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Location: Southeastern Europe, eastern Alps bordering the
Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia
Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 15 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 20,253 sq km
land: 20,253 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 1,334 km
border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 670 km, Italy 232
km, Hungary 102 km
Coastline: 46.6 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental
climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus
and valleys to the east
Terrain: a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine
mountain region adjacent to Italy and Austria, mixed mountain and
valleys with numerous rivers to the east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Triglav 2,864 m
Natural resources: lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium,
silver, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 24%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 7% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding and earthquakes
Environment - current issues: Sava River polluted with domestic
and industrial waste; pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals
and toxic chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution
(originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting
acid rain
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography
Slovenia, situated in the Balkan Peninsula, bounded on the north
by Austria, on the northeast by Hungary, on the southeast and south
by Croatia, and on the west by Italy and the Adriatic Sea.
Formerly a constituent republic of Yugoslavia, Slovenia proclaimed
its independence in June 1991. It joined the United Nations (UN)
in May 1992. The republic has an area of 20,253 sq km (7,820 sq
mi). Ljubljana is the capital and largest city.
Climate
Continental climate with warm summers and cold winters (snowfalls
in the Alps). Mediterranean climate on the coast.
Background:
In 1918 the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new
nation, renamed Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia
became a republic of the renewed Yugoslavia, which though communist,
distanced itself from Moscow's rule.
In 1946, Yugoslavia became a federal state consisting of six republics,
one of which was Slovenia.
Dissatisfied with the exercise of power of the majority Serbs, the
Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991. Historical
ties to Western Europe make Slovenia a candidate for future membership
in the EU.
Slovenia is a small, mountainous country in central Europe that
declared its independence in 1991.
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