Sunday, May 30, 2010

SLOVAKIA - Country profile

LOCATION OF SLOVAKIA IN THE WORLD



MAP OF SLOVAKIA



FLAG OF SLOVAKIA



The current form of the flag of Slovakia was adopted by Slovakia's Constitution, which came into force on 3 September 1992. The flag, in common with other Slavic nations, uses the white, blue and red colours.

Slovakia's flag in its current form (but with another coat of arms on it or without any arms) can be dated back to the revolutionary year 1848. It was also used semi-officially in Czechoslovakia before World War II, by the Slovak Republic during WWII, and finally adopted (without the coat of arms) on 1 March 1990 as the flag of the Slovak Republic within Czechoslovakia. The coat of arms was added on 3 September 1992 and a special law describing the details of the flag followed in February 1993.

The blue triangle in the current flag of the Czech Republic, with which Slovakia formed Czechoslovakia up to the Dissolution of Czechoslovakia, was taken over from the blue strip of Slovakia's flag in 1920 into the flag of Czechoslovakia. The flag of Czechoslovakia was taken over by the Czech Republic in late 1992 in direct violation of the 1992 Act on the Division of Czechoslovakia explicitly forbidding state symbols to be used by the two successor states.[1]

Since the Slovak flag without the coat of arms is identical to that of the modern flag of Russia and it can also be compared to the modern flag of Slovenia, the Constitution of Slovakia added the national coat of arms in September 1992.


NATIONAL ANTHEM OF SLOVAKIA



Nad Tatrou sa blýska (English: Lightning Over the Tatras) is the national anthem of Slovakia. The origins of the anthem are in the Central European activism of the 19th century. Its main themes are a storm over the Tatra mountains that symbolized danger to the Slovaks, and a desire for a resolution of the threat. It used to be particularly popular during the 1848-1849 insurgencies.

During the days of the Czechoslovakia, the anthem was played in many Slovak towns at 12:00 noon. This tradition ceased to exist after the two nations split. Nad Tatrou sa blýska is now performed mainly at special events, including sporting events.


PROFILE OF SLOVAKIA

Official Name:
Slovensko
long form: Slovenska Republika
int'l form: Slovakia
int'l long form: Slovak Republic
abbreviation: SR

ISO Country Code: sk

Capital City: Bratislava (pop. 451 395)

Other Cities:
Kosice (242 170)
Capital of Eastern Slovakia and the second largest city in the Slovak Republic.
Presov (93 461)
City of Presovsk (Slovak)
Nitra (87 555), Zilina (86 923), Banska Bystrica (84 816)

Government:
Type: Parliamentary republic.
Independence: The Slovak Republic was established l January 1993
(former Czechoslovak Republic established 1918).
Constitution: Signed September 3, 1992.

Geography:
Location: landlocked country in Central Europe, bounded on the northwest by the Czech Republic, on the north by Poland, on the east by Ukraine, on the south by Hungary, and on the southwest by Austria.

Climate: Temperate; mild summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters.

People:
Nationality: Slovak(s).
Population (May 2001 census*): 5 379 455.
Ethnic groups (2001): Slovaks 85.8%, Hungarians 9.7%, Roma 1.7%, Czechs 0.8%, Ruthenians 0.4%, Ukranians 0.2%, other 1.4%.
Unofficial estimates place the Roma population between 6%-10%.
Religions (2001): Roman Catholic 69%, Protestant 9%, Greek Catholic 4%, Orthodox 0.9%.
Languages: Slovak (official), Hungarian, Ruthenian, and Ukrainian.
Literacy: 99%.

Natural resources: Antimony, mercury, iron, copper, lead, zinc, magnesite, limestone, lignite.

Agriculture products: Milk, eggs, poultry, cattle, hogs, potatoes, oils, grains, vegetables.

Industries: Metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products.

Exports partners: Germany 37.2%, Czech Republic 12%, Austria 9.8%, Italy 5.4%, Poland 4.7%, US 4.7%, Hungary 4.2% (2003)

Imports partners: Germany 27.5%, Czech Republic 18.3%, Russia 10.8%, Austria 6.4%, Italy 5.6%, Poland 4.1%, Hungary 4% (2003)

Currency: Slovak Koruna (SKK)

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