Geographically,
it stretches from the Pannonian Plain, the Danube
region, and woody and hilly areas to real peaks and mountains chains
descending to and protecting the unique and unforgettable Adriatic
coast. Within a
hundred kilometers
you will find the sea, the karst, densely wooded mountains and fertile
plains. Although the Adriatic is undoubtedly the most popular tourist
destination,
continental Croatia abounds in
park
like beauty: a land of forests and underground streams, the Plitvice
lakes,
the region Lika, the forests of Gorski Kotar, the wheat fields of
Slavonia,
rivers teeming with fish, and the picturesque rolling hills of Zagorje.
The
Republic of Croatia
is among the smallest of European countries - only 56,500 km2, and its
territorial waters cover 31,900 km2. The coastline including the
islands
is 5,835 km long, 4,058 km being the coastline of islands, cliffs and
reefs.
Number of
islands,
cliffs and reefs; 1185; the largest islands are Krk and Cres; there are
67 inhabited islands.
Highest peak:
Dinara 1,831
m above the sea level. According to the latest census, Croatia has a
population
of 4,7 million. More than 78% are ethnic Croats, and Roman Catholicism
is the prevalent religion. National minorities are Serbs, Slovenes,
Hungarians,
Bosniaks, Italians, Czechs and others. The official language is
Croatian,
written in the Roman script. Croatian unit of currency is the kuna
(KN).
1 kuna = 100 lipa. Foreign currency is exchanged in banks, exchange
offices,
travel agencies, hotels, camps, marinas; cheques are cashed in banks.
Although
there
was an independent Croatian principality and Kingdom from the 9th
to the 12th century, today's Croatia is one of the newest states in
Europe.
It adopted its constitution on 22nd December 1990, and was recognized
internationally
on 15th January 1992. The international recognition of its sovereignty
and its acceptance into the membership of the UN in 1992 marked the end
of a crucial period in the establishment of Croatia as a new state in
the
European and world community.
Today
Croatia is a multiparty parliamentary republic.
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