INTRODUCTION TO CROATIA

Geography:
Croatia, country on the west coast of the Balkan Peninsula, west and north of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its area is 56,510 sq km (21,819 sq mi). Zagreb is the capital and largest city.

Land and Resources
The Pannonian Plains, a fertile agricultural region drained by the Drava (Drau) and Sava rivers, lie in eastern Croatia. In the west, along the Adriatic Sea, is Dalmatia, a narrow strip of land within the Dinaric Alps. A climate of hot summers and cold winters predominates, although coastal towns enjoy a Mediterranean climate of mild, rainy winters and warm, dry summers.

Natural resources include petroleum, coal, bauxite, iron ore, calcium, silica, mica, and salt. Deciduous forests predominate on the plains and in many of the mountainous areas. The Karst, a barren limestone plateau, covers parts of the Croatian landscape. Wildlife includes hares, foxes, otters, gray bears, deer, boars, wildcats, and wolves.

Population:
The population of Croatia (1997 estimate) is 4,664,710. Ethnic Croats constitute about 78 percent of the population, and Serbs make up about 12 percent. Other groups include Muslims, Hungarians, and Slovenes. Croatian, a language closely related to Serbian, is the official language. Most Croats are Roman Catholics; most Serbs belong to the Serbian Orthodox Church. Some 65 percent of Croatia's population lives in urban areas. Education is free and compulsory from the ages of 7 through 15.

Culture:
Before the disintegration of Yugoslavia in 1991, Croatia was a relatively prosperous republic. War with Serbia damaged Croatia's economy considerably, although it has rebounded somewhat. Most of Croatia's workers are employed in industries and services. Mining is a major industry. Bauxite, brown coal, and copper are among the minerals extracted. Other industries include petroleum refining, iron and steel production, and the manufacture of chemicals, metals, and textiles. Croatia's farmers grow such crops as wheat, maize (corn), and sugar beets. Tourism is important along the Adriatic coast. Exports include manufactured goods, chemicals, machinery, and transportation equipment. Imports include fuels, lubricants, and raw materials. The unit of currency is the kuna (5.43 kuna equal U.S.$1; 1996).