Slovenia: Background & Geography

Introduction Slovenia
Background:
 The Slovene lands were part of the Holy Roman Empire and Austria until 1918 when the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational state, 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. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power of the majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short 10-day war. Historical ties to Western Europe, a strong economy, and a stable democracy have assisted in Slovenia's transformation to a modern state. In a March 2003 referendum on NATO and EU membership, Slovenes voted 90% in favor of joining the EU and 66% in favor of joining NATO. Slovenia is scheduled to accede to both organizations in the early months of 2004.
Geography Slovenia
Location:
 Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia
Geographic coordinates:
 46 07 N, 14 49 E
Map references:
 Europe
Area:
 total: 20,273 sq km
water: 122 sq km
land: 20,151 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 - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
 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 mountains 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, forests
Land use:
 arable land: 11.48%
permanent crops: 2.68%
other: 85.84% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
 20 sq km (1998 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-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
 despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe's major transit routes

See Also: