Transcript Diapozitiv 1

Area: 20,273 km2 ( slightly smaller than New Jersey )
Population: 1,964,036
Capital city: Ljubljana
Language: Slovene; in nationally mixed areas, also Italian and Hungarian
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Important dates:
Independence - 25 June 1991,
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Member of EU - 1 May 2004
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The Republic of Slovenia lies at the heart of Europe,
where the Alps and the Mediterranean meet the Pannonian plains and the mysterious Karst. To the north is
Austria; to the east, Hungary; to the south, Croatia; and to the west, Italy.Slovenia became an independent
state in 1991 and a member of the EU on May 1, 2004.
Geographical characteristics, climate
In Slovenia, the sun shines approximately 2,000
hours per year. And there is plenty of snow
in winter. The average temperatures are 2°C in January and 28°C in July.
Green is the dominant colour. There are many
woods and forests in Slovenia - covering
more than half of the country - and
numerous preserved and protected plant
and animal species.
In one of the last primeval forests of the
Kočevje area, it is possible to hike through
for days without ever emerging onto the
plain.
As a small, beautiful and picturesque country,
Slovenia makes a great tourist destination.
You can ski in the morning and surrender
yourself to the luxury of the Adriatic Sea
in the afternoon.
Slovenia has 46.6 km of sea coast - one inch per inhabitant.
Piran, one of the oldest, most picturesque and distinct
towns along the Slovene coast, often referred to as a
living museum. It is also a birthtown of a famous
composer Guiseppe Tartini (April 8, 1692- February 26, 1770).
The highest mountain is called Triglav - the name meaning "three-heads" –
and it is 2864m high.
The mountain is a true national symbol, featured on the national coat
of arms and the flag. Below the mountain spreads Triglav National Park,
covering 84,805 hectares.
Most of the Slovene land is mountainous.
Alpine mountains cover 4/10 of the entire national territory.
The Slovene Alps are light in colour, being composed of limestone.
Logarska dolina - The valley of Logarska in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps is one of the most
beautiful and peaceful glacial valleys in Europe. Protected since 1987.
So far, more than 1,000 Dinaric karst caves have been explored.
The density of karst caves here is 1 to 1.5 per square kilometre.
The Postojna Cave (Postonjska jama) is one of the most beautiful
and most visited caves in the world.
Proteus anguinus
The proteus or olm, known locally as "human fish", was discovered in the Karst.
This endemic animal is considered to be the trademark of Slovene speleology.
The variety of wildlife in the Slovene forests - with a little luck you might encounter a bear,
especially in the forests of Kocevje area.
Lipizzaner
The noble Lipizzaner horse originated in Lipica,
Slovenia, where the stud farm was established in 1580.
When young, thiese horses are either black or grey and when they grow up, most become white.
Environmental protection
Approximately 8% of the Slovenia's territory is specially protected;
the largest area with such a regime is the Triglav National Park with a surface area of 848 km2.
The Škocjan Caves were entered on the world heritage list at UNESCO in 1986,
and the Sečovlje saltpans and Cerknica Lake are included on the Ramsar List of Wetlands
of International Importance.
Cerknica lake
Škocjan Caves
Secovlje salt-pans
The Secovlje salt-pans still produce salt using traditional methods.
Part of the area has been designated as a nature reserve and ornithologists have recorded
over 150 different species of bird here.
Slovenia is home to more than 50,000 animal species and 3,000 plant species.
Sports
Young Slovenes enjoy sports.
The most popular sport activities in Slovenia are cycling and skiing.
Bohinj, Vogel
Glittering with white snow in winter, Bohinj
and its surroundings welcome enthralled alpine and cross-country skiers,
as well as mountain climbers. On nearby Vogel (1,535m) the snow stays until late spring.
The Alpine region is a true paradise for mountain biking races.
LEON STUKELJ
The first great achievements of Slovenian sportsmen and sportswomen in the
history of world sports were mainly in gymnastics. Particularly famous was
Leon Štukelj (1898-1999), who, between 1922 and 1936, won eight gold, four silver
and five bronze medals in three Olympic Games and three World Championships.
The unforgettable Leon Štukelj died in 1999 shortly before he could celebrate his
101st birthday. In 1996, he was invited to the Olympic Games in Atlanta as a guest
of honour, where he was enthusiastically welcomed by thousands of spectators,
including then US President Clinton, who again met Štukelj during his visit to
Slovenia in June 2000.
Food and Drink
Slovenia is also known for its great wines and delicious traditional food.
Potica - a pastry for festive occasions. This excellent, original, almost sculptured cake
is a Slovene speciality. The recipes are a kind of family secret, passing from generation
to generation like folk songs.
Valentin Vodnik's cookbook, published in 1799
is a proof that food has always been very
important to us.
Struklji are another wellknown Slovenian specialty
and possibly the oldest of
Slovenian dishes. They are
made of 'stretched' or
yeast dough, which is
rolled out thinly, spread
with a variety of fillings,
then made into a roll,
which is wrapped in cloth
and cooked. Evidence of
their importance is in the
common name Slovenian
surname, Strukelj. There
is also a village named
after this dish.
We are well known for our
home made sausages:
"krvavice" (blood
sausages), "pečenice"
(frying sausages),
"kranjske klobase"
(kranjske sausages),
famous Slovenian "želodec"
(stomach sausage, similar
to the Scottish haggis),
stuffed with fillings of
local varieties (eg.
gorenjski, savinski,
notranjski and primorski
zelodec).
Pršut (Karst leg ham) can be
dried only by the winds of
Karst along the coast.
Slovenes have great vines too
and some are imported into
many countires of the
world.
Arts and Culture
Our famous poet France Prešeren started the modern
Slovenian colture. He is also the writer of our national
anthem, called The Toast.
God's blessing on all nations,
Who long and work for that bright day,
When o'er earth's habitations
No war, no strife shall hold its sway;
Who long to see
That all men free
No more shall foes, but neighbours be.
Architecture has a special place in Slovenia's cultural heritage, and the most famous Slovene
architect is Jože Plečnik (1872-1957), a pioneer of Slovene and European modern architecture.
We can admire his work in Vienna, Prague and of course Ljubljana.
Famous Slovenes
Jurij Vega (1754-1802) is the foremost
Slovene mathematician and author of
several textbooks on higher mathematics.
At the school for artillery officers, he
became interested in geodesy, ballistics,
and ballooning along with mathematics and
physics. An expert on logarithms, he
published the Small Book of Logarithms
(1793), the Large Book of Logarithms
(1794), and Logarithm Tables for General
Use (1797) and wrote treatises on the
metric and kilogram systems. Young
mathematicians in Slovenia compete each
year for the Vega Badge award.
Jacobus Gallus (1550-1591), a leading composer of the 16th
century, was educated in various monasteries in Central Europe
and began his music career in Vienna. Later, he worked mainly in
Olomouc and Prague, where he was chapelmaster at the Church of
St. Jan. He was a recognized and very respected composer in his
time. His opus includes sixteen Masses in four volumes, and he set
liturgical and biblical texts to music in 374 motets; with his
collection OpusBmusicum, he ranks among the most important
European composers of motets. On the basis of Latin texts, he
set fifty-three secular choruses to music in three book
collections. While not strictly madrigals, they strongly resemble
them in expressiveness and form. The largest hall in
the Cankarjev dom Cultural and Congress Center in Ljubljana is
named after Gallus.
Slovenian folk music
National pop musicians dressed in traditional
costumes still have a place in many people's hearts.
The popularity of national pop music (culture) can
easily be compared to the popularity of country music
in rural USA.
Frankie Yankovic was a polka musician. Known as
America's Polka King, he was the premier artist to play
in the Slovenian style.
Of Slovenian descent, he was from Cleveland, Ohio.
Yankovic released over 200 recordings in his career. In
1986 he was awarded the first ever Grammy in the
Best Polka Recording category.
Slovenians in the USA
Areas with significant Slovenian American population
Chicago, Illinois
Cleveland, Ohio
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Notable Americans with Slovenian origins:
3 (at least) former or current United States Senators: Tom Harkin, George Voinovich,
Frank Lausche
7 congressmen: John Blatnik, James Oberstar, Dennis Kucinich...
7 admirals: Ronald Zlatoper, Jerome Edward Rupnik, F. William Petrovic,...
3 astronauts: Ronald Sega, Jerry Michael Linenger, Sunita Williams
2 authors: Louis Adamič, Edward Gobetz
9 bishops: Friderik Irenej Baraga,...
3 state governors: Frank Lausche- Ohio, George Voinovich - Ohio,...
10 generals: Ferdinand Chesarek, John Stephan Lekson, Warren Joseph Pezdirtz,
Stanley Gorenc, Frank Gorenc, ...
2 musicians: Frankie Yankovic (America's Polka King), Micky Dolenz
(Drummer/Singer of "The Monkees")
August Pust, a retired functionary of the Ohio government
3 NASA employees: Dušan Petrač, Anton Mavrentič, Janez Repar
Charles Kuralt, journalist
Some more Slovenians and Slovenia in USA
Melania Knaus
Melania Trump
Anze Kopitar playing for Los Angeles Kings
Sasha …
Sasha Vujacic
Some more Rogaska products
Tourism
In Slovenia, you can experience amazing contrasts in the same day: a morning
swim in the Adriatic, followed two hours later by skiing below Alpine peaks,
then an adventurous discovery of Karst subterranean phenomena and an
invigorating bath in a thermal spring; an encounter with history in a lively
mediaeval city and, not far away, a more solitary stroll through primeval
forests or undulating, winegrowing hills.
Lake Bled
The combination of natural wonders and unique culture and history
attracts visitors. Among the most frequently visited locations, the Alpine
Lake Bled area ranks first. The castle, dating back to 1111, and the "pletna"
rowing-boats are two of the many attractions.
Portoroz
The main tourist centre of the Slovene coast is the summer and spa
resort of Portoroz, which also features a marina.
Skiing is the Slovene national sport.
Slovenes started skiing centuries ago on home-made skis in the region of Bloke plateau.
The untamed Soca river is one of the five most unspoilt rivers in the entire Alps,
and is thought to be especially beautiful as it winds its way through Triglav National
Park. Its upper part reaches flow up to 70 m deep between the cliffs, and lower down,
climbers and non-climbers alike can hike the well marked mountain paths along its banks,
or opt for kayaking, rafting, hunting, or fishing. Slovenia actively promotes eco-tourism
with countless mountain lodges and over 300 tourist farms eager to demonstrate Slovene
hospitality.