| Geography and Climate |
Slovakia is a landlocked country, located in Central Europe, south of Poland. Area comparatively about twice the size of New Hampshire. Total land boundary is 1,355 km, border countries are Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, Hungary 515 km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 90 km.
Climate is temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters. Terrain consists of rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south. Elevation extreme has the lowest point in Bodrok River 94 m and highest point in Gerlachovka 2,655 m. Natural resources are brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt. Land use: arable land: 31%, permanent crops: 3%, permanent pastures: 17%, forests and woodland: 41%, other: 8% (1993 est.). Irrigated land: 800 sq km (1993 est.).
Environment—current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests.
Ref. Anonymous, 1999 |