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It’s a small country – about half the size of Switzerland – measuring some 20,270 sq km (7,826 sq miles), which is about 0.2% of Europe’s total land mass. Just over two million people live there.
Slovenia was one of the republics that used to make up Yugoslavia, lying in the far northwest of the former nation. It became independent in 1991 when Yugoslavia fell apart. It’s bordered by Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia.
Much of the country is hilly and mountainous, so many Slovenes are keen hikers and skiers. The highest point is Mount Triglav, at 2,864 metres (9,396 ft). The national flag shows the three- peaked Triglav.
About 54% of the country is covered by forests, making it the third most forested country in Europe, after Finland and Sweden. Typical central European forests of oak and beech grow on lower ground, while spruce, fir and pine are more common in the mountains.
The term ‘karst’ – meaning a limestone region of underground rivers, gorges and caves – originated in Slovenia’s Karst plateau. The country has thousands of karst caves and gorges, and about one-tenth of them are open to the public.
The most famous are the caves at Postojna, with their huge stalactites and stalagmites. Graffiti in the caves show that the first tourists came here in 1213!
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