Right in the heart of Europe and with a history linked to its neighbour countries, Slovakia has proudly preserved its own language and distinct cultural traditions.
Although the history of the Slovak people as expressed in the nation state is less than a decade old, Slovaks have existed as a unique entity for over 1500 years.
The dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I allowed the Slovaks to join the closely related Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. Following the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia became a Communist nation within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. Soviet influence collapsed in 1989 and Czechoslovakia once more became free. The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully on 1 January 1993. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004 and the euro-area on 1 January 2009.
More than a few still feel prejudiced against any recently communist country. Some people have the incorrect impression that war in the former Yugoslavia somehow involved Slovakia as well. The truth is that life in Slovakia is very European, much like in countries to the west. Slovakia's capital city Bratislava is the national seat of politics and business, as well as a growing hub of culture. The major cities (especially the capital) are pretty busy, full of people, cars, restaurants, bars and supermarkets. Pace of life in towns and villages is moderate.
Movement of many nations through our country, integration of the nation into the big regions and also great economic and political emigration connected Slovakia with the world by strong ties of kinship. Slovak scientists contributed to the world history of progress by many inventions, including wireless telegraph (Jozef Murgaš), the first used parachute (Štefan Banič) and the steam and gas turbine (Aurel Stodola).
Slovakia is a peaceful country with beautiful scenery and hospitable people. The country enjoys moderate weather (continental climate) and a prime map location, bridging east and west. Slovakia is landlocked country, rather more hilly than the neighbouring Czech Republic and includes part of the western Carpathian mountains, whose higher peaks reach in High Tatra over 2,600 meters. Lowlands occur in the Danube Basin in the southwest, and near where the Slovakian, Ukrainian, and Hungarian borders meet. The most famous river in Slovakia is the Danube River, and the longest one - Váh River.
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Labour Pool for Migrants / Pracovná banka pre migrantov. Ústav verejnej politiky, FSEV, UK v Bratislave