
In 1918 the Slovaks
joined the closely related Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. Following
the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia became a Communist nation
within Soviet-ruled 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
was invited to join NATO and the EU in 2002. LOCATION:
Central Europe, south of Poland: Temperate;
cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters BORDERS:
Austria 91 km, Czech Republic
215 km, Hungary 677 km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 97 km