Slovenia

I

Introduction

Slovenia (in Slovenian, Slovenija), republic in south-central Europe, bordered on the north by Austria, on the north-east by Hungary, on the south-east and south by Croatia, and on the west by Italy and the Adriatic Sea. Formerly a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Slovenia proclaimed its independence in June 1991. The republic has an area of 20,253 sq km (7,820 sq mi). Ljubljana is the capital and largest city.

II

Land and Resources

Slovenia is mountainous, much like Austria to the north and northern Italy to the west, and has heavily forested regions. The eastern third of the republic lies within the Karst, a barren limestone plateau broken by depressions and ridges. The highest point in the country, Mount Triglav, rises 2,863 m (9,393 ft) and forms part of the Julian Alps in the north-western region of the republic.

A

Rivers and Lakes

The Mura, Drava, and Sava rivers flow through the forested north-eastern region of the republic. A 47 km (29 mi) stretch of coastline along the Adriatic Sea serves as the country’s south-western border.

B

Climate

Towns along the coast enjoy a warm Mediterranean climate, while those in the mountains to the north often have harsh winters and rainy summers. The plateaux to the east, where Ljubljana is situated, have a more moderate continental climate, with warm to hot summers and cold winters.