Slovakia's Geography | Slovakia Geography

Location: Central Europe, south of Poland

Geographic coordinates: 48 40 N, 19 30 E

Map references: Europe

Area: Total: 48,845 sq km land: 48,800 sq km water: 45 sq km

Area - comparative: About twice the size of New Hampshire

Land boundaries: Total: 1,524 km border countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, Hungary 677 km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 97 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: None (landlocked)

Climate: Temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Terrain: Rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south

Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m

Natural resources: Brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land

Land use: Arable land: 30.16% permanent crops: 2.62% other: 67.22% (2001)

Irrigated land: 1,740 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment - current issues: Air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests

Environment - international agreements: Party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note: Landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys

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