Location:
Central Europe, south of Poland

Geographic coordinates:
48 40 N, 19 30 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 49,035 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 48,105 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 930 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 131

Area - comparative:
about one and a half times the size of Maryland; about twice the size of New Hampshire

Land boundaries:
total: 1,611 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (5): Austria 105 km, Czech Republic 241 km, Hungary 627 km, Poland 541 km, Ukraine 97 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
More Climate Details

Terrain:
rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south

Elevation:
mean elevation: 458 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m

Natural resources:
lignite, small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land

Land use:
agricultural land: 40.1% arable land 28.9%; permanent crops 0.4%; permanent pasture 10.8%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 40.2%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 19.7% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
869 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population - distribution:
a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country; slightly larger concentration in the west in proximity to the Czech border

Natural hazards:
flooding

Environment - current issues:
air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys