Emily's+European+Wiki+Project

=Slovenia= toc

Slovenia is not a very big country but holds lots of charming characteristics. Slovenia has gorgeous landscapes like the Alps or several different rivers and waterfalls. Slovenia is an independent country that started from Yugoslavia and found independence from them in 1991. Slovenia is home to many museums holding beautiful art pieces. Slovenia’s geography is like a piece of art.

Geography
Slovenia is in Central Europe. It borders Austria, Croatia, Italy, and Hungary. In comparison to the United States, Slovenia is about the size of Massachusetts or a little bit smaller than New Jersey. There is about 29 miles of coastline in Slovenia. All of the coastline borders the Gulf of Trieste and Adriatic Sea. Much of Slovenia’s land is used for farming and agriculture, and the lakes and coastline are used for fishing. Slovenia was traditionally separated into eight regions. These regions were Upper Carniola, Styria, Prekmurje, Carinthia, Inner Carniola, Lower Carniola, Gorizia, and Slovenian Istria. These regions have been combined to make a beautiful country.

Slovenia is a great region to see mountains. There are three different mountain ranges that make up the Alps that go through Slovenia. There are also the Dinarides that go through Slovenia. There are many more names for each of the different mountains in the mountain ranges. The mountains are huge and have great scenery surrounding them. Slovenia also beautiful grasslands, forests, orchards, and gardens. Slovenia has over 300 waterfalls. There are about 320 lakes and a total of 59 rivers in Slovenia. Slovenia’s natural resources are lignite coal, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, and forests. Slovenia’s geography is a great attraction for tourism.

History
Slovenia has only been an independent country since 1991. Slovenia was under foreign rule until the 20th century. They were under the Habsburg of Austro-Hungary. After WWI, Slovenia became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Then joined a part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia after WWII. Slovenia became part of the European Union in 2004, and also became part of NATO. WWI had a major impact on Slovenia. They fought on Austro-Hungary’s side. After the collapse of Austria-Hungary the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs. The then became the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. Slovenia lost much of their land in the north and south to Yugoslavia in 1920. In the second World War, Slovenia was divided by Italy, Germany, and Hungary. Slovenia was taken control by a communist leader named Josip Broz (nicknamed Tito). Slovenia is still apart of Yugoslavia but not for long. After Tito died they went into a major economic, political, and social crisis. There was an opposition between ethnic groups and there was a rise of nationalist politicians that led to the break-up of Yugoslavia. Slovenia held general voting in 1990 in which 88% of people voting decided to vote for independence. Slovenia got independence on June 25, 1991. A ten-day war followed the gaining of independence in order to claim territory. Slovenia was able to join the European Union on May 1, 2004, after several negotiations. Today, Slovenia has a president, Borut Pahor, and a prime minister, Miro Cerar.

Arts
Slovenia has many different types of art. Painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, graphics, comics, illustration, design, and conceptual art are all popular styles of art. The painting of The Sower is on the €0.05 Slovenian euro coin. Sculpture became popular when Alojz Gangl made the first public monument of the remarkable Enlightenment figure Valentin Vodnik. Photography was a success for Janez Puhar. He invented a process for photography on glass. Because of Božidar Jakac and his graphics from World War II, the Academy of Visual Arts was opened in Ljubljana. There are many illustration artists for children books. Conceptual art in Slovenia is based on tradition and reflects the countries around it. There are about 129 museums in Slovenia holding different pieces of art or history. There are many different types of art in Slovenia.

Slovenia is different in many ways in their culture but are also similar in different ways. They listen to much of the same music as the US. The same music is not popular in both countries but it is still listened to in both countries. People in Slovenia listen to more of opera or irish-sounding music or influences. People listen to traditional or classical music. Folk music or dances are also popular in Slovenia. Slovenia is unique in every way. It also is a bit different from our ways of life in every little way.