organisations)
French Polynesia (overseas territory of France)
Northern Mariana Islands (unincorporated territory of US)
Coat of arms
- Afghanistan (2013–2021)
Andorra
Anguilla (UK overseas territory)
Austria (civil flag is without the arms)
Ascension Island (UK overseas territory)
Belize
Bermuda (UK overseas territory)
Bolivia (civil flag is without the arms)
British Antarctic Territory (UK overseas territory)
British Indian Ocean Territory (UK overseas territory)
British Virgin Islands (UK overseas territory)
Cayman Islands (UK overseas territory)
Costa Rica (civil flag is without the arms)
Croatia
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
El Salvador
Falkland Islands (UK overseas territory)
Fiji- French Polynesia
Germany (civil flag is without the arms)
Gibraltar (UK overseas territory)
Guam
Guatemala
Haiti
Jersey
Mayotte (French overseas department, used unofficially) — two seahorses
Moldova
Montserrat (UK overseas territory)
Mexico
Montenegro
Nicaragua- Northern Mariana Islands (unincorporated organized US territory)
Paraguay
Poland (civil flag is without the arms)- Portugal
Peru (civil flag is without the arms)
Pitcairn Islands (UK overseas territory)
San Marino (civil flag is without the arms)
Saint Barthélemy (French overseas department, used unofficially)
Saint Helena (UK overseas territory)
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sint Maarten
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (UK overseas territory)
Tristan da Cunha (UK overseas territory)
Turks and Caicos Islands (UK overseas territory)
United States Virgin Islands
Venezuela (civil flag is without the arms)
Vatican City
Crescent
Facing up
Facing fly
Algeria
Azerbaijan
Bangsamoro (autonomous region in the Philippines)
Comoros
Karakalpakstan (autonomous republic of Uzbekistan)
Libya
Malaysia
Maldives
Northern Cyprus (recognized only by Turkey)
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (partially recognized)
Singapore
Tunisia
Turkey
Uzbekistan
Facing diagonally
Cross
Summarize
Perspective
Upright centred cross
Saint George's Cross
England (UK constituent country)
Guernsey (UK crown dependency)
Northern Ireland (UK constituent country)
Malta
Kingdom of Great Britain
United Kingdom
Nordic Cross
Nordic Cross in two colors
Nordic Cross in three colors
Åland (autonomous region of Finland)
Faroe Islands (autonomous territory of Denmark)
Iceland
Norway
Diagonal cross
Burundi
Jamaica
Seychelles (1976–1977)
St Andrew's Cross
- Jersey (UK crown dependency)
Scotland (UK constituent country)- United Kingdom
- Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1801)
Upright and diagonal centred crosses
Basque Country (autonomous community of Spain)
North Macedonia- United Kingdom
- Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1801)
One cross in emblem
- Fiji
Greece- Malta
Marshall Islands- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Montserrat (UK overseas territory)
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Spain
Tonga- Vatican City
Union Jack
Australia- Anguilla (UK overseas territory)
- Ascension Island (UK overseas territory)
- Bermuda (UK overseas territory)
- British Antarctic Territory (UK overseas territory)
- British Indian Ocean Territory (UK overseas territory)
- British Virgin Islands (UK overseas territory)
- Cayman Islands (UK overseas territory)
- Cook Islands (self-governing island nation in free association with New Zealand)
- Falkland Islands (UK overseas territory)
- Fiji
- Heard and McDonald Islands (Australian external territory)
- Montserrat (UK overseas territory)
New Zealand
Niue (self-governing island nation in free association with New Zealand)- Pitcairn Islands (with Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands — UK overseas territory)
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (UK overseas territory)
- Saint Helena (UK overseas territory)
- Tristan da Cunha (UK overseas territory)
- Turks and Caicos Islands (UK overseas territory)
Tuvalu- United Kingdom
Historically
Canada (1868–1921)
Canada (1921–1957)
Canada (1957–1965)
Kingdom of Hawaiʻi (19th century)
South Africa (1928–1994)
United States (1776–1777)
Notably, the Union Jack features in many territorial and sub-national flags usually based on the Red Ensign (e.g., 
Bermuda) or Blue Ensign (e.g., 
New South Wales). The British Ensign in a few cases have backgrounds of other colours (e.g. 
British Antarctic Territory and 
Niue) or a unique pattern in the field (e.g. 
British Indian Ocean Territory and 
Hawaii). Some flags put the Union Jack somewhere other than the canton (e.g. 
British Columbia). Unofficial flags, such as 
Ross Dependency also use it.
Living organism
Summarize
Perspective
Human and body parts
- Belize — agricultural workers
- Malta — St George fighting a dragon
Herm — three Benedictine monks
Argentina — sun with a face- Ecuador — sun with a face
Uruguay — sun with a face
Brunei — two hands
Abkhazia (partially recognized) — hand
Isle of Man (UK crown dependency) three conjoined legs- British Virgin Islands (UK overseas territory) — Vestal Virgin
- Montserrat (UK overseas territory) — woman
Animal
Bird
- Ascension Island (UK overseas territory) — sea gulls and turtles
- Bolivia — andean condor and llama
- British Antarctic Territory (UK overseas territory) — emperor penguin
Christmas Island (external territory of Australia) — golden bosun- Dominica — sisserou parrot
- Ecuador — andean condor
- Fiji — white dove of peace and yellow lion
- Guatemala — quetzal
Kiribati — frigatebird
Papua New Guinea — raggiana bird-of-paradise- Saint Barthelemy (French overseas department, used unofficially) — two pelicans
- Saint Helena (UK overseas territory) — Saint Helena plover
- Sint Maarten (constituent country of the Netherlands) — pelican
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (UK overseas territory) — macaroni penguin
Uganda — grey crowned crane
Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe Bird
Eagle
Albania — double-headed eagle
American Samoa (US overseas territory) — bald eagle- Austria (state version) — eagle
- Egypt — Eagle of Saladin
- Germany (state version) — eagle
Kazakhstan — steppe eagle- Mexico — eagle and snake
- Moldova — eagle and aurochs
- Montenegro — double-headed eagle and lion
- Poland (state version) — eagle
- Serbia — double-headed eagle
- United States Virgin Islands (US overseas territory) — eagle
Zambia — African fish eagle
Lion
- Bermuda (UK overseas territory) — lion
- Fiji — white dove of peace and lion
- Jersey (self-governing dependency of the UK) — lion
- Montenegro — double-headed eagle and lion
- Paraguay — lion
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (UK overseas territory) — lion
- Spain — lion
Sri Lanka — golden lion
Tasmania (Australian state) — red lion
Livestock
Other
Historically
Plants
- Bolivia — palm, laurel and olive branches
- British Indian Ocean Territory (UK Overseas Territory) — palm tree
Canada — maple leaf
Cyprus — olive branches
Grenada — clove of nutmeg- Eritrea — olive branch
- Equatorial Guinea — silk-cotton tree
- Fiji — sugarcane, coconut palm, and banana
- Haiti — royal palm tree
Hong Kong (special administrative region in China) — Hong Kong orchid
Lebanon — Cedar of Lebanon
Macao (special administrative region in China) — lotus flower- Mexico — cactus
- Northern Mariana Islands (unincorporated territory of US) — garland of flowers
- Sri Lanka — leaves of bodhi tree
Vanuatu — leaves of namele tree
Historically
Republic of the Congo — palm leaves
Myanmar (1974–2010) — rice plant
Fleur-de-lis
Guadeloupe (overseas department of France)
Quebec (province of Canada)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992–1998)- Saint-Barthélemy (overseas collectivity of France)
- Serbia
- Spain
Objects
Astronomical
Sun
Antigua and Barbuda- Argentina
- Bangladesh
Republic of China (Taiwan)- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Greenland (autonomous territory of Denmark)
Japan- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
Kyrgyzstan
Malawi- Marshall Islands
- Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Niger
Philippines- Rwanda
- Sint Maarten
- Uruguay
Moon
Full Moon
Crescent Moon
- Algeria
Mauritania- Northern Cyprus (recognized only by Turkey)
Pakistan- Tunisia
- Turkey
Star
Five-pointed star
One five-pointed star in center
- Algeria
Angola
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Ethiopia
Ghana- Libya
- Mauritania
Morocco
Myanmar- Northern Cyprus (recognized only by Turkey)
- Northern Mariana Islands (unincorporated territory of US)
- Pakistan
- Paraguay
- Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (partially recognized)
Senegal
Somalia
Somaliland (unrecognized)
Suriname- Tunisia
- Turkey
Vietnam
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1946–1992)
One five-pointed star on hoist
Catalonia (autonomous community of Spain)
Central African Republic
Cuba
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
East Timor
Guinea-Bissau
Mozambique- North Korea
Puerto Rico (unincorporated territory of US)
South Sudan
West Papua (partially recognized)- Zimbabwe
One five-pointed star on canton
Many equal five-pointed stars
- Abkhazia (partially recognized) (7)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (7 full stars and 2 half-stars)- Comoros (4)
- Costa Rica (State Flag) (7)
Federated States of Micronesia (4)
Honduras (5)- Hong Kong (5)
Kosovo (partially recognized) (6)
Panama (2)- Philippines (3)
Saint Kitts and Nevis (2)
São Tomé and Príncipe (2)- Singapore (5)
Solomon Islands (5)
Syria (2)
Tajikistan (7)
Turkmenistan (5)- Tuvalu (9)
United States (50)- Uzbekistan (12)
Venezuela (8)
Many equal five-pointed stars in circle pattern
- Cape Verde (10)
- Cook Islands (associated state of New Zealand) (15)
- Dominica (10)
- European Union (international organisation) (12)
Many unequal five-pointed stars
Brazil (27)
Curacao (constituent country of the Netherlands) (2)- Grenada (7)
- Macau (special administrative region of China) (5)
- New Zealand (4)
- Niue (associated state of New Zealand) (5)
- Papua New Guinea (5)
People's Republic of China (5)
Samoa (5)
Tokelau (dependent territory of New Zealand) (4)
Six-pointed star
One six-pointed star
Many equal six-pointed stars
- Burundi (3)
- Equatorial Guinea (6)
- Slovenia (3)
Many-pointed star
One many-pointed star
Jordan (7)- Malaysia (14)
- Marshall Islands (24)
- Namibia (12)
- Nauru (12)
- Azerbaijan (8)
Many many-pointed stars
- Australia (one 5-pointed star, five 7-pointed stars)
Stars and stripes
Stars and alternating stripes
- Catalonia (autonomous community of Spain)
- Cuba
Liberia- Malaysia
- Puerto Rico (unincorporated territory of US)
Togo- United States
- West Papua (partially recognized)
Stars and varying stripes
Aruba (constituent country of the Netherlands)- Azerbaijan
- Cape Verde
Chile- Comoros
- Croatia
- Djibouti
Gagauzia- Ghana
- Guinea-Bissau
- Honduras
- Jordan
- North Korea
- Libya
- Myanmar
- Nauru
- Philippines
- Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (partially recognized)
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Singapore
- Slovenia
- Somaliland (unrecognized)
- South Sudan
- Suriname
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Uzbekistan
- Venezuela
Stars in southern cross pattern
- Australia
- Christmas Island (external territory of Australia)
- Brazil
- New Zealand
- Papua New Guinea
- Samoa
- Tokelau (dependent territory of New Zealand)
Book
Building
- Afghanistan (2013–2021) — mosque
- Bolivia — church (Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus)
Cambodia — Angkor Wat- Gibraltar (UK overseas territory) — castle
- Kyrgyzstan (sun with the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt)
- Portugal — seven castles
- San Marino — three castles
- Sint Maarten (constituent country of the Netherlands) — courthouse
- Spain — castle
Headgear
Free City of Danzig (1920–1939) — King's Crown
Bolivia — Phrygian cap- British Indian Ocean Territory (UK Overseas Territory) — St Edward's Crown
- El Salvador — Phrygian cap
- Haiti — Phrygian cap
Lesotho — Mokorotlo
Liechtenstein — Crown- Montenegro — Crown
- Nicaragua — Phrygian cap
- Paraguay reverse side — Phrygian cap
Seborga (unrecognized micronation) — Crown- Serbia — Crown
- Spain — Crown
- Vatican City — Papal tiara
Machine, tool, or instrument
- American Samoa (US overseas territory) — fly-whisk
- Angola — half-gear and machete
- Austria (state version) — broken chain, hammer and sickle (non-communist)
- Belize — axes, saw
- British Antarctic Territory (UK overseas territory) — torch
East Germany (1959–1990) – hammer, compass- Gibraltar (UK overseas territory) — key
India — Ashoka Chakra or wheel of Dharma- Mozambique — hoe
- Myanmar (1974–2010) — gear
- Portugal — armillary sphere
Soviet Union (1917–1991) — hammer and sickle
Transnistria — hammer and sickle
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Map
Bangladesh (1971)
Antarctica- Christmas Island (external territory of Australia)
- Cyprus
- Kosovo (partly recognized)
Ships
- Belize
- Bermuda (UK overseas territory)
- British Antarctic Territory (UK overseas territory) — RRS Discovery
- Costa Rica
- Ecuador
- Falkland Islands (UK overseas territory)
- French Polynesia (overseas collectivity of France)
Weaponry
- American Samoa (US overseas territory) — war club
- Angola — machete
Barbados — (trident-head)- Bangsamoro — kris (autonomous region of the Philippines)
- Bolivia — cannon, rifles and axe
Eswatini — spears and shield- Guatemala — rifles
- Haiti — cannon
Kenya — spears and Maasai shield- Mozambique — AK-47 with a bayonet and axe
Oman — swords and Khanjar
Saudi Arabia — sword- Sri Lanka — sword
- Venezuela — sword, sabre and three lances
Other symbols
Mongolia — Soyombo symbol
Rwanda — Letter R, 1962–2001
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines — Three diamonds in a V pattern
South Korea — Taegeuk and four black trigrams
Zaire — Hand holding Leading Torch, 1971–1997
Text
Country name
Motto
Afghanistan (under an unrecognized government) – the Shahada (an Islamic creed meaning "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet") written in the Thuluth script.- Andorra – "VIRTVS VNITA FORTIOR", Classical Latin for "United virtue is stronger".
- Belize – "Sub Umbra Floreo", meaning "Under the Shade I Flourish" in Latin.
- British Antarctic Territory (UK overseas territory) — "Research and Discovery"
- Brazil – "Ordem e Progresso", meaning "Order and Progress" in Portuguese.
- Equatorial Guinea – "Unidad, Paz, Justicia", meaning "Unity, Peace, Justice" in Spanish
Iran – the Takbir ("Allahu akbar", which means "God is [the] greatest") written in the Kufic script 11 times.
Iraq – the Takbir written in the Kufic script.- San Marino – "LIBERTAS", Latin for "Freedom".
- Saudi Arabia – the Shahada (an Islamic creed meaning "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet") written in the Thuluth script.
- Somaliland – the Shahada
- Spain – "PLVS VLTRA", Latin for "Further beyond".
Country name and motto
- Afghanistan (2013–2021) – the lowest line of text reads Afghanistan in the Pashto alphabet, and the calligraphic text at the top is the Shahada with the Takbir written beneath it.
- Brunei – the line of text on the crescent reads "Always render service with God's guidance", while the lower line reads Brunei Darussalam, both in the Jawi script.
- El Salvador – the name of the country encircles the coat of arms, which features the motto "Dios, Unión, Libertad" (Spanish for "God, Unity, Freedom") inside.
- Dominican Republic – the motto "Dios, Patria, Libertad" (meaning "God, Homeland, Freedom" in Spanish) can be read above the coat of arms at the center, below is the name of the country.
Other texts
California – the name of the short lived and unrecognized state "California Republic", which preceded California's admission into the Union.- Dominican Republic – the Bible is opened to the Gospel of John, chapter 8, verse 32, which reads “Y la verdad los hará libres”, which translates to “And the truth shall set you free” from Spanish.
- Guatemala – "Libertad 15 de septiembre de 1821", a combination of the Spanish word for "Freedom" and the date of independence of the former Federal Republic of Central America from Spain.
- Haiti – "L'union fait la force" (meaning "Union makes strength" in French), which is different from the country's official motto "Liberté, égalité, fraternité".
- Malta – "For Gallantry" can be read at the George Cross carried in the canton.
Quadrilateral
Bordering stripe
Upper left quarter
Historically
Georgia (1918–1921)
Georgian SSR (1951–1990) (Constituent republic of the Soviet Union)
Georgia (1990–2004)- Myanmar (1974–2010)
Vertical stripe on hoist
Belarus
Benin- Guinea-Bissau
Madagascar- Oman
- Pakistan
Saudi Arabia (1744–1818; 1822–1913, hoist at right)
South African Republic (1852–1902)
Republic of Texas (1839–1845)
United Arab Emirates
Valencia (autonomous community of Spain)- West Papua (partially recognized)
Four parts
Two equal squares and two equal rectangles meeting on hoist
- Åland (autonomous region of Finland)
Denmark- Faroe Islands (autonomous territory of Denmark)
Finland- Iceland
Kalmar Union (1397–1523)- Norway
Scania (province of Sweden)
Sweden
Four equal rectangles meeting at center
- England (UK constituent country)
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Guernsey (UK crown dependency)
- Panama
Triangle
Triangle(s) in center
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
Israel (6 making shape, 2 to draw it)
Saint Lucia
Triangle(s) on hoist
Bahamas- Catalonia (autonomous community of Spain)
- Comoros
- Cuba
Czech Republic- Djibouti
- East Timor
- Eritrea
- Equatorial Guinea
Guyana- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Mozambique
Martinique (overseas department of France)
Palestine- Philippines
- Puerto Rico (unincorporated territory of US)
- Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (partially recognized)
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Sint Maarten (constituent country of the Netherlands)
South Africa- South Sudan
Sudan
Tigray (national regional state of Ethiopia)
Tuva (republic of Russia)- Vanuatu
- Zimbabwe
Triangle(s) pointing towards hoist
- American Samoa (US overseas territory)
Triangles meeting at center
- Basque Country (autonomous community of Spain)
- Burundi
- Grenada
- Jamaica
- Jersey (UK crown dependency)
- North Macedonia
- Scotland (UK constituent country)
- Seychelles (1976–1977)
- United Kingdom
Diagonal stripes
Two diagonal stripes
Bhutan- Christmas Island (external territory of Australia)
- Papua New Guinea
Three fimbriated diagonal stripes
Many radiating diagonal stripes
- Guyana (6)
- Eritrea (3)
- Marshall Islands (4)
Seychelles (5)
Pall
Horizontal stripes in two colors
Two horizontal stripes
Equal
- Angola
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Czech Republic
- Djibouti
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
Indonesia- Liechtenstein
- Madagascar
Monaco- Philippines
Poland- Singapore
- Sint Maarten
- San Marino
Ukraine
Wales (UK constituent country)
Unequal
- Belarus
Byelorussia (1951–1991)- Gibraltar (UK overseas territory)
Ukraine (1950–1992)
Three horizontal stripes
Equal
Thin-and-thick
- Belize
- Cambodia
- French Polynesia (overseas collectivity of France)
- Guam (unincorporated territory of US)
Laos
Latvia- Lebanon
- Mauritania
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Spain
Transnistria (unrecognized)
Fimbriated thin-and-thick
Many horizontal stripes
Equal
- Abkhazia (partially recognized) (7)
- Catalonia (autonomous community of Spain) (9)
- Cuba (5)
- Greece (9)
- Liberia (11)
- Malaysia (14)
- Puerto Rico (unincorporated territory of US) (5)
- Seborga (unrecognized micronation) (18)
- Togo (5)
- United States (13)
- Uruguay (9)
- West Papua (partially recognized) (13)
Unequal
- Aruba (constituent country of the Netherlands) (5)
South Vietnam (1949–1975) (7)
Horizontal stripes in three colors
Three horizontal stripes
Equal
Armenia
Republic of Artsakh (unrecognized, 1992–2023)- Azerbaijan
- Bangsamoro (autonomous region in the Philippines)
- Bolivia
Bulgaria- Croatia
- Egypt
Estonia- Ethiopia
Gabon
Germany- Ghana
- Equatorial Guinea
Hungary- India
- Iran
- Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan (autonomous region in Iraq)- Jordan
Kuwait
Lithuania
Luxembourg- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
Netherlands
New Caledonia (overseas collectivity of France)- Niger
- Oman
- Palestine
- Paraguay
Russian Federation- Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (partially recognized)
Sierra Leone- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Somaliland (unrecognized)
South Ossetia (partially recognized)- Sudan
- Syria
- United Arab Emirates
- Venezuela
Yemen
Zanzibar (semi-autonomous region in Tanzania)
Fimbriated equal
Unequal
Afghanistan (1974–1978)- Antigua and Barbuda
Colombia
Crimea (disputed)- Ecuador
Gambia- Lesotho
- Libya
- Rwanda
- Tajikistan
Five horizontal stripes
Unequal
Horizontal stripes in many colors
Four equal horizontal stripes in four colors
Five equal horizontal stripes in five colors
Republic of China (1912–1928) (Taiwan)
Vertical stripes in two colors
Two equal vertical stripes
Two unequal vertical stripes
Russian SFSR (Constituent republic of the Soviet Union)- Pakistan
- Portugal
Two unequal serrated vertical stripes
Three equal vertical stripes
Three unequal vertical stripes
- Canada
Norfolk Island (Australian external territory)
Vertical stripes in three colors
Three equal vertical stripes
Unique aspect ratio
Most common aspect ratio is 2:3, followed by 1:2.
The following flags have a distinctive aspect ratio:
Belgium: Aspect ratio of 13:15- El Salvador: Aspect ratio of 189:335
- Monaco: Aspect ratio of 4:5
- Nepal: The only national flag that is not rectangular, being made with 5 sides, and the only one that is higher than wide. Bordering aspect ratio of ~ 6:5
- Niger: Aspect ratio of 6:7
Qatar: The largest aspect ratio of any national flag, the flag's width 2.545 times as large as the height. Aspect ratio of 11:28
Switzerland: (Square-shaped) Aspect ratio of 1:1- Togo: The golden ratio which is roughly around 1.618035; Aspect ratio of 2:3.23607 or ~ 8:13
- Vatican City: Undefined. The aspect ratio is usually defined around 1:1. However, it is not exactly 1:1.[1]
See also
References
External links
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