 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Info
Regions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Country Guide > Europe > Slovak Republic | |
|
General Information Area 49,033 sq km (18,932 sq miles).
Population 5,378,595 (official estimate 2002). Population Density 109.7 per sq km. Capital Bratislava. Population: 617,049 (2000). Geography The Slovak Republic is situated in Central Europe, sharing frontiers with the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Ukraine. Mountains, lowlands, canyons, lakes, cave formations, forests and meadows provide many examples of the Slovak Republic’s year-round natural beauty. The Slovak Republic is a small country but its terrain varies impressively from lowlands to mountain ranges. Almost half of the country is taken up by the Carpathian Arc, a range of mountains stretching across the north. The smaller ranges include the Lesser Carpathians, White Carpathians, Malá (Lesser) Fatra, Vel’ká (Greater) Fatra, High and Low Tatras and the Slovenské rudohorie Mountains (Slovak Ore Mountains). Government Republic since 1993. Head of State: President Ivan Gasparovic since 2004. Head of Government: Prime Minister Mikuláˇs Dzurinda since 1998. Language The official language is Slovak. Hungarian, Ruthenian, Ukrainian and German are spoken by ethnic minorities. English is also spoken. Religion The majority is Roman Catholic. Protestant churches comprise the remainder with Reformed, Lutheran, Methodist and Baptist denominations. There is also a Jewish minority. There is a Greek Orthodox minority in Eastern Slovak Republic. Time GMT + 2 (GMT + 1 from last Sunday in October to last Saturday in March). Electricity Generally 230 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are in use. Lamp fittings are normally of the screw type. Communications Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 421. Outgoing international code: 00. There are public telephone booths, including special kiosks for international calls. Surcharges can be quite high on long-distance calls from hotels. Dial 112 for all emergency services, including road services. Mobile telephone GSM 1800/900/3G. Main network providers include Eurotel Bratislava (website: www.eurotel.sk) and Orange (website: www.orange.sk). Coverage extends over the whole country, with the exception of remote areas. Internet ISPs include Euro Web (website: www.euroweb.sk). There are Internet cafes in main towns. Telegram Facilities are available in all main towns and hotels. Services are available 24 hours at Kolárska 12 (centre of Bratislava) and next to the main railway station in Predstanicné námestie. Post There are Poste Restante services available. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1800. Press The Slovak Spectator, the Slovak Republic’s English-language newspaper, is published bi-weekly; Slovak Foreign Trade is published monthly by the Slovak Chamber of Commerce. The principal dailies are Nový Čas, Pravda and `port. Radio BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. |
