The smallest Balkan country, Slovenia, was the first to separate from former Yugoslavia and became an independent republic in 1991.

Slovenia is located in the northwesternmost part of the Balkan Peninsula. It has a small outlet on the Adriatic Sea.

The relief is mostly mountainous, represented by branches of the Julian Alps and part of the Dinaric mountains.

In Southeastern Slovenia is located the limestone Karst plateau. The amazing Postojna Cave is located here, too. It is one of the largest and most beautiful caves on the Balkan Peninsula, and is declared an underground reserve. The total length of the galleries and the lands, covered with weird stalactites and stalagmites is 19.5 km.
Slovenia is the most developed former Yugoslavian republic. In addition to ferrous and nonferrous metallurgy, also very developed are machine building (electronics, cars, and ships), chemical, woodworking, cellulose and paper, light (leather goods, shoe and textile industry) and food processing industries.

Although it was ruled by different countries in the past, Slovenia has retained its ethnic homogeneity – 90% of the population is Slovenian, descendents of the Southern Slavs.

Ljubljana is a very beautiful capital, situated picturesquely on the two banks of the Sava. It has been an important cultural and transport centre for centuries. An annual international fait is organised there.