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Slovenia is situated in Central Europe and covers an area of 20,273
km2 (that's half the size of Switzerland). It has borders with Italy
(280 km), Austria (318 km), Croatia (670 km) and Hungary (102 km).
Relief
Four major European geographic regions meet in Slovenia: the Alps,
the Dinaric area, the Pannonian plain and the Mediterranean.
The coastline is only 46.6 km long, but there is 26,000 kilometres
of rivers and streams, some 7,500 springs of drinking water, including
several hundred of first class therapeutic mineral springs.
Landscape
Forests cover half the territory, as much as 10,124 km2; Slovenia
is the third most forested country in Europe, right after Finland and
Sweden. Remnants of primeval forests are still to be found, the
largest in the Kočevje area. Bears, which can no longer be found north
of this region, still live in these forests and it also is possible to
encounter a wolf or a lynx.
Grassland covers 5593 km2 of the country and fields and gardens
2471 km2. There are also 363 km2 of orchards and 216 km2 of vineyards.
Climate
Most of Slovenia has a continental climate with cold winters and
warm summers. The average temperatures are -2°C in January and 21°C in
July. The average rainfall is 1000 mm for the coast, up to 3500 mm
for the Alps, 800mm for south east and 1400 mm for central Slovenia.
Biodiversity
Slovenia is home to more than 50,000 animal species and 3,000 plant
species.
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.
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