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Slovak Republic | |
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Travel Information
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Slovak
Republic Travel Guide: Facts on the Slovak Republic |
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| History Geography People Economy Communications Transportation | ||
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Map of the Slovak Republic and its major cities
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| History | Top of Page | |
| In 1918 the Slovaks joined the closely related Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. Following the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia became a Communist nation within Soviet-ruled Eastern Europe. Soviet influence collapsed in 1989 and Czechoslovakia once more became free. The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully on 1 January 1993. Slovakia was invited to join NATO and the EU in 2002. | ||
| Geography | Top of Page | |
| Location | Central Europe, south of Poland | |
| Geographic Coordinates | 48 40 N, 19 30 E | |
| Area |
Total: 48,845 sq km Water: 45 sq km Land: 48,800 sq km |
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| Area - Comparative | About twice the size of New Hampshire | |
| Land Boundaries |
Total: 1,524 km Border countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, Hungary 677 km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 97 km |
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| Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) | |
| Climate | Temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters | |
| Terrain | Rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south | |
| Elevation Extremes |
Lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m Highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m |
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| Natural Resources | Brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land | |
| Geography Note | Landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys | |
| Natural hazards | NA | |
| People | Top of Page | |
| Population | 5,430,033 (July 2003 est.) | |
| Age Structure |
0-14 years: 17.8% (male 495,316; female 471,823) 15-64 years: 70.5% (male 1,903,335; female 1,924,065) 65 years and over: 11.7% (male 238,912; female 396,582) (2003 est.) |
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| Nationality |
Noun: Slovak(s) Adjective: Slovak |
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| Ethnic Groups | Slovak 85.7%, Hungarian 10.6%, Roma 1.6% (the 1992 census figures underreport the Gypsy/Romany community, which is about 500,000), Czech, Moravian, Silesian 1.1%, Ruthenian and Ukrainian 0.6%, German 0.1%, Polish 0.1%, other 0.2% (1996) | |
| Religions | Roman Catholic 60.3%, atheist 9.7%, Protestant 8.4%, Orthodox 4.1%, other 17.5% | |
| Language | Slovak (official), Hungarian | |
| Literacy |
Definition: NA Total population: NA% |
| Government | Top of Page | |
| Country Name |
Conventional long form: Slovak Republic Conventional short form: Slovakia Local short form: Slovensko Local long form: Slovenska Republika |
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| Government Type | Parliamentary democracy | |
| Capital | Bratislava | |
| Administrative Divisions | 8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky, Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky, Trenciansky, Trnavsky, Zilinsky | |
| Independence | 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia) | |
| Flag Description | Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the Slovak cross in a shield centered on the hoist side; the cross is white centered on a background of red and blue | |
| Economy | Top of Page | |
| Overview | Slovakia has mastered much of the difficult transition from a centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. The Dzurinda government has made excellent progress in 2001-03 in macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform. Major privatizations are nearly complete, the banking sector is almost completely in foreign hands, and foreign investment has picked up. Slovakia's economy exceeded expectations in 2001-03, despite the general European slowdown. Unemployment, at an unacceptable 15% in 2003, remains the economy's Achilles heel. The government faces other strong challenges in 2004, especially the cutting of budget and current account deficits, the containment of inflation, and the strengthening of the health care system. | |
| Currency | Slovak Koruna (pl. = Koruny) (Crowns) | |
| Currency Code | SKK | |
| Communications | Top of Page | |
| Telephone System | General assessment: a modernization and privatization program is increasing accessibility to telephone service, reducing the waiting time for new subscribers, and generally improving service quality | |
| Internet Country Code | .sk | |
| Transportation | Top of Page | |
| Railways |
total: 274 km standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (262 km electrified) (2005) |
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| Roadways |
total: 5,210 km paved: 5,210 km (including 147 km of expressways) (2002) |
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| Waterways | 37 km (on Moselle River) (2003) | |
| Ports and Harbors | Bratislava, Komarno | |
| Poland: | Travel Information Best Places to Visit Other Countries Top of Page | |
