Solve these clues to fill the grid.
- Biggest country in the world by area
- 3 Across
- A landlocked socialist republic in central Asia
- 5 Across
- Country north of the USA known for maple syrup
- 7 Across
- A former republic in central Europe
- 9 Across
- A republic in northwestern South America with a coastline on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea
- 11 Across
- A republic in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea
- 12 Across
- Largest country in South America
- 14 Across
- A republic in southern South America
- 16 Across
- Country in Asia with the Taj Mahal
- 1 Down
- A member of a Buddhist people inhabiting the area of the Mekong River in ___ and Thailand (plural)
- 2 Down
- North American republic containing 50 ___ - 48 conterminous ___ in North America plus Alaska
- 4 Down
- The capital and largest city of ___
- 6 Down
- A republic at the ___ part of ___
- 8 Down
- An absolute monarchy occupying most of the ___ Peninsula in southwest Asia
- 10 Down
- European country whose capital is Berlin
- 13 Down
- A small landlocked Asian country high in the Himalayas between India and China
- 15 Down