It includes a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine
mountain region (Julian Alps) adjacent to Italy and Austria, and
mixed mountains and valleys with numerous rivers to the east.
Its major environmental issues include: - Sava River polluted
with domestic and industrial waste; - pollution of coastal
waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals; and, - forest
damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at
metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain
Slovenia is susceptible to flooding and earthquakes. The Slovene
lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the
latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, the
Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new
multinational state, which was named Yugoslavia in 1929. After
World War II, Slovenia became a republic of the renewed
Yugoslavia, which though Communist, distanced itself from
Moscow's rule. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power by the
majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing their
indepe