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The '''Republic of Croatia''' (Republica Hrvatska) is a [[Balkan]] nation of southern [[Europe]] bounded by [[Slovenia]], [[Hungary]], [[Serbia]], [[Bosnia-Herzegovina]], [[Montenegro]] and the [[Adriatic Sea]]. It has an area of 21,829 square miles (56,538 sq km) and a population of 4.44 millions (2007 est). The capital city is [[Zagreb]]; other major centres include [[Dubrovnik]], Split, Osijek and Rijeka. The nation comprises three traditional regions: Croatia, around the Zagreb; [[Slavonia]], the eastern territory extending to the Serbian border, and [[Dalmatia]], the long and narrow coastal region.

The '''Republic of Croatia''' (Republica Hrvatska) is a [[Balkan]] nation of southern [[Europe]] bounded by [[Slovenia]], [[Hungary]], [[Serbia]], [[Bosnia-Herzegovina]], [[Montenegro]] and the [[Adriatic Sea]]. It has an area of 21,829 square miles (56,538 km²) and a population of 4.44 millions (2007 est). The capital city is [[Zagreb]]; other major centres include [[Dubrovnik]], Split, Osijek and Rijeka. The nation comprises three traditional regions: Croatia, around the Zagreb; [[Slavonia]], the eastern territory extending to the Serbian border, and [[Dalmatia]], the long and narrow coastal region.

From 1918 to 1991 Croatia formed part of [[Yugoslavia]] (it had a period of independence between 1941 and 1945 as a pro-Nazi puppet state). In 1991 it declared independence from Yugoslavia and was immediately embroiled in war with the Yugoslav National Army (JNA) and ethnic Serbian forces in the Karjina region bordering Bosnia-Herzegovina. Conflict with the JNA was fiercest in eastern Slavonia, with the city of Osijek suffering severe bombardment and the border town of Vukovar being besieged and then stormed by the JNA after a stubborn Croat resistance. The two conflicts ended in 1995 with a refurbished Croatian Army (armed and trained by the United States) reconquering rebel districts and the JNA withdrawing from occupying territories, resulting in a major campaign of alleged ethnic cleansing in which the vast majority of the Croatian Serb population was expelled.  

From 1918 to 1991 Croatia formed part of [[Yugoslavia]] (it had a period of independence between 1941 and 1945 as a pro-Nazi puppet state). In 1991 it declared independence from Yugoslavia and was immediately embroiled in war with the Yugoslav National Army (JNA) and ethnic Serbian forces in the Karjina region bordering Bosnia-Herzegovina. Conflict with the JNA was fiercest in eastern Slavonia, with the city of Osijek suffering severe bombardment and the border town of Vukovar being besieged and then stormed by the JNA after a stubborn Croat resistance. The two conflicts ended in 1995 with a refurbished Croatian Army (armed and trained by the United States) reconquering rebel districts and the JNA withdrawing from occupying territories, resulting in a major campaign of alleged ethnic cleansing in which the vast majority of the Croatian Serb population was expelled.  

==Geography==

==Geography==

Croatia serves as a gateway to eastern Europe. It lies along the east coast of the Adriatic Sea and shares a border with Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, and Slovenia. The republic swings around like a boomerang from the Pannonian Plains of Slavonia between the Sava, Drava, and Danube Rivers, across hilly, central Croatia to the Istrian Peninsula, then south through Dalmatia along the rugged Adriatic coast. Croatia is made up of 20 counties plus the city of Zagreb and controls 1,185 islands in the Adriatic Sea, 67 of which are inhabited.

Croatia serves as a gateway to eastern Europe. It lies along the east coast of the Adriatic Sea and shares a border with Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, and Slovenia. The republic swings around like a boomerang from the Pannonian Plains of Slavonia between the Sava, Drava, and Danube Rivers, across hilly, central Croatia to the Istrian Peninsula, then south through Dalmatia along the rugged Adriatic coast. Croatia is made up of 20 counties plus the city of Zagreb and controls 1,185 islands in the Adriatic Sea, 67 of which are inhabited.

*Area: 56,542 sq. km. land area (slightly smaller than West Virginia), 31,067 sq. km. coastal sea area.

*Area: 56,542 km². land area (slightly smaller than West Virginia), 31,067 km². coastal sea area.

*Major cities (2002 est.): Capital—Zagreb (779,145). Others—Split (188,694), Rijeka (144,043), Osijek (114,616).  

*Major cities (2002 est.): Capital—Zagreb (779,145). Others—Split (188,694), Rijeka (144,043), Osijek (114,616).  

*Terrain: Croatia is situated between central and eastern Europe. Its terrain is diverse, containing rocky coastlines, densely wooded mountains, plains, lakes, and rolling hills.  

*Terrain: Croatia is situated between central and eastern Europe. Its terrain is diverse, containing rocky coastlines, densely wooded mountains, plains, lakes, and rolling hills.