 |
dancing lessons from god |
Home
|
unusual travel arrangements for independent travellers
|
|
CroatiaCroatiaThe '''Republic of Croatia''' is a crescent-shaped country in Europe bordering the Mediterranean, Central Europe and the Balkans. Its capital city|capital is Zagreb. In recent history of Croatia|history, it was a republic in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|SFR Yugoslavia, but it achieved independence in 1991. It is a enlargement of the European Union|candidate for EU member states|membership of the European Union. <!--BEGIN INFOBOX To change the text of the article, just go below the Infobox. The Infobox represents the informations given in them table on the right. --> {{Infobox_Country| native_name = Republika Hrvatska | common_name = Croatia | image_flag = Croatia_flag_large.png | image_coat = Croatia_coat_small.png | image_map = LocationCroatia.png | national_motto = none | national_anthem = Lijepa nasa domovino|Lijepa na?a domovino | official_languages = Croatian language|Croatian<br>(locally also Italian language|Italian) | capital = Zagreb | latd=45|latm=48|latNS=N|longd=16|longm=0|longEW=E| largest_city = Zagreb | government_type= Democratic republic | leader_titles = Presidents of Croatia|President<br>Prime ministers of Croatia|Prime minister| leader_names = Stjepan Mesic|Stjepan Mesić <br> Ivo Sanader | area_rank = 124th | area_magnitude = 1_E10 | area=56,542 | percent_water = 0.01% | population_estimate = 4,496,869 | population_estimate_year = July 2004 | population_estimate_rank = 117th | population_census=4.437.460| population_census_year=2001| population_density = 83 | population_density_rank = 116th | GDP_PPP_year=2003 | GDP_PPP = $49,638 million | GDP_PPP_rank = 67th | GDP_PPP_per_capita = $11,140 | GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 49th | sovereignty_type = Independence | established_events = | established_dates = June 25, 1991 | currency = Kuna (currency)|Kuna (kn) | currency_code = HRK | time_zone= Central European Time|CET | utc_offset= +1 | time_zone_DST= Central European Summer Time|CEST | utc_offset_DST= +2 | cctld= .hr | calling_code = 385 | footnotes= }}<!-- END INFOBOX --> == History == ''Main article: History of Croatia'' The name of Croats were used by various tribes of Slavic people who lived in the area of what is Little Poland and maybe neighbouring province of Ukraine. From there they migrated further south to present-day Croatia during the 7th century. Croatia became one of the most powerful kingdoms in the region, but in 1102 the Croatians ended a decade-long dynastic struggle by agreeing to submit themselves to Hungary|Hungarian authority. By the mid-1400s, the Kingdom of Hungary|Hungarian kingdom was gravely impacted by the Ottoman Empire|Ottoman expansion while Dalmatia became mostly Republic of Venice|Venetian. The Republic of Dubrovnik was independent. The Battle of Mohács in 1526 led the Croatian Parliament to invite the Habsburgs, under Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor|Ferdinand I, to assume control over Croatia. Habsburg rule eventually did prove to be successful in thwarting the Ottomans, and by the 18th century, much of Croatia was free of Turkish control. Istria, Dalmatia and Dubrovnik all eventually passed to the Austro-Hungarian Empire between 1797 and 1815. Following World War I and the demise of Austria-Hungary, Croatia joined the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (which became Kingdom of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia in 1929). Yugoslavia was invaded during World War II and Croatia was made into a fascist puppet-state named the Independent State of Croatia. After the defeat of the Axis powers, Yugoslavia became a federal communist state|socialist state under the strong hand of Josip Broz Tito. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic and often bitter fighting with the Serbs before the end of the war in 1995. Peaceful reintegration of all rebel territories was completed in 1998 under UN supervision. Croatia applied for European Union membership in 2003 and the EU leaders accepted it as an official candidate country in 2004. As of March 2005, Croatia's candidacy was put on indefinite hold due to Carla del Ponte's assertion that Zagreb had not fully cooperated with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia with regards to the apprehension of the fugitive alleged war criminal and former General, Ante Gotovina. == Politics == ''Main article: Politics of Croatia'' Since the adoption of the 1990 Constitution of Croatia|Constitution, Croatia has been a parliamentary democracy. {| class="toccolours" align="right" style="margin: 0.5em" |- | style="background:#ccccff" align="center" | '''Croatia is a member of:''' |- | align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" | United Nations |- | align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" | Council of Europe |- | align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" | Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE |- | align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" | Partnership for Peace |- | align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" | Foreign relations of Croatia#International organizations|Other organizations |} The Presidents of Croatia|President of the Republic (''Predsjednik'') is head of state and elected for a five-year term. In addition to being the commander in chief of the armed forces, the president has the procedural duty of appointing the Prime minister with the consent of the Parliament, and has some influence on foreign policy. The Croatian Parliament (''Sabor'') is a unicameral legislative body of up to 160 representatives, all elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. The plenary sessions of the Sabor take place from January 15 to July 15, and from September 15 to December 15. The Croatian Government (''Vlada'') is headed by the Prime ministers of Croatia|Prime minister who has 2 deputy prime ministers and 14 ministers in charge of particular sectors of activity. The executive branch is responsible for proposing legislation and a budget, executing the laws, and guiding the foreign and internal policies of the republic. Croatia has a three-tiered judicial system, consisting of the Supreme Court, county courts, and municipal courts. The Constitutional Court rules on matters regarding the Constitution of Croatia|Constitution. ''See also:'' Foreign relations of Croatia == Counties == Image:Hr-map.png|framed|Map of Croatia ''Main article: Counties of Croatia'' Croatia is divided into 20 counties (Croatian: ?upanija) and the city district of the capital, Zagreb*: # Zagreb county (Zagreb county|Zagrebačka ?upanija) # Krapina-Zagorje county (Krapina-Zagorje county|Krapinsko-zagorska ?upanija) # Sisak-Moslavina county (Sisak-Moslavina county|Sisačko-moslavačka ?upanija) # Karlovac county (Karlovac county|Karlovačka ?upanija) # Vara?din county (Varazdin county|Varaždinska ?upanija) # Koprivnica-Kri?evci county (Koprivnica-Krizevci county|Koprivničko-križevačka ?upanija) # Bjelovar-Bilogora county (Bjelovar-Bilogora county|Bjelovarsko-bilogorska ?upanija) # Primorje-Gorski Kotar county (Primorje-Gorski Kotar county|Primorsko-goranska ?upanija) # Lika-Senj county (Lika-Senj county|Ličko-senjska ?upanija) # Virovitica-Podravina county (Virovitica-Podravina county|Virovitičko-podravska ?upanija) # Po?ega-Slavonia county (Pozega-Slavonia county|Požeško-slavonska ?upanija) # Slavonski Brod-Posavina county (Brod-Posavina county|Brodsko-posavska ?upanija) # Zadar county (Zadar county|Zadarska ?upanija) # Osijek-Baranja county (Osijek-Baranja county|Osječko-baranjska ?upanija) # ?ibenik-Knin county (Sibenik-Knin county|Šibensko-kninska ?upanija) # Vukovar-Srijem county (Vukovar-Srijem county|Vukovarsko-srijemska ?upanija) # Split-Dalmatia county (Split-Dalmatia county|Splitsko-dalmatinska ?upanija) # Istria county (Istria county|Istarska ?upanija) # Dubrovnik-Neretva county (Dubrovnik-Neretva county|Dubrovačko-neretvanska ?upanija) # Međimurje county (Medjimurje county|Međimurska ?upanija) # Zagreb (Zagreb|Grad Zagreb)* See also: List of cities in Croatia == Geography == ''Main article: Geography of Croatia'' Croatia is situated between central, southern and eastern Europe. It has a rather peculiar shape that resembles a crescent or a horseshoe which helps account for its many neighbours: Slovenia, Hungary, Serbian part of Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro|Montenegrin part of Serbia and Montenegro, and Italy across the Adriatic. Its mainland territory is split in two non-contiguous parts by the short coastline of Bosnia and Herzegovina around Neum. Its terrain is diverse, containing: * plains, lakes and rolling hills in the continental north and northeast (Central Croatia and Slavonia, part of the Pannonian plain); * densely wooded mountains in Lika and Gorski Kotar, part of the Dinaric Alps; * rocky coastlines on the Adriatic Sea (Istria, Northern Seacoast and Dalmatia). Croatia has a mixture of climates. In the north and east it is continental, Mediterranean along the coast and a semi-highland and highland climate in the south-central region. == Economy == ''Main article: Economy of Croatia'' Croatia has an economy based mostly on various Tertiary sector of industry|services and some, mostly light Secondary sector of industry|industry. Tourism is a notable source of income. The Gross Domestic Product per capita in purchasing power parity terms for 2002 was USD 9,800 or 42.7% of the European Union|EU average. The Croatian economy is Post-Communism|post-communist. In the late 1980s, at the beginning of the process of economic transition, its position was favourable, but it was gravely impacted by de-industrialization and war damages. Main problems include massive structural unemployment followed by an insufficient amount of economic reforms. Of particular concern is the gravely backlogged judiciary system combined with inefficient public administration, especially involving land ownership. The country has since experienced faster economic growth and has been preparing for membership in the European Union, its most important international trade|trading partner. In February 2005, Croatia implemented the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU and is advancing further towards full EU membership. The country expects some major economic impulses and high growth rates in the following next years (currently Croatia suffers most from its high export deficit and considerable debt). Some big trading companies have already taken advantage of the liberalization of the Croatian market. Croatia is expecting a boom in investments, especially Greenfield land|greenfield investments. == Demographics == ''Main article: Demographics of Croatia'' The population of Croatia has been stagnating over the last decade. The natural growth rate is minute or negative (less than +/- 1%), as the demographic transition has been completed half a century ago. Life expectancy rate is around 75 years, and the literacy rate is at 98.5%, both of which are reasonably high. Croatia is inhabited mostly by Croats (89.6%). Minority groups include Serbs (4.5%), Bosniaks (0.5%), Magyars|Hungarians (0.4%) and others. The predominate religion is Roman Catholic Church|Catholicism (87.8%), with some Eastern Orthodoxy|Orthodox (4.4%) and Sunni Muslim (1.3%) minorities. The official and common language, Croatian language|Croatian, is a South Slavic language, using the Latin alphabet. Other languages are spoken by less than 5% of the population. == Culture == ''Main article: Culture of Croatia'' Croatian culture is based on Culture of Croatia#History|thirteen century long history during which the country has attained many monuments and cities, which gave birth to a good number of Culture of Croatia#People|brilliant individuals. The country includes Culture of Croatia#Places|six World Heritage sites and eight national parks. Three Nobel prize winners came from Croatia, as did numerous important inventors and List of Croatians|other notable people — notably, some of the first fountain pens came from Croatia. Interestingly enough, Croatia also has a place in the history of neckwear as the origin of the necktie (''cravat''). The country has a long Culture of Croatia#Arts and literature|artistic, literary and Music of Croatia|musical tradition. Of particular interest is also the diverse Croatian cuisine|cuisine. == Related articles == * Communications in Croatia * Transportation in Croatia * Military of Croatia * Holidays in Croatia * Tourism in Croatia * Reporters without borders' press freedom index rankings: 33 (2002), 69 (2003), 54 (2004) ==External links== * [http://www.vlada.hr/ The Croatian government's official website @ vlada.hr] * [http://www.hr/hrvatska/general.en.shtml General information about Croatia @ www.hr] * [http://www.all-croatian-hotels.com/ All Hotels in Croatia @ all-croatian-hotels.com] * [http://webcam.deili.info/en,1,36 Webcam in Croatia] * [http://www.croatia.hr/ Croatian National Tourist Board @ croatia.hr] * [http://lacroatie.free.fr/ Croatia Info, Classified Ads, Links, Discussion Forum and Photo Gallery @ free.fr] * [http://www.sukosan.net/ap/zemljovid/croatia/zemljovid.html Map of Croatia (Roadmap, Auto map) @ sukosan.net] * [http://www.world-gazetteer.com/s/p_hr.htm Map of Croatia showing cities @ world-gazetteer.com] * [http://www.hr/darko/etf/popis.html#lati Outstanding Croats @ www.hr] * [http://croatia.europe-countries.com/ Pictures of Croatia @ europe-countries.com] * [http://www.earth-photography.com/Countries/Croatia Pictures of Croatia @ earth-photography.com] * [http://www.histrica.com/g/sonda8/ Croatia Events @ histrica.com] * [http://www.fivestars.hr/photo_gallery/croatian_coast_ivo_pervan/ Picture Gallery @ fivestars.hr] * [http://www.posta.hr/default_e.asp Post & Stamps @ posta.hr] * [http://www.mythinglinks.org/euro~east~Balkans~Croatia.html Culture Links @ mythinglinks.org] * [http://www.showcaves.com/english/hr/index.html Speleology @ showcaves.com] * [http://imenik.ht.hr/ Croatian telephone book @ hr.hr] * [http://www.hr/hrvatska/language/ Language @ www.hr] * [http://www.romwell.com/travel/advisory/europe/croatia/crocastles.shtml Castles @ romwell.com] * [http://www.banknotes.com/hr.htm Money @ banknotes.com] * [http://www.national-anthems.net/web/find.webpage?from=real&what=croatia&id=HR Anthem @ national-anthems.net] {{Europe}} {{EU countries and candidates}} Category:Croatia|* af:Kroasië ar:كرواتيا bg:Хърватска be:Харватыя bn:ক্রোয়েশিয়া bs:Hrvatska ca:Croàcia cs:Chorvatsko cy:Croatia da:Kroatien de:Kroatien el:Κροατία et:Horvaatia es:Croacia eo:Kroatio fr:Croatie gl:Croacia - Hrvatska ko:크로아티아 hi:क्रोएशिया hr:Hrvatska io:Kroatia id:Kroasia is:Króatía it:Croazia he:קרואטיה la:Croatia lv:Horvātija lt:Kroatija li:Kroatië hu:Horvátország mk:Хрватска mt:Kroazja zh-min-nan:Hrvatska nl:Kroatië nds:Kroatien ja:クロアチア no:Kroatia pl:Chorwacja pt:Croácia ro:Croaţia ru:Хорватия se:Kroátia sa:क्रोएशिया sk:Chorvátsko sl:Hrvaška sr:Хрватска fi:Kroatia sv:Kroatien tl:Croatia th:ประเทศโครเอเชีย uk:Хорватія zh:克罗地亚 First page | Prev | Next | Last page | This article on Croatia is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Croatia". if you like cool drinks you may be interested in:
Hope you enjoyed reading about Croatia |
|
