Slovenia
Full name: Republic of Slovenia (Republika Slovenija)
Inhabitants: 2,048,488 (April 2010)
Capital: Ljubljana, population 260,000; more>>
State: Democratic parliamentary republic since 25 June 1991, Member of the European Union since 1 May 2004, more on the political system>>
Currency: Euro
Official languages: Slovene; in some nationally mixed border areas also Hungarian and Italian
Other languages: English, German, Croatian, Serbian
Largest cities: Maribor, Kranj, Celje, Koper, Novo mesto, Velenje
Religion: Roman Catholic (58%, 2002 census); together there are 43 religious communities registered in Slovenia; among the oldest is the Evangelical Church, most widely spread in the northeastern part of Slovenia
Area: 20,273 km²
Length of borders: 1,370 km (with Austria 318 km, with Italy 280 km, with Hungary 102 km, with Croatia 670 km)
Length of coastline: 46.6 km
Relief: The territory of Slovenia is geographically divided into four basic types of landscape - Alpine in the north, (42.1%), Mediterranean in the south-west (8.6%), Dinaric in the south (28.1%), and Pannonian in the east (21.2%)
Climate: Alpine, Continental, Mediterranean
Forests: almost 58% of the Slovenia territory
Highest mountain: Triglav 2,864 m
Largest protected area: Triglavski narodni park: 83,807 ha (4% of the territory of Slovenia)
Largest underground cave: Postojnska jama (19.5 km)
Largest lake: Cerknica Lake (intermittent) - 26 km²
Longest river: Sava - 221 km
More information in the Booklet Facts about Slovenia.
It only measures 20,273 square kilometres and is barely 300 kilometres across. But it is large enough to have everything: the Alps, the Mediterranean, the Pannonian Plain, and the mysterious Karst. The only one of its kind in the European Union. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so Slovenia will seem even more beautiful in the year of its independence celebrations. Join us and see for yourself.
National anthem:
God's blessing on all nations,
Who long and work for that bright day,
When o'er earth's habitations
No war, no strife shall hold its sway;
Who long to see
That all men free
No more shall foes, but neighbours be.
(seventh stanza of Zdravljica / Toast by the poet France Prešeren (1800 - 1949), translated by Janko Lavrin)