Ten Things You Should Know About Slovakia

1. Slovakia is in the heart of Europe, surrounded by the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, and Austria. ( Map )

2. Slovakia would fit three times into the state of Minnesota.

3. The population is about six million, 85% Slovak, 10% Hungarian, the rest other minorities. There is a 99% literacy rate.

4. Slovakia became an independent nation in 1993 after a peaceful separation from the Czech Republic, but the country has a long history. From 1000 A.D. to 1918, it was part of the Hungarian Empire and at times its capital. From 1948-1989, it was under Communist domination as part of Czechoslovakia.

5. Slovakia is a country of great natural beauty, 40% forested, with steep hills and mountains in the center and north. In the south is the broad Danube valley that forms the border with Hungary.

6. The language is Slovak, a Slavic language related to Czech, Russian and Polish. A few people speak English, especially in the cities, and some older people speak German.

7. As part of central Europe, Slovakia shares in Western European culture, the culture common to the United States and the United Kingdom, although there are differences that make life in Slovakia interesting.

8. Slovakia has a long and rich Christian tradition. Seventy percent claim membership in the Roman Catholic church, although Catholic bishops here say that perhaps 20% are active in church. Lutherans, known also as Evangelicals, have been here since Reformation times in the 16^th century and now make up six percent of the population. The Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia has 326 congregations and 321 clergy, of whom 112 are women. For more information, check the website of the Lutheran church  www.ecav.sk

9. The unit of money is the Slovak crown. Find the current exchange rate here.

10. Slovakia has joined the European Union and NATO in the last year. They have not yet adopted the Euro as their currency.

For further information on Slovakia, go to www.slovakia.org,  www.slovensko.com or to the World Factbook.