Located in the Carpathian Mountains of central Europe, Slovakia is a small nation with a rich cultural heritage. During most of the 20th century, Slovakia formed the southeastern province of the country of Czechoslovakia. In 1993, Slovakia became an independent nation after voluntarily separating from the Czech Republic. The capital of Slovakia is Bratislava. GeographySlovakia is located in the heart of Europe. The Czech Republic lies to the northwest. The nation of Poland borders Slovakia to the north with Ukraine to the east. The southern border is shared with Hungary, and Austria lies to the southwest. From the 11th to the early 20th centuries, Slovakia was ruled by either Austria or Hungary or both. Slovakia covers 18,932 square miles (49,035 square kilometers). There are many mountains in Slovakia. The most significant ones are the Carpathians, which are divided into two ranges. The High Tatras run along the northern border with Poland and contain the highest peaks in Slovakia. The southern Carpathians are known as the Low Tatras. The Low Tatras give way to rolling uplands in the southern part of the country. Fertile lowlands are located in the southwest. This is the most populated region in Slovakia. Numerous small lakes, streams, and rivers are located in many of the valleys between Slovakia's mountainous peaks. The largest rivers in Slovakia are the Danube and the Morava. Plants and animalsForest covers nearly half of Slovakia. Oak trees dominate in the lowland forests. Beech trees are more common on the hills and lower mountains. Higher mountain regions are covered with spruce trees and pines. The highest mountain regions are sparsely covered with alpine grass, shrubs, and lichen. Animal life in Slovakia is extremely varied. Bears, wolves, lynx, wildcats, marmots, otters, marten, and mink are found in the mountains. Slovakia is also home to numerous birds, including wild geese, ducks, cormorants, ospreys, and herons. People and cultureSlovakia is the historic homeland of the Slovak people. Slovaks make up a large majority of the population of the country. Hungarians are the largest minority. The remainder of the population is made up primarily of Roma (Gypsies), Czechs, Poles, Ukrainians, and Germans. Slovak is the official language of Slovakia, but many people in the southern part of the country speak Hungarian. About 60 percent of the population lives in urban areas. Most of the population of Slovakia is Roman Catholic. Protestantism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and other Christian religions make up the remaining population. EconomyIn the second half of the 20th century, Czechoslovakia was transformed from an agricultural country into a more industrialized nation. Under the Communist government that controlled the country for most of that period, many of the businesses were owned by the government. After the fall of Communism in 1989 Czechoslovakia began to reform its economy, which included allowing private ownership of businesses. Slovakia continued this effort after gaining independence in 1993. Although agriculture is no longer as important to the whole economy, almost one third of the land is used for farming. The main crops grown in Slovakia are wheat and corn (maize). Pigs, cattle, and sheep are also raised. Mining and manufacturing make up the largest part of the Slovak economy. The main manufactured goods are metals, cement, plastic, flour, fertilizers, fibers, and machines. Slovakia has large deposits of iron and copper, as well as some coal. Slovakia is also a popular tourist destination. Because of its many mountains, people come from all over the world to participate in such sports as skiing, hiking, camping, and fishing. HistorySlovakia's land was originally settled by Slavic tribes in about the 6th or the 7th century. In the 11th century, the region was conquered by Hungary. In 1526, Slovakia, along with Hungary, was incorporated into the Hapsburg Empire of Austria. During this time, Slovakia was the political and cultural center of the empire. Formation of CzechoslovakiaIn 1867, the Hapsburg Empire formed a ruling partnership with Hungary. The land of Slovakia was placed under direct Hungarian control until after World War I, when the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed. In 1918, just after the war ended, Slovakia joined the neighboring Czech Republic and the region of Bohemia in forming a new country, known as Czechoslovakia. CommunismIn 1939, Nazi Germany took over Czechoslovakia. In 1944, Slovak troops rose up against the Nazis. Although they were not successful, this resistance helped Slovaks see that they could work together. Near the end of World War II, the region was conquered by the Soviet Union. In 1948, Communists backed by the Soviet Union came to power in Czechoslovakia. Communist rule continued in Czechoslovakia until 1989. During that time, people grew tired of having their freedoms limited by the Communist government. Finally, Czechoslovakians began to protest in November of 1989. These protests led to the fall of Communism later that year in what was called the “Velvet Revolution.” IndependenceAfter the collapse of the Communist regime, the people of Slovakia voted to separate from the nation of Czechoslovakia. Slovakia became an independent nation on January 1, 1993. Once independent, Slovakia introduced democratic policies and reforms to improve the economy. Population (2000 estimate), 5,403,000. |