Geographic position:
Croatia extends from the furthest eastern edges of the Alps in the north-west to the Pannonian lowlands and the banks of the Danube in the east; its central region is covered by the Dinara mountain range, and its southern parts extend to the coast of the Adriatic Sea.
Surface area: the mainland covers 56,594 km2; the surface area of territorial waters totals 31,067 km2.
Population: 4,437,460 inhabitants.
Composition of population: The majority of the population are Croats, while the mostnumerous minorities are Serbs, Slovenes, Hungarians, Bosnians, Italians, Czechs and Albanians.
System of government: Croatia is a multi-party parliamentary republic.
Capital: Zagreb (779,145 inhabitants), the economic, transport, cultural and academic centre of the country.
Length of the coastline: 5,835.3 km, of which 4,058 km comprise the coastlines of islands, solitary rocks and reefs.
Number of islands, solitary rocks and reefs: 1,244 the largest islands are Cres and Krk; there are 47 inhabited
islands.
Highest peak: Dinara: 1,831 m above sea level.
Climate: Croatia has three climate zones; the prevailing climate in the country’s interior is moderately rainy; on the highest peaks, a forest climate with snow falls, while the areas along the Adriatic coast have a pleasantly mild Mediterranean climate with a large number of sunny days; summers are dry and hot, winters mild and wet. Average temperatures in the interior: January -2 to 0o C, somewhat lower at the highest altitudes; August – about 20 oC and about 12 oC on the highest peaks. Average temperature in the Littoral: January – 5 to 9 oC, August – 22 to 25 oC; sea temperature in winter: 12 oC; in summer, about 25 oC.
Currency: The kuna (1 kuna = 100 lipa). Foreign currency can be exchanged in banks, exchange offi ces, post offices and in the majority of tourist agencies, hotels and camps, travel agencies, hotels, camps, marinas. Credit cards (Eurocard / Mastercard , Visa, American Express and Diners) are accepted in almost all hotels, marinas, restaurants and camps.
