General Information
Population: 4.500 000
Capital: Zagreb
Official language: Croatian
Currency: Kuna
Size: 56.610 km2
Length of the coast: 1.778 km / islands 4.058 km
Location and climate
Croatia (official name: Republic of Croatia) is a European country, geographically located between Middle and South East Europe, it borders on north with Slovenia and Hungary, on east with Serbia, on south and east with Bosnia and Hercegovina and Montenegro, while it borders with Italy on sea. Convenient geographical-traffic position of the Republic of Croatia provides development of the traffic infrastructure and traffic activities as one of important factors of country's economic and social development. The importance of its geographic location is increased by the Adriatic sea, as part of the Mediterranean sea, which pervades deepest and northeast towards the middle part of the European continent, where the biggest port in Adriatic sea is located – Port of Rijeka, with more than 13 million tons of cargo in year 2007..
Geographically, Croatia encompasses the area from Panonnian Basin, which forms around one half of the total surface of the Republic of Croatia, over tiny area of Dinaric Alps to one of the most developed coasts on the worlds - coast of the Adriatic Sea. Panonnian Basin provides possibilities for the agricultural development which are not used up to their potential so far.
Adriatic coast comprises circa one third of the total surface of the Republic of Croatia, with longitude of 5835 km. It consists of 1185 islands, islets, cliffs, and rocks, and numerous bays, gulfs and peninsulas, the biggest being Istra and Pelješac. One of most beautiful and preserved coasts has a great potential for development of fishing, shipbuilding and especially tourism.
The rest of the territory consists of mountain or Dinaric spread. Mountain Croatia does not have such development possibilities such as Pannonian or Coastal Croatia, however, lately the winter and agricultural tourism is growing with the traditional activities, forestry and cattle breeding. The highest mountain in Croatia, which in part represents a boarder with Bosnia and Hercegovina, are Dinaric Alps, with the highest top of 1831 m.
Division can also be made on four macro regions in functional sense, giving:
- Zagreb macro region - that comprises Central Croatia,
- Osijek macro region - that comprises east Croatia,
- Rijeka macro region - that comprises north Croatian seacoast,
- Split macro region - that comprises south Croatian seacoast.
In the inland, the climate is mild continental, in the mountains highland climate, on the coast Mediterranean type of climate (with dry and hot summers and damply and mild winters), and in hinterland submediterranean type (with bit colder winters and warmer summers).
Population and territorial organization
According to the census of 2001, population of Croatia is 4.437.460. The largest ethnic groups are Croats, with 89,6% of the overall population, while the second largest ethnic group are Serbians, making up almost 5% of the population. Other ethnic groups make less than 0,5% of the population.
Land surface amounts to 56.542 km², and the size of territorial sea is 31.067 km² which puts Croatia among medium size European countries. Capital is Zagreb, which is economical, cultural and political centre of the country.
Kultura i umjetnost
Croatia is administratively divided into 127 towns and 429 municipalities. Municipalities and towns represent units of local self-government, while counties are units of regional self-government which comprises number of municipalities and towns geographically connected on its area.
Croatia is divided on 20 counties and City of Zagreb, which has status of a county.
Political system and international membership
Under political system, Croatia is parliamentary democracy. State government is organized on the principle of the separation of powers into legislative, executive and judicial power.
Croatia is a member of the United Nations from 22 May 1992; member of the Council of Europe, World Trade Organization, CEFTA, NATO, and from 2004 is a candidate for European Union.
Infrastructure
Croatia has developed network of highways over 1 400 kilometers, that connect the capital Zagreb with the other major cities. Despite that, the current traffic situation in Croatia is not satisfactory, especially in port services, sea and river shipping, and railway.
Possibilities of the Port Rijeka, which has excellent geographical position and excellent preconditions for transshipment of all sorts of cargo, and other Croatian ports, are insufficiently used.
Furthermore, Croatia needs to use its geographic-traffic position in air transport since it is located, as one of the countries of the Mediterranean sea on the crossroad of the air roads for South, East and Middle Europe. There are seven airports in Croatia for international traffic – Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Rijeka, Pula i Osijek, and three airports, Brač, Lošinj and Vrsar, for acceptance and transport of smaller aircraft of commercial usage.
Cultural – historical heritage
Croatia has many cultural-historic monuments from different historic periods, due to historical venues and mix of different cultures on these areas. Influences of Mediterranean culture, numerous monuments from antics, ancient Rome and early Middle age, sacral heritage, and whole series of preserved characteristic Mediterranean urban cores determines culture of the coast of Croatia. Continental part of Croatia is part of middle European cultural circle, and has numerous prehistoric sites of world importance, old towns, castles and fortresses from late Middle Age and cultural monuments and buildings from area of baroque.
Tourism
Croatia, as one of the most important touristic destinations on Mediterranean, has long touristic tradition and high development possibilities.
Advantages of the touristic product are preserved natural resources and environment, cultural and historical heritage, mild Mediterranean climate, closeness of European markets and possibilities of active vacation in ecologically preserved destinations.
Croatia has all preconditions for further tourism development – one of most beautiful coasts with more than thousand islands, ecologically preserved natural wealth with eight national parks (Plitvice lakes, Paklenica, Risnjak, North Velebit, Kornati islands, Mljet, Brijuni and Krka) and 10 nature parks, cultural and historical heritage with monuments under UNESCO protection (Dioklecian's palace in Split, towns Trogir and Dubrovnik, basilica of Eufrasius in Poreč and cathedral in Šibenik). Mild Mediterranean climate attracts tourists during the entire year.
Croatia touristic offer is diverse and rich, from nautical tourism, diving, congress, ecological, rural, cultural, religious, adventurous, hunting and fishing tourism, to health and wellness tourism, cruising and excursion tourism.
Each of Croatian tourist regions develops its specific offer, according to worlds trends and its own tradition. Most important regions in tourism are Istra, Kvarner, Dalmacija, Dubrovnik and Dubrovnik area, Zagreb as the capital and continental Croatia.
