Area: 20,273 km2 ( slightly smaller than New
Jersey )
Population: 1,964,036
Capital city: Ljubljana
Language: Slovene; in nationally mixed areas, also
Italian and Hungarian
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Important dates:
- Independence - 25 June 1991,
- Member of EU - 1 May 2004
The Republic of Slovenia lies at the heart of Europe,
where the Alps and the Mediterranean meet the
Pannonian plains and the mysterious Karst. To the
north is Austria; to the east, Hungary; to the south,
Croatia; and to the west, Italy.
Slovenia became an independent state in 1991 and a
member of the EU on May 1, 2004.
Geographical characteristics, climate
In Slovenia, the sun shines approximately 2,000
hours per year. And there is plenty of snow in
winter. The average temperatures are -2°C in
January and 28°C in July.
Green is the dominant colour. There are many
woods and forests in Slovenia - covering more
than half of the country - and numerous
preserved and protected plant and animal
species. In one of the last primeval forests of
the Kočevje area, it is possible to hike through
for days without ever emerging onto the plain.
As a small, beautiful and picturesque country,
Slovenia makes a great tourist destination. You
can ski in the morning and surrender yourself to
the luxury of the Adriatic Sea in the afternoon.
Slovenia has 46.6 km of sea coast - one inch per inhabitant.
Piran, one of the oldest, most picturesque and distinct towns along the Slovene coast, often
referred to as a living museum.
The highest mountain is called Triglav - the name meaning "three-heads" - and it is 2864m high.
The mountain is a true national symbol, featured on the national coat of arms and the flag. Below
the mountain spreads Triglav National Park, covering 84,805 hectares.
Most of the Slovene land is mountainous. Alpine mountains cover 4/10 of the entire national
territory. The Slovene Alps are light in colour, being composed of limestone.
Logarska dolina - The valley of Logarska in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps is one of the most beautiful
and peaceful glacial valleys in Europe. Protected since 1987.
So far, more than 1,000 Dinaric karst caves have been explored. The density of karst caves here is
1 to 1.5 per square kilometre. The Postojna Cave (Postonjska jama) is one of the most beautiful and
most visited caves in the world.
Proteus anguinus. The proteus or olm, known locally as "human fish", was discovered in the Karst.
This endemic animal is considered to be the trademark of Slovene speleology.
The variety of wildlife in the Slovene forests - with a little luck you might encounter a bear,
especially in the forests of Kocevje area.
Lipizzaner. The noble Lipizzaner horse originated in Lipica, Slovenia, where the stud farm
was established in 1580. When young, thiese horses are either black or grey and when they
grow up, most become white.
Environmental protection
Approximately 8% of the Slovenia's territory is specially protected; the largest area with such a
regime is the Triglav National Park with a surface area of 848 km2. The Škocjan Caves were
entered on the world heritage list at UNESCO in 1986, and the Sečovlje saltpans and Cerknica
Lake are included on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.
Cerknica lake
Škocjan Caves
Secovlje salt-pans. The Secovlje salt-pans still produce salt using traditional methods. Part of the
area has been designated as a nature reserve and ornithologists have recorded over 150 different
species of bird here.
Slovenia is home to more than 50,000 animal species and 3,000 plant species.
People
Slovenia has a population of 1,964,036, of which 83.06% are Slovenes.
In Slovenia there are also two national minority communities of Italians and Hungarians.
Other ethnic groups include Croats, Serbs, Bosnians (Muslims), Yugoslavs, Macedonians,
Montenegrins and Albanians. The status and special rights of Gypsy communities living in Slovenia
are determined by statute.
Slovenia is approximately 50% urban and 50% rural.
Population density is 98.7 inhabitants per km2, which is much lower than in the majority of other
European states. People have mainly settled the river valleys and transport routes, where long ago
Slovenian towns began to emerge, whilst the mountainous and forested areas remain unpopulated.
The majority of Slovenes (almost 60%) are Roman Catholics, although there are around 38 other
religious communities, spiritual groups, societies and associations registered in Slovenia.
Sports
Young Slovenes enjoy sports.
The most popular sport activities in Slovenia are cycling and skiing.
The Alpine region is a true paradise for Bohinj, Vogel. Glittering with white snow in
mountain biking races. winter, Bohinj and its surroundings welcome
enthralled alpine and cross-country skiers, as
well as mountain climbers. On nearby Vogel
(1,535m) the snow stays until late spring.
LEON STUKELJ
The first great achievements of Slovenian sportsmen and sportswomen in the history of world
sports were mainly in gymnastics. Particularly famous was Leon Štukelj (1898-1999), who, between
1922 and 1936, won eight gold, four silver and five bronze medals in three Olympic Games and
three World Championships. The unforgettable Leon Štukelj died in 1999 shortly before he could
celebrate his 101st birthday. In 1996, he was invited to the Olympic Games in Atlanta as a guest of
honour, where he was enthusiastically welcomed by thousands of spectators, including then US
President Clinton, who again met Štukelj during his visit to Slovenia in June 2000.
Food and Drink
Slovenia is also known for its great wines and delicious traditional food.
Potica - a pastry for festive occasions. This excellent, original, almost sculptured cake is a Slovene
speciality. The recipes are a kind of family secret, passing from generation to generation like folk
songs.
Valentin Vodnik's cookbook, published in 1799 is a proof
that food has always been very important to us.
Struklji are another well-known We are well known for our pršut (Karst leg ham) can be
Slovenian specialty and possibly home made sausages: dried only by the winds of
the oldest of Slovenian dishes. "krvavice" (blood sausages), Karst along the coast.
They are made of 'stretched' "pečenice" (frying sausages),
or yeast dough, which is rolled "kranjske klobase" (kranjske Slovenes have great vines too
out thinly, spread with a variety sausages), famous Slovenian and some are imported into
of fillings, then made into a "želodec" (stomach sausage, many countires of the world.
roll, which is wrapped in cloth similar to the Scottish haggis),
and cooked. Evidence of their stuffed with fillings of local
importance is in the common varieties (eg. gorenjski,
name Slovenian surname, savinski, notranjski and
Strukelj. There is also a village primorski zelodec).
named after this dish.
Arts and Culture
Our famous poet France Prešeren started the modern Slovenian colture. He is also the writer of
our national anthem, called The Toast.
God's blessing on all nations,
Who long and work for that bright day,
When o'er earth's habitations
No war, no strife shall hold its sway;
Who long to see
That all men free
No more shall foes, but neighbours be.
Architecture has a special place in Slovenia's cultural heritage, and the most famous Slovene
architect is Jože Plečnik (1872-1957), a pioneer of Slovene and European modern architecture.
We can admire his work in Wienna, Prague and of course Ljubljana.
Famous Slovenes
Jurij Vega (1754-1802) is the foremost
Slovene mathematician and author of
several textbooks on higher
mathematics. At the school for artillery
officers, he became interested in
geodesy, ballistics, and ballooning along
with mathematics and physics. An
expert on logarithms, he published the
Small Book of Logarithms (1793), the
Large Book of Logarithms (1794), and
Logarithm Tables for General Use
(1797) and wrote treatises on the
metric and kilogram systems. Young
mathematicians in Slovenia compete
each year for the Vega Badge award.
Jacobus Gallus (1550-1591), a leading composer
of the 16th century, was educated in various
monasteries in Central Europe and began his
music career in Vienna. Later, he worked mainly
in Olomouc and Prague, where he was
chapelmaster at the Church of St. Jan. He was a
recognized and very respected composer in his
time. His opus includes sixteen Masses in four
volumes, and he set liturgical and biblical texts
to music in 374 motets; with his collection Opus
musicum, he ranks among the most important
European composers of motets. On the basis of
Latin texts, he set fifty-three secular choruses
to music in three book collections. While not
strictly madrigals, they strongly resemble them
in expressiveness and form. The largest hall in
the Cankarjev dom Cultural and Congress Center
in Ljubljana is named after Gallus.
Slovenian folk music
National pop musicians dressed in traditional
costumes still have a place in many people's
hearts. The popularity of national pop music
(culture) can easily be compared to the
popularity of country music in rural USA.
Frankie Yankovic was a polka musician. Known as America's Polka
King, he was the premier artist to play in the Slovenian style.
Of Slovenian descent, he was from Cleveland, Ohio. Yankovic
released over 200 recordings in his career. In 1986 he was
awarded the first ever Grammy in the Best Polka Recording
category.
Slovenia in the USA
Areas with significant Slovenian American population
Chicago, Illinois Cleveland, Ohio Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Notable Americans with Slovenian origins
3 (at least) former or current United States Senators: Tom Harkin, George Voinovich, Frank
Lausche
7 congressmen: John Blatnik, James Oberstar, Dennis Kucinich...
7 admirals: Ronald Zlatoper, Jerome Edward Rupnik, F. William Petrovic,...
3 astronauts: Ronald Sega, Jerry Michael Linenger, Sunita Williams
2 authors: Louis Adamič, Edward Gobetz
9 bishops: Friderik Irenej Baraga,...
3 state governors: Frank Lausche- Ohio, George Voinovich - Ohio,...
10 generals: Ferdinand Chesarek, John Stephan Lekson, Warren Joseph Pezdirtz, Stanley
Gorenc, Frank Gorenc, ...
2 musicians: Frankie Yankovic (America's Polka King), Micky Dolenz (Drummer/Singer of "The
Monkees")
August Pust, a retired functionary of the Ohio government
3 NASA employees: Dušan Petrač, Anton Mavrentič, Janez Repar
Charles Kuralt, journalist
Some more Slovenians and Slovenia
Melania Knaus
Melania Trump
Anze Kopitar playing for Los
Angeles Wings
Some more Rogaska products:
Tourism
In Slovenia, you can experience amazing contrasts in the same day: a morning swim in the Adriatic,
followed two hours later by skiing below Alpine peaks, then an adventurous discovery of Karst
subterranean phenomena and an invigorating bath in a thermal spring; an encounter with history in a
lively mediaeval city and, not far away, a more solitary stroll through primeval forests or undulating,
winegrowing hills.
Lake Bled. The combination of natural wonders and unique culture and history attracts visitors.
Among the most frequently visited locations, the Alpine Lake Bled area ranks first. The castle,
dating back to 1111, and the "pletna" rowing-boats are two of the many attractions.
Portoroz. The main tourist centre of the Slovene coast is the summer and spa resort of Portoroz,
which also features a marina.
Skiing is the Slovene national sport. Slovenes started skiing centuries ago on home-made skis in
the region of Bloke plateau.
The untamed Soca river is one of the five most unspoilt rivers in the entire Alps, and is thought
to be especially beautiful as it winds its way through Triglav National Park. Its upper reaches
flow up to 70 m deep between the cliffs, and lower down, climbers and non-climbers alike can hike
the well marked mountain paths along its banks, or opt for kayaking, rafting, hunting, or fishing.
Slovenia actively promotes eco-tourism with countless mountain lodges and over 300 tourist
farms eager to demonstrate Slovene hospitality.