Slovenia:
Geography

Pages for other countries and territories

Other pages in this profile of Slovenia:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Background	Definition The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational state, which was named 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 by 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. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Location	Definition Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia
Geographic coordinates	Definition 46 07 N, 14 49 E
Map references	Definition Europe
Area	Definition - World rank and map total: 20,273 sq km land: 20,151 sq km water: 122 sq km
Area - comparative	Definition slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries	Definition total: 1,370 km border countries: Austria 318 km, Croatia 670 km, Hungary 102 km, Italy 280 km
Coastline	Definition 46.6 km
Maritime claims	Definition territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate	Definition Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east
Terrain	Definition 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	Definition lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Triglav 2,864 m
Natural resources	Definition lignite coal, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, forests
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 8.53% permanent crops: 1.43% other: 90.04% (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition 30 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources	Definition 32.1 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)	Definition total: 0.9 per capita: 457 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards	Definition flooding and earthquakes
Environment - current issues	Definition 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	Definition party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, 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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note	Definition despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe's major transit routes

Slovenia: Geography

Slovenia:
Geography