Geography of Slovenia

Slovenia is situated at the meeting of Central Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Alps. The Alps — including the Julian Alps, the Kamnik-Savinja Alps and the Karavanke chain, as well as the Pohorje — dominate northern Slovenia near Austria. Slovenia's Adriatic coastline extends for approximately 50 kilometers (39 mi.) from Italy to Croatia.

The term "karst", a limestone region of underground rivers, gorges, and caves, originated in Slovenia's Kras Plateau between Ljubljana and the Italian border.

On the Pannonian plain to the east and northeast, toward the Croatian and Hungarian borders, the landscape is essentially flat. However, the majority of Slovenian terrain is hilly or mountainous, with around 90% of the surface 200 meters or more above sea level.

Map of Slovenia

Location

Southeastern or Central Europe, Eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia

Geographic coordinates

Extreme geographical points of Slovenia:

• North: 46°53′N 16°14′E, municipality Šalovci,
• South: 45°25′N 15°10′E, municipality Črnomelj,
• East: 46°28′N 16°36′E, municipality Lendava,
• West: 46°17′N 13°23′E, municipality Kobarid.

Maximum distance North - South is 1°28' or 163 km (101 miles).
Maximum distance East - West is 3°13' or 248 km (154 miles).

Map references

Europe

Area

• Total: 20,253 sq km
• Land: 20,253 sq km
• Water: 0 sq km
• Comparison: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Borders

• Land boundaries
  • Total: 1,334 km
  • Border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 670 km, Italy 232 km, Hungary 102 km
• Coastline: 46.6 km

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 (9,396 feet)

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

The 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

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

See also

• List of national parks of Slovenia
• Slovenia
• Mountains of Slovenia