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Sunday, August 12, 2007

Croatia and the Dalmatian Coast


Tomorrow, 13Aug07, we leave for Croatia and a trip by boat along the Dalmatian Coast. We will combine birding, history and culture from 16-26 August with Victor Emanuel Nature Tours. Then we will island hop and return to Austin on 7 Sept.

Croatia - Statistics:
Capital City: Zagreb;
Population: 4,493,312;
GDP: $60,260,000,000 (USD);
Total Area: 56,542 (sq km) 21,831 (sq mi);
Currency: kuna (HRK);
Controls 1,185 islands in the Adriatic Sea, 67 of which are inhabited; Government: Presidential/parliamentary democracy.


Geography


Croatia is a former Yugoslav republic on the Adriatic Sea. It is about the size of West Virginia. Part of Croatia is a barren, rocky region lying in the Dinaric Alps. The Zagorje region north of the capital, Zagreb, is a land of rolling hills, and the fertile agricultural region of the Pannonian Plain is bordered by the Drava, Danube, and Sava Rivers in the east. Over one-third of Croatia is forested.

Recent History
Croatians declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. Conflict between Serbs and Croats in Croatia escalated, and one month after Croatia declared independence, civil war erupted. After wars over territory with regional factions and three broken cease-fire agreements, in December 1995, Croatia signed the Dayton peace agreement, committing itself to a permanent cease-fire and the return of all refugees. Current President Mesic was inaugurated for a second term on February 18, 2005. Presidential elections will next be held in January 2010.
Safety & Security

Although hostilities in all parts of the country ended in 1995, de-mining of areas along former confrontation lines is not complete. It is estimated that de-mining operations will continue at least until 2010. Mine-affected areas are well-marked with the Croatian-language warning signs using the international symbol for mines. Travelers in former conflict areas... [such as the] more remote areas of the Plitvice Lakes National Park should exercise caution and not stray from known safe roads and areas.

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