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Detailed Data on Slovenia

The Scout Association of Slovenia

Interactive map of Slovenia

A guide to Virtual Slovenia

Slovenia

Slovenia (Slovenija, in Slovenian), a republic in southeastern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula, bounded to the north by Austria, to the northeast by Hungary, to the southeast and south by Croatia, and to 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 in May 1992. Slightly larger than the state of New Jersey in the United States, the republic has an area of 20,254 sq km (7820 sq mi). As of mid-1993 the population of Slovenia was estimated at 1,967,655. Ljubljana is the capital and largest city with a population of 323,291 (1991 census). The remainder live in rural areas throughout the republic, many in alpine villages, where skiing is one of the most popular forms of recreation. In the cities Slovenes enjoy concerts, operas, and art galleries.

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 2863 m (9393 ft) and forms part of the Julian Alps in the northwestern region of the republic. The Mura, Drava, and Sava rivers flow through the forested northeastern region of the republic. A stretch of coastline along the Adriatic Sea extending 46.6 km (27.96 mi) serves as the country's southwestern border.

The are two national symbols, the linden tree and Mount Triglav.

Slovenes, a Slavic ethnic group, constitute about 88 percent of Slovenia's population. Slovenes speak Slovenian, the republic's official language. Unlike other Slavic cultures, Slovenes have been heavily influenced by German and Austrian cultures for nearly a millennium.

The Slovenian government requires that all children receive eight years of primary education and four years of secondary education. Almost all Slovenians over the age of ten can read and write, and, although not obligatory by law, most students receive post-secondary or higher levels of education. There are 27 institutions of higher education; among them is the University of Ljubljana, which was founded in 1595.