Slovakia is a landlocked country in Central Europe that borders 5 countries. It has a population of 5.5 million people, most of whom are ethnic Slovaks. The capital and largest city is Bratislava. Slovakia has diverse geography that includes mountains, plains, rivers, cities and towns, spas, caves, and castles. Traditional folk costumes, wooden monuments, foods like halušky, and drinks like beer and slivovica reflect Slovak culture. Important historical figures for Slovaks include scientists, writers, inventors, and leaders of the national independence movement.

1. Slovakia

2. SLOVAKIA ON THE MAP

3. BORDER COUNTRIESHungary(679 km), Poland (597.5 km), theCzechRepublic (265 km), Austria (127,2 km), Ukraine (98 km)

4. Slovakia is a mountainous country. There are theHigh and LowTatras, the Big and Small Fatra, the Slovak OreMountains, the Štiavnica Mountains, etc. Theseparts are perfectforhiking in summer and skiingin winter. There are plains in thesouthwithagriculture and theriverDanube, thebiggestEuropeanriver.There are big citieswithindustry and smallhistoricaltownswithnicescenery. There are a lotof spas, thermalparks, cavesand mineralsprings in Slovakia.

5. Slovaks are reallyproudoftheirhighestmountains, theHighTatras. Beautifulnationalpeak Kriváň isoneofthesymbolsofthe country. Itis on euro cent coins.

6. Gerlachovský Štít with2 655 metresisthehighestpeak in Slovakia.

7. GENERAL INFORMATIONArea: 49 035 km²Population: 5 500 000 Location: CentralEuropeOfficialname: TheSlovak Republic (SR)State formationdate: 1 January 1993 State system: republicPoliticalsystem: parliamentarydemocracyPrezident: Ivan GašparovičEU membersince1 May 2004Currency : Euro

8. POPULATION5.5 millionpeoplelive in the Slovak RepublicEthnicgroups : 85.8% Slovaks9.7% Hungarians1.7% Gypsies2.8% other minority groups

9. PRESIDENTIvan Gašparovič

10. Prime MinisterIveta Radičová

11. BRATISLAVAthe Capital of the Slovak RepublicBratislava CastleGrassalkovichPalaceSlovak NationalTheatreSt.MartinCathedralDanube

12. OTHER BIG CITIESKOŠICEState Theatrein KošiceCathedralof St. Elisabeth

13. ŽilinaNitraBanská BystricaMartin - NationalCemetery

14. SPAS AND MINERAL SPRINGSPiešťanyDudinceBardejov SpaTurčianske Teplice

15. CASTLES AND CHÂTEAUXTrencinCastleBetliarBojniceDevínZvolenOrava CastleSpis Castle

16. CAVESDemänovskacaveOchtinska Aragonite CaveDobsinskaicecaveDomica

17. PLANTSHorec jarný(GentianaVerna)Plesnivec alpínsky(Leontopodiumalpinum)RUMENICA TURNIANSKA(ONOSMA TORNENSIS JAV.)

18. ANIMALSSvišť vrchovský(marmotamarmota)Kamzík vrchovský(Rupicaprarupicapra)

19. KROJE TRADITIONAL FOLK COSTUMES

20. WOODEN MONUMENTSthecottage in ČičmanyMiroľa- woodentemplewoodenbelltowerin Zemplínwatermill in Jahodná

21. Every Slovak wouldtellyouthatournationaldishisHALUŠKY, dumplingswithLiptoviansheepcheese and friedbacon,...

22. POPULAR DRINKSSlovak beer, mineral water,BOROVIČKA (strong gin),SLIVOVICA (plum brandy) and wine from the Tokajare particular specialities.

23. NATIONAL LEADERS OF SLOVAKSMilan Rastislav ŠtefánikSlovak astronomer, politician

24. Frenchgeneral in WW I

25. memberof exil Czechoslovakgovernmentdied in anairplanecrashin 1919Ľudovít Štúrleaderofnationalmovement in 1848 revolutionideologicalleaderofSlovaks in thestrugglefornationalfreedom

26. codifiedtheofficial Slovak languageWritersPavol Országh HviezdoslavJanko Kráľ„Thegreatest Slovak poet.“Slovak writer, poet, dramatist, novelist, translator, lawyer

27. BloodySonnets

28. Slovak poet, nationalrevivalist, revolutionistJán BottoAndrej SládkovičSlovak poet, critic, publicist, translator

29. Slovak romantic poetKlára JarunkováPavol Dobšinskýauthor of books for childrenandyouth