The country is in the heart of central Europe, linked to its neighbours by the River Danube. The Carpathian Mountains extend across the northern half.

SLOVAKIA

GEOGRAPHY The country is in the heart of central

Europe, linked to its neighbours by the River Danube. The Carpathian Mountains extend across the northern half of the country and include the High Tatras – a popular skiing destination and home to the country’s highest peak – the 2 655 m Gerlachovsky. The lowlands of the Danube plain provide a fertile farming region producing wheat, barley, potatoes, sugar beet, fruit, tobacco and grapes.

HISTORY Slovakia became an independent state

in January 1993 after Czechoslovakia split into its two constituent parts.

In 2OO4 it became a member of European Union.

Since 2009 the currency is Euro (€) The President, elected by direct

popular vote for a five-year term, has limited powers. The country has a single-chamber parliament whose 150 members are elected for four-year terms.

TRADITIONS Traditional meals include potato

dumplings with sheep’s cheese and cabbage soup with sausages.

SLOVAK PERSONALITIES Among the best-known Slovaks are

Štefan Banič who invented the parachute in 1913, and Andy Warhol, the American-born pop artist, whose parents were from Slovakia.

Can you recognise the places in the pictures below?Which of them have you visited? What are they famous for?

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Imagine you have foreign visitors. Which places would you show them and why?

(caves, spas, castles, national parks...)