SLOVAKIA – My Homeland téma

SLOVAKIA – My Homeland téma

The Slovak Republic is a new state which came into existence on 1^st January 1993 when former Cyechoslovakia was devided and two states were formed: The Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. Slovakia is situated in the heart of Europe, the geographical centre of Europe is in Krahule, near Kremnica. The Slovak Republic borders the Czech Republic to the West, Austria to the Southwest, Hungarz to the Southeast, Poland to the North and the Ukraine to the East.

The Slovak Republic has a population about five and half milion people of which 85% are Slovak, 11% are Hungarian and the remaining 4% of Romany, Czech, Ukrainian and German. The official language is Slovak. The majoritz of the population is Roman Catholic religon, others are Greed Catholick, Orthodox and Protestants. Slovakia is a mountainous country. The climate is a mixture of continental and ocean climates with four seasons. The coldest month is January, and the warnest is July. The coldest place is Orava. The highest place is Gerlach and the lowest place is the level of the Bodrog.

The National flag consist of three stripes: white, blue and red. The left half of the flag bears the state emblem of the Slovak Republic – a double cross with mountains in the backround. The capital of the Slovak Republic is Bratislava – the largest citz, the centre of policital, governmental, economic, educational and research institutions.

The system of government of the Slovak Republic is divided into three branches: the legislative branch represented by the National Council of the Slovak Republic (Parliament), the executive branch represented by the Government (the Prime Minister) and the President, and the judicial branch (the courts). The Slovak Government consists of the Prime Minister, vice-prime ministers and ministers. The judicial power is represented by courts at various levels, starting with the Constituional Court and the Supreme Court.

Slovakia is the contry of mountains, rivers, contry of folk costumes and beautiful songs and dance. The Small Fatra Mountains, The Great Fatra Mountains, The High Tatras, The Low Tatras, The Slovak Pradise are the most famous mountains ranges in Slovakia. There are also caves, lakes, dams, and valleys which attract tourists from many countries. Liptovska Mara and Orava dams are wonderful places of lovers of water sports.

Tourtists and visitors form foreign countries can spend their holidays in number of spas. The small spa towns offer all conditions for pleasant: holidays for both sick and healthy visitors. The most famous spas are Piestany, Bardejov, Tr. Teplice, Sliac, Turcianske Teplice…

The rich history of our country can be traced in numerous museums, castles, manors and architectural monuments. The folk architecture, local folk costumes, products of folk artists are admired by many people from abroad.

Winter sport centres: Donovaly, Jasna, Vratna, Cicmany

The High Tatras are place where many rare species of birds, plants and animals live (the eagle, bear, marmont, chamoix)

The state symbols:

(znak) The state emblem of the Slovak Republic includes a red early-gothic shield, with silver double-cross situated on the central hill within three blue hills.

(zastava) The flag consist of three equal coloured stripes –white, blue and red. The state emblem is situated on it.

(pecat) The seal is round. In its centre is a state emblem engraved with the round title SLOVENKA REPUBLIKA

(hymna) The national anthem consists of two stanzas from the revolutionary song “Nad Tatrou sa blyska”. The text was written in 1844 by Janko Matuska. The antem s melody follows the motives of the Slovak folk song