Short facts about the geography of Slovenia

Location:

Southeastern Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia

Geographic coordinates:

46 00 N, 15 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total:  20,253 sq km land:  20,253 sq km water:  0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:

total:  1,165 km border countries:  Austria 330 km, Croatia 501 km, Italy 232 km, Hungary 102 km

Coastline:

46.6 km

Maritime claims:

NA

Climate:

Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east

Terrain:

a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain region adjacent to Italy and Austria, mixed mountain and valleys with numerous rivers to the east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point:  Triglav 2,864 m

Natural resources:

lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver, hydropower

Land use:

arable land:  12% permanent crops:  3% permanent pastures:  24% forests and woodland:  54% other:  7% (1996 est.)

Irrigated land:

20 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

flooding and earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified:  Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Source: World Factbook