Slovenia - A Diverse Country on the Sunny Side of the Alps

Slovenia is a green and diverse country that lies in the corner of Europe where the Alps meet the Mediterranean and the Pannonian Plain touches the mysterious Karst. It embraces all the beauties of the Old Continent. If you want to learn about Europe, come to Slovenia. You will discover it in Central Europe, neighbouring Austria, Italy and Hungary - in the heart of Europe.

The sun shines approximately 2000 hours per year and the snowy winters are every skier's paradise. Once you have visited Slovenia, it will stay in your heart forever. Picturesque old towns and castles, beautiful landscape with breathtaking mountains, waterfalls and lakes, wild forests, rivers, caves, hills and the sea. You name it - we have it all on an area of just over 20,000 square kilometres. Slovenia's natural wonders will not leave you untouched.

Basic Facts:

20,273 km² area
2 003 358 inhabitants - www.stat.si
Most frequent names by sex: Franc (Men), Marija (Women)
1,370 km border
46.6 km coastline
63.3 % forest
30.5% agricultural land
1.1 % vineyards
2,864 m highest peak - Mt. Triglav
Average height above sea level: 556.8 m
Largest protected natural area: Triglav National Park (83,808 ha.)
Largest Karst cave: Postojna Cave, 19.5 km
Largest lake: Cerknica (intermittent) 26 km²
Longest river: Sava, 221 km
Highest waterfall: Čedca, 130 m
8,100 underground caves
1,229 km railway tracks
20,172 km roads
140,237 enterprises
378 research organisations
4,779 sports clubs
114,794 students
61 public libraries
8 daily newspapers
248 non-daily newspapers
1,587 other periodicals
43 television channels
69 radio stations
23 professional and amateur theatres
6 professional orchestras
76 cinemas
55 museums
136 exhibition grounds and galleries
684,847 households
840,000 regular users of Internet
996,185 mobile phone subscribers
875,130 users of mobile phone prepaid packages
910,723 cars

June 2006
Source: Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia