View source for Geography of Croatia

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{{Use British English|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Country geography |
name= Croatia |
map=Croatia topo.jpg|
continent =[[Europe]] |
region =[[Southern Europe]] |
<!-- Coordinates are average of (halfway between all extreme points) and Zagreb's location -->
coordinates ={{Coord|45|8|30|N|16|13|45|E|region:HR_type:country_scale:500000|display=inline,title}} |
area ranking = 127th|
km area =56594 |
percent land= 99 |
km coastline =5835.1 |
borders ={{convert|2237|km|abbr=on}}|
highest point= [[Dinara]]<br>{{convert|1831|m|abbr=on}}|
lowest point= [[Adriatic Sea]]<br>([[sea level]])|
longest river= [[Sava]]<br>{{convert|562|km|abbr=on}}|
largest lake= [[Lake Vrana (Dalmatia)|Lake Vrana]]<br>{{convert|30.7|km2|abbr=on}}|
}}
The '''geography of Croatia''' is defined by its location—it is described as located at the crossroads of [[Central Europe]] and [[Southeast Europe]], or within the wider region of [[Southern Europe]]. Croatia's territory covers {{convert|56594|km2|abbr=on}}, making it the 127th largest country in the world. Bordered by [[Slovenia]] in the northwest, [[Hungary]] in the northeast, [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] and [[Serbia]] in the east, [[Montenegro]] in the southeast and the Adriatic Sea in the south, it lies mostly between latitudes [[42nd parallel north|42°]] and [[47th parallel north|47° N]] and longitudes [[13th meridian east|13°]] and [[20th meridian east|20° E]]. [[Croatia]]'s [[territorial waters]] encompass {{convert|18981|km2}} in a {{convert|12|nmi}} wide zone, and its [[internal waters]] located within the [[Baseline (sea)|baseline]] cover an additional {{convert|12498|km2}}.
The [[Pannonian Plain]] and the [[Dinaric Alps]], along with the Adriatic Basin, represent major [[Geomorphology|geomorphological]] parts of Croatia. Lowlands make up the bulk of Croatia, with elevations of less than {{convert|200|m}} above sea level recorded in 53.42% of the country. Most of the lowlands are found in the northern regions, especially in [[Slavonia]], itself a part of the Pannonian Basin plain. The plains are interspersed with [[Horst (geology)|horst]] and [[graben]] structures, believed to have broken the [[Pliocene]] [[Pannonian Sea]]'s surface as [[Pannonian island mountains|islands]]. The greatest concentration of ground at relatively high elevations is found in the [[Lika]] and [[Gorski Kotar]] areas in the Dinaric Alps, but high areas are found in all regions of Croatia to some extent. The Dinaric Alps contain the highest mountain in Croatia—{{convert|1831|m|adj=on}} Dinara—as well as all other mountains in Croatia higher than {{convert|1500|m}}. Croatia's Adriatic Sea mainland coast is {{convert|1777.3|km}} long, while its [[List of islands of Croatia|1,246&nbsp;islands]] and islets encompass a further {{convert|4058|km}} of coastline—the most indented coastline in the Mediterranean. [[Karst topography]] makes up [[List of notable karst areas#Croatia|about half of Croatia]] and is especially prominent in the Dinaric Alps, as well as throughout the coastal areas and the islands.
62% of Croatia's territory is encompassed by the [[Adriatic Sea]]. The area includes the largest rivers flowing in the country: the [[Danube]], Sava, [[Drava]], [[Mur (river)|Mur]] and [[Kupa]]. The remainder belongs to the Adriatic Sea drainage basin, where the largest river by far is the [[Neretva]]. Most of Croatia has a moderately warm and rainy [[continental climate]] as defined by the [[Köppen climate classification]]. The mean monthly temperature ranges between {{convert|-3|°C|°F}} and {{convert|18|°C|°F}}. Croatia has a number of [[ecoregion]]s because of its climate and geomorphology, and the country is consequently among the most biodiverse in Europe. There are four types of [[biogeographical]] regions in Croatia: Mediterranean along the coast and in its immediate hinterland; Alpine in the [[altitudinal zonation|elevated]] Lika and Gorski Kotar; Pannonian along the Drava and Danube; and Continental in the remaining areas. There are 444&nbsp;[[protected areas of Croatia|protected natural areas in Croatia]], encompassing 8.5% of the country; there are about 37,000 known species in Croatia, and the total number of species is estimated to be between 50,000 and 100,000.
The permanent population of Croatia by the 2011 census reached 4.29&nbsp;million. The [[population density]] was 75.8&nbsp;inhabitants per square kilometre, and the overall [[List of countries by life expectancy|life expectancy in Croatia]] at birth was 75.7&nbsp;years. The country is inhabited mostly by [[Croats]] (89.6%), while [[Ethnic minorities in Croatia|minorities]] include [[Serbs]] (4.5%), and 21 other ethnicities (less than 1% each) recognised by the [[Constitution of Croatia|constitution]]. Since the counties were re-established in 1992, Croatia is divided into 20 [[Counties of Croatia|counties]] and the capital [[city of Zagreb]]. The counties subdivide into 127 [[List of cities in Croatia|cities]] and 429 [[Municipalities of Croatia|municipalities]]. The average [[urbanisation]] rate in Croatia stands at 56%, with a growing urban population and shrinking rural population. The largest city and the nation's [[capital city|capital]] is [[Zagreb]], with an urban population of 797,952 in the city itself and a [[metropolitan area]] population of 978,161. The populations of [[Split, Croatia|Split]] and [[Rijeka]] exceed 100,000, and five more cities in Croatia have populations over 50,000.
==Area and borders==
Croatia's territory covers {{convert|56594|km2|abbr=off}},<ref name="Yearbook-2011">{{cite journal|publisher=Croatian Bureau of Statistics|url=http://www.dzs.hr/Hrv_Eng/ljetopis/2011/SLJH2011.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.dzs.hr/Hrv_Eng/ljetopis/2011/SLJH2011.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|journal=Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|issn=1333-3305|date=December 2011|volume=43|title=Geographical and Meteorological Data|page=41|access-date=28 January 2012}}</ref> making it the 127th largest country in the world.<ref name="CIA">{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Croatia|access-date=9 September 2011}}</ref> The physical geography of Croatia is defined by its location—it is described as a part of [[Southeast Europe]].<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Politička Misao|publisher=University of Zagreb, Faculty of Political Sciences|issn=0032-3241|volume=37|issue=5|date=February 2001|title=Croatia&nbsp;– the "Gateway" to Southeast Europe|first=Vlatko|last=Cvrtila|pages=150–159}}</ref> Croatia borders [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia–Herzegovina]] (for 1,009.1&nbsp;km), [[Slovenia]] for 667.8&nbsp;km in the northwest,  in the east, [[Hungary]] for 355.5&nbsp;km in the north, [[Serbia]] (for 317.6&nbsp;km) in the east, [[Montenegro]] (for 22.6&nbsp;km) in the southeast and the [[Adriatic Sea]] in the west, south and southwest.<ref>[http://arhiva.vlada.hr/en/about_croatia/information/borders_of_the_republic_of_croatia Borders of the Republic of Croatia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222111339/http://arhiva.vlada.hr/en/about_croatia/information/borders_of_the_republic_of_croatia |date=22 December 2015 }}</ref> It lies mostly between latitudes [[42nd parallel north|42°]] and [[47th parallel north|47° N]] and longitudes [[13th meridian east|13°]] and [[20th meridian east|20° E]]. Part of the extreme south of Croatia is separated from the rest of the mainland by a short coastline strip around [[Neum]] belonging to Bosnia–Herzegovina.<ref name="DZS-Stat2010">{{cite journal|publisher=Croatian Bureau of Statistics|url=http://www.dzs.hr/Hrv_Eng/ljetopis/2010/SLJH2010.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016173344/http://www.dzs.hr/Hrv_Eng/ljetopis/2010/SLJH2010.pdf |archive-date=2011-10-16 |url-status=live|journal=Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia|title=Geographical and Meteorological Data|issn=1333-3305|date=December 2010|volume=42|access-date=7 October 2011}}</ref> The country's shape is described as a '[[horseshoe shape|horseshoe]]' ({{lang|hr|potkova}}), and it arose as a result of [[medieval]] geopolitics.<ref>{{cite journal | url = https://hrcak.srce.hr/en/clanak/48271 | journal = Geoadria | volume = 13 | number = 1 | year = 2008 | doi = 10.15291/geoadria.566 | title = Contributions for Supplement and Modification in Regionalization of the Republic of Croatia | first = Radovan | last = Pavić | doi-access = free }}</ref>
Croatia's {{convert|348|km|adj=on}} border with Hungary was inherited from [[SFR Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]. Much of the border with Hungary follows the [[Drava]] River or its former river bed; that part of the border dates from the [[Middle Ages]]. The border in [[Međimurje]] and [[Baranya (region)|Baranya]] was defined as a border between the [[Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946)|Kingdom of Hungary]] and the [[Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes]], later renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, pursuant to the [[Treaty of Trianon#Borders of Hungary|Treaty of Trianon]] of 1920.<ref name=Columbia>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Trianon, Treaty of|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-TrianonTr.html|encyclopedia=[[The Columbia Encyclopedia]]|year=2009}}</ref><ref name="encyclopedia of ww1">{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of World War I|last=Tucker|first=Spencer|year=2005|edition=1|page=1183|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2YqjfHLyyj8C&pg=PA1183|quote=Virtually the entire population of what remained of Hungary regarded the Treaty of Trianon as manifestly unfair, and agitation for revision began immediately.|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-85109-420-2}}</ref> The present outline of the {{convert|956|km|adj=on}} border with Bosnia–Herzegovina and {{convert|19|km|adj=on}} border with Montenegro is largely the result of the [[Hundred Years' Croatian–Ottoman War|Ottoman conquest]] and subsequent recapture of territories in the [[Great Turkish War]] of 1667–1698 formally ending with the [[Treaty of Karlowitz]],{{sfn|Frucht|2005|p=422}} as well as the [[Cretan War (1645–1669)|Fifth]] and [[Ottoman–Venetian War (1714–1718)|Seventh Ottoman–Venetian Wars]].<ref name="bare_url">{{cite book|first=Frederic Chapin|last=Lane|title=Venice, a Maritime Republic|publisher=JHU Press|year=1973|isbn=978-0-8018-1460-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PQpU2JGJCMwC|access-date=18 October 2011|page=409}}</ref> This border had minor modifications in 1947 when all borders of the former Yugoslav constituent republics were defined by demarcation commissions implementing the [[AVNOJ]] decisions of 1943 and 1945 regarding the federal organisation of Yugoslavia. The commissions also defined Baranya and Međimurje as Croatian territories, and moreover set up the present-day {{convert|314|km|adj=on}} border between Serbia and Croatia in [[Syrmia]] and along the [[Danube]] River between [[Ilok]] and the Drava river's mouth and further north to the Hungarian border; the Ilok/Drava section matched the border between the [[Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia]] and [[Bács-Bodrog County]] that existed until 1918 (the end of [[World War I]]). Most of the {{convert|600|km|adj=on}} border with Slovenia was also defined by the commissions, matching the northwestern border of the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia,<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Geoadria|publisher=University of Zadar&nbsp;– Croatian Geographic Society|issn=1331-2294|volume=15|issue=1|date=June 2010|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=84078|title=Povijesni razvoj i političko-geografska obilježja granice i pograničja Republike Hrvatske s Republikom Slovenijom na Žumberku i Kupsko-čabranskoj dolini|language=hr|trans-title=Historical development and politico-geographical characteristics of the border and borderland between the Republic of Croatia and Republic of Slovenia on Žumberak and in the Rivers Kupa and Čabranka Valley|first1=Helena Ilona|last1=Bognar|first2=Andrija|last2=Bognar|pages=187–224|access-date=7 March 2012|doi=10.15291/geoadria.549|doi-access=free}}</ref> and establishing a new section of Croatian border north of the [[Istria]]n peninsula according to the ethnic composition of the territory previously belonging to the [[Kingdom of Italy]].<ref name="Kraljević-Razgraničenje-1947">{{cite journal|first=Egon|last=Kraljević|publisher=Croatian State Archives|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=41791 |language=hr|title=Prilog za povijest uprave: Komisija za razgraničenje pri Predsjedništvu Vlade Narodne Republike Hrvatske 1945–1946|trans-title=A part of history of public administration: Boundary demarcation commission of the government presidency of the People's Republic of Croatia, 1945–1946|date=November 2007|journal=Arhivski vjesnik |volume=50|issue=50|issn=0570-9008|access-date=21 June 2012}}</ref>
Pursuant to the [[Treaty of Peace with Italy, 1947|1947 Treaty of Peace with Italy]] the islands of [[Cres#History|Cres]], [[Lastovo]] and [[Palagruža]] and the cities of [[Zadar#History|Zadar]] and [[Rijeka]] and most of Istria went to [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|communist Yugoslavia]] and Croatia, while carving out the [[Free Territory of Trieste]] (FTT) as a city-state.<ref name="Klemenčič">{{cite book|pages=198–202|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ORSMBFwjAKcC|title=The former Yugoslavia's diverse peoples|first1=Matjaž|last1=Klemenčič|first2=Mitja|last2=Žagar|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2004|isbn=978-1-57607-294-3|access-date=1 February 2012}}</ref> The FTT was partitioned in 1954 as [[Trieste]] itself and the area to the north of it were placed under Italian control, and the rest under Yugoslav control. The arrangement was made permanent by the [[Treaty of Osimo]] in 1975. The former FTT's Yugoslav part was partitioned between Croatia and Slovenia, largely conforming to the area population's ethnic composition.<ref>{{cite book|pages=141–142|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TznfHevgsEcC|title=The land and the spirit of Italy|first=John J|last=Navone|publisher=Legas/Gaetano Cipolla|year=1996|isbn=978-1-881901-12-9|access-date=1 February 2012}}</ref>
In the late 19th century, [[Austria-Hungary]] established a [[geodetic network]], for which the [[Metres above the Adriatic|elevation benchmark]] was determined by the Adriatic Sea's average level at the Sartorio pier in Trieste. This benchmark was subsequently retained by [[Austria]], adopted by [[Yugoslavia]], and kept by the states that emerged after its dissolution, including Croatia.<ref>{{cite book|pages=224–225|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WBBJsPJ6C6QC|title=The Adria microplate: GPS geodesy, tectonics and hazards|publisher=Springer|year=2006|isbn=978-1-4020-4234-8|access-date=5 February 2012|first1=Nicholas|last1=Pinter|first2=Gyula|last2=Grenerczy|first3=John|last3=Weber|bibcode = 2006amgg.book.....P}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=International Cartographic Association|title=Cartography in Croatia 2007–2011&nbsp;– National Report to the ICA|first1=Dražen|last1=Tutić|first2=Miljenko|last2=Lapaine|url=http://icaci.org/documents/national_reports/2007-2011/Croatia.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://icaci.org/documents/national_reports/2007-2011/Croatia.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|year=2011|access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan=5|Length of land borders of Croatia (including rivers)<ref name="Yearbook-2011"/>
|-
! Country
! Length
|-align=center
| Slovenia || {{convert|670|km|abbr=on}}
|-align=center
| Hungary || {{convert|348|km|abbr=on}}
|-align=center
| Serbia || {{convert|314|km|abbr=on}}
|-align=center
| Bosnia–Herzegovina || {{convert|956|km|abbr=on}}
|-align=center
| Montenegro || {{convert|19|km|abbr=on}}
|-align=center sort=bottom
! Total || {{convert|2237|km|abbr=on}}
|}
===Extreme points===
{{main|Extreme points of Croatia}}
The geographical extreme points of [[Croatia]] are [[Žabnik, Međimurje County|Žabnik]] in [[Međimurje County]] as the northernmost point, [[Rađevac]] near Ilok in [[Vukovar-Syrmia County]] as the easternmost point, Cape Lako near [[Bašanija]] in [[Istria County]] as the westernmost point and the islet of [[Galijula]] in Palagruža archipelago in [[Split-Dalmatia County]] as the southernmost point. On the mainland, Cape Oštra of the [[Prevlaka]] peninsula in [[Dubrovnik-Neretva County]] is the southernmost point.<ref name="Yearbook-2011"/>
{|class="wikitable"
! colspan=5|Extreme points of Croatia<ref name="Yearbook-2011"/>
|-
! Point
! Name
! Part of
! County
! Note
|-align=center
| Northernmost || Žabnik || [[Sveti Martin na Muri]] || Međimurje || {{coord|46|33|N|16|22|E|region:HR_type:landmark|name=Žabnik (Northernmost point)}}
|-align=center
| rowspan=2|Southernmost* || Galijula || Palagruža archipelago || Split-Dalmatia || {{coord|42|23|N|16|21|E|region:HR_type:isle|name=Galijula (Southernmost point)}}
|-align=center
| Cape Oštra || Prevlaka peninsula || Dubrovnik-Neretva || {{coord|42|24|N|18|32|E|region:HR_type:landmark|name=Rt Oštra (Southernmost point)}}
|-align=center
| Easternmost || Rađevac || Ilok || Vukovar-Syrmia || {{coord|45|12|N|19|27|E|region:HR_type:landmark|name=Rađevac (Easternmost point)}}
|-align=center
| Westernmost || Cape Lako || [[Umag]] || Istria || {{coord|45|29|N|13|30|E|region:HR_type:landmark|name=Cape Lako (Westernmost point)}}
|-align=center
| Highest || Dinara peak || [[Dinara]] || [[Šibenik-Knin County|Šibenik-Knin]] || {{convert|1831|m|abbr=on}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]],<br>{{coord|44|3|N|16|23|E|region:HR_type:landmark|name=Dinara (Highest point)}}
|-align=center
| Lowest || Adriatic Sea || [[Mediterranean Sea]] || {{n/a}} || sea level, {{coord|43|N|15|E|region:HR_type:landmark|name=Adriatic Sea (Lowest point)}}
|-
| colspan=5|<small>*Cape Oštra is the southernmost point of the mainland, while Galijula is the southernmost point of Croatian territory.</small>
|}
===Maritime claims===
[[File:ZERP.jpg|thumb|right|Croatian Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone of the Adriatic Sea<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Narodne Novine|url=http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2011_01_5_86.html|title=Pravilnik o granicama u ribolovnom moru Republike Hrvatske|trans-title=Ordinance on boundaries of fisheries of the Republic of Croatia|language=hr|date=12 January 2011|access-date=29 May 2012}}</ref>|alt=Map with water in the center]]
{{see also|Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone}}
Italy and Yugoslavia defined their delineation of the [[continental shelf]] in the Adriatic Sea in 1968,{{sfn|Blake|Topalović|Schofield|1996|pp=11–13}} with an additional agreement on the boundary in the Gulf of Trieste signed in 1975 in accordance with the Treaty of Osimo. All the successor states of former Yugoslavia accepted the agreements. Prior to Yugoslavia's break-up, Albania, Italy and Yugoslavia initially proclaimed {{convert|15|nmi|km mi|adj=on}} [[territorial waters]], subsequently reduced to the international-standard {{convert|12|nmi|km mi}}; all sides adopted [[Baseline (sea)|baseline]] systems. Croatia also declared its [[Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone]] (ZERP)—a part of its [[Exclusive Economic Zone]]—as extending to the continental shelf boundary. Croatia's territorial waters encompass {{convert|18981|km2}}; its [[internal waters]] located within the baseline cover an additional {{convert|12498|km2}}.<ref name="EEA-Land-Use">{{cite web|publisher=European Environment Agency|url=http://www.eea.europa.eu/soer/countries/hr/land-use-state-and-impacts-croatia|title=Land use&nbsp;– State and impacts (Croatia)|access-date=2 March 2012}}</ref>
===Border disputes===
{{see also|Croatia–Slovenia border disputes|Island of Šarengrad|Island of Vukovar}}
====Maritime border disputes====
Croatia and Slovenia started negotiations to define maritime borders in the [[Gulf of Piran]] in 1992 but failed to agree, resulting in a dispute. Both countries also declared their economic zones, which partially overlap.<ref name="Geoadria-Borders"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ukom.gov.si/fileadmin/ukom.gov.si/pageuploads/dokumenti/dogodki/Kronologije_arhiv/chronology05.pdf |title=Chronology of Events 2005 |publisher=Government Communication Office, Republic of Slovenia |access-date=25 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719011408/http://www.ukom.gov.si/fileadmin/ukom.gov.si/pageuploads/dokumenti/dogodki/Kronologije_arhiv/chronology05.pdf |archive-date=19 July 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Croatia's application to become an [[Member state of the European Union|EU member state]] was initially suspended pending resolution of its border disputes with Slovenia.<ref name="Geoadria-Borders">{{cite journal|journal=Geoadria|publisher=University of Zadar|issn=1331-2294|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=71443|title=The maritime boundaries of the Adriatic Sea|first1=Mladen|last1=Klemenčić|first2=Duško|last2=Topalović|pages=311–324|volume=14|issue=2|date=December 2009|access-date=1 February 2012|doi=10.15291/geoadria.555|doi-access=free}}</ref> These were eventually settled with an agreement to accept the decision of an [[international arbitration]] commission set up via the [[United Nations|UN]], enabling Croatia to [[Accession of Croatia to the European Union|progress towards EU membership]].<ref name=BBC2009>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8250441.stm|title=Slovenia unblocks Croatian EU bid |work=BBC News|access-date=12 September 2009| date=11 September 2009}}</ref><ref name=BBC2010>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10248037|title=Slovenia backs Croatia border deal in referendum vote |work=BBC News|access-date=7 June 2010 | date=6 June 2010}}</ref><ref name=Durham /> The dispute has caused no major practical problems in areas other than the EU membership negotiations progress, even before the arbitration agreement.<ref name="Geoadria-Borders"/>
The maritime boundary between Bosnia–Herzegovina and Croatia was formally settled in 1999, but a few issues are still contested—the [[Klek (peninsula)|Klek peninsula]] and two islets in the border area. The Croatia–Montenegro maritime boundary is disputed in the [[Bay of Kotor]], at the Prevlaka peninsula. The situation was exacerbated by the peninsula's occupation by the [[Yugoslav People's Army]] and later by the [[Military of Serbia and Montenegro|Serbian-Montenegrin army]], which in turn was replaced by a [[United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka|United Nations observer mission]] that lasted until 2002. Croatia took over the area with an agreement that allowed Montenegrin presence in Croatian waters in the bay, and the dispute has become far less contentious since the independence of Montenegro in 2006.<ref name="Geoadria-Borders"/>
====Land border disputes====
The land border disputes pertain to comparatively small strips of land. The [[Croatia–Slovenia border disputes]] are: along the [[Dragonja]] River's lower course where Slovenia claims three [[hamlet (place)|hamlets]] on the river's left bank; the [[Sveta Gera]] peak of Žumberak where exact territorial claims were never made and appear to be limited to a military barracks on the peak itself; and along the [[Mur (river)|Mura River]] where Slovenia wants the border to be along the current river bed instead of along a former one and claims a (largely if not completely uninhabited) piece of land near [[Hotiza]].<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Večernji list|url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/zaljevski-rat-na-piranski-nacin/197290/|language=hr|title=Zaljevski rat na piranski način|trans-title=Gulf War in the Bay of Piran|date=7 March 2009|access-date=14 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Vjesnik|url=http://www.vjesnik.hr/Article.aspx?ID=F352D8B7-0206-40C4-9C36-D419147EEFE1|archive-date=14 June 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120614103345/http://www.vjesnik.hr/Article.aspx?ID=F352D8B7-0206-40C4-9C36-D419147EEFE1|language=hr|title=Zasad četiri sporne točke zbog granice na moru i kopnu|trans-title=Four contested points of the land and sea borders so far|date=22 January 2012|access-date=1 March 2012|first=Marko|last=Barišić|url-status=dead}}</ref> These claims are likewise in the process of being settled by binding arbitration.<ref name=BBC2009 /><ref name=BBC2010 /><ref name=Durham>{{cite news|url=http://www.dur.ac.uk/ibru/news/boundary_news/?itemno=12176|access-date=14 March 2012|title=Croatia and Slovenia submit arbitration agreement to UN|publisher=Durham University}}</ref>
There are also land [[Croatia-Serbia border dispute|border disputes between Croatia and Serbia]]. The two countries presently control one bank of the present-day river each, but Croatia claims that the border line should follow the [[cadastral]] borders between the former municipalities of [[SR Croatia]] and [[SR Serbia]] along the Danube, as defined by a Yugoslav commission in 1947 (effectively following a former river bed); borders claimed by Croatia also include the [[Island of Vukovar|Vukovar]] and [[Island of Šarengrad|Šarengrad]] islands in the Danube as its territory.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Večernji list|url=http://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/granicni-spor-hrvatskom-usporit-ce-put-srbije-eu-clanak-154535|language=hr|title=Granični spor s Hrvatskom usporit će put Srbije u EU|trans-title=Border dispute with Croatia will slow down Serbia's accession to the EU|date=13 June 2010|access-date=1 March 2012}}</ref> There is also a border dispute with Bosnia–Herzegovina,<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Dnevni avaz|language=bs|url=http://www.dnevniavaz.ba/vijesti/teme/78512-sastanak-celnika-bih-hrvatske-i-srbije-protekao-mirno-i-bez-rezultata-tadic-odbio-priznati-da-je-rs-nastala-na-genocidu.html|title=Sastanak na Jahorini bez rezultata: Tadić odbio priznati da je RS nastala na genocidu|trans-title=Meeting on Jahorina without any results: Tadić refuses to admit that the Republika Srpska was created through genocide|date=4 February 2012|access-date=1 March 2012|first=A|last=Dučić|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308141750/http://www.dnevniavaz.ba/vijesti/teme/78512-sastanak-celnika-bih-hrvatske-i-srbije-protekao-mirno-i-bez-rezultata-tadic-odbio-priznati-da-je-rs-nastala-na-genocidu.html|archive-date=8 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> specifically Croatia claims Unčica [[meander|channel]] on the right bank of [[Una (Sava)|Una]] as the border at [[Hrvatska Kostajnica]],<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Ministry of the Interior (Croatia)|url=http://sisacko-moslavacka.policija.hr/MainPu.aspx?id=14556|title=Policijska postaja Hrvatska Kostajnica|trans-title=Hrvatska Kostajnica police station|access-date=29 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917022310/http://sisacko-moslavacka.policija.hr/MainPu.aspx?id=14556|archive-date=17 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> while Bosnia and Herzegovina claims Una River course as the border there.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Glas Srpske|language=sr|title=Granični sporovi sa Srbijom i Hrvatskom ostaju na čekanju|trans-title=Border dispute with Serbia and Croatia remain on hold|url=http://www.glassrpske.com/novosti/vijesti_dana/Granicni-sporovi-sa-Srbijom-i-Hrvatskom-ostaju-na-cekanju/lat/58204.html|date=23 May 2011|author=Svjetlana Tadić|access-date=29 May 2012}}</ref>
==Physical geography==
===Geology===
{{Main|Geology of Croatia}}
The geology of [[Croatia]] has some Precambrian rocks mostly covered by younger sedimentary rocks and deformed or superimposed by tectonic activity.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Moores |first1= E.M. |last2=Fairbridge |first2= Rhodes W.|title=Encyclopedia of European & Asian Regional Geology|publisher=Springer|year=1997|pages=156–160}}</ref>
The country is split into two main onshore provinces, a smaller part of the [[Pannonian Basin]] and the larger [[Dinarides]]. These areas are very different.
The carbonate platform karst landscape of Croatia helped to create the weathering conditions to form [[bauxite]], [[gypsum]], clay, [[amphibolite]], granite, [[spilite]], [[gabbro]], [[diabase]] and [[limestone]].{{sfn|Moores|Fairbridge|1997|p=159}}
===Topography===
{{main|Topography of Croatia}}
Most of Croatia is lowlands, with elevations of less than {{convert|200|m}} above sea level recorded in 53.42% of the country. Most of the lowlands are found in the country's northern regions, especially in [[Slavonia]], representing a part of the [[Pannonian Basin]]. Areas with elevations of {{convert|200|to|500|m}} above sea level encompass 25.61% of Croatia's territory, and the areas between {{convert|500|and|1000|m}} above sea level cover 17.11% of the country. A further 3.71% of the land is {{convert|1000|to|1500|m}} above sea level, and only 0.15% of Croatia's territory is elevated greater than {{convert|1500|m}} above sea level.<ref name="Yearbook-2011"/> The greatest concentration of ground at relatively high elevations is found in the [[Lika]] and [[Gorski Kotar]] areas in the [[Dinaric Alps]], but such areas are found in all regions of Croatia to some extent.<ref name="EEA-Land-Use"/> The Pannonian Basin and the Dinaric Alps, along with the Adriatic Basin, represent major [[Geomorphology|geomorphological]] parts of Croatia.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Ministry of Construction and Spatial Planning (Croatia)|url=http://klima.mzopu.hr/UserDocsImages/Nacionalno_izv_KLIMA_23022007.pdf|title=Drugo, trece i cetvrto nacionalno izvješće Republike Hrvatske prema Okvirnoj konvenciji Ujedinjenih naroda o promjeni klime (UNFCCC)|trans-title=The second, third and fourth national report of the Republic of Croatia pursuant to the United Nations Framework Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC)|language=hr|date=November 2006|access-date=2 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222083541/http://klima.mzopu.hr/UserDocsImages/Nacionalno_izv_KLIMA_23022007.pdf|archive-date=22 December 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
====Adriatic Basin====
[[File:Kornati islands.jpg|thumb|left|[[Kornati]] national park|alt=Coastline with rocky shore]]
{{see also|Adriatic Sea|List of islands of Croatia}}
Croatia's Adriatic Sea mainland coast is {{convert|1777.3|km}} long, while its [[List of islands of Croatia|1,246 islands]] and islets have a further {{convert|4058|km}} of coastline. The distance between the extreme points of Croatia's coastline is {{convert|526|km}}.{{sfn|Blake|Topalović|Schofield|1996|pp=1–5}} The number of islands includes all islands, islets, and rocks of all sizes, including ones emerging only at [[low tide]].<ref>{{cite journal|publisher=University of Zadar|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=84063|first1=Josip|last1=Faričić|first2=Vera|last2=Graovac|first3=Anica|last3=Čuka|pages=145–185|title=Croatian small islands&nbsp;– residential and/or leisure area|journal=Geoadria|volume=15|issue=1|date=June 2010|access-date=28 January 2012|doi = 10.15291/geoadria.548|doi-access=free}}</ref> The largest islands in the Adriatic are [[Cres]] and [[Krk]], each covering {{convert|405.78|km2}}; the tallest is [[Brač]], reaching {{convert|780|m}} above sea level. The islands include 47 [[List of inhabited islands of Croatia|permanently inhabited ones]], the most populous among them being Krk and [[Korčula]].<ref name="Yearbook-2013">{{Croatia Yearbook 2013|page=41}}</ref>
The shore is the most indented coastline in the Mediterranean.<ref>{{cite book|pages=155–156|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kqblCH0ciSQC|title=Sustainable coastal management: a transatlantic and Euro-Mediterranean perspective|publisher=Springer|year=2002|isbn=978-1-4020-0888-7|access-date=5 February 2012|first1=Biliana|last1=Cicin-Sain|first2=Igor|last2=Pavlin|first3=Stefano|last3=Belfiore}}</ref> The majority of the coast is characterised by a [[karst topography]], developed from the [[Adriatic Carbonate Platform]]. Karstification there largely began after the final raising of the [[Dinarides]] in the [[Oligocene]] and [[Miocene]] [[Epoch (geology)|epochs]], when [[carbonate rock]] was exposed to atmospheric effects such as rain; this extended to {{convert|120|m}} below the present sea level, exposed during the [[Last Glacial Maximum]]'s sea level drop. It is estimated that some karst formations are related to earlier drops of sea level, most notably the [[Messinian salinity crisis]].<ref name="Surić">{{cite journal|publisher=University of Zadar|issn=1331-2294|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=14808|journal=Geoadria|title=Submerged Karst&nbsp;– Dead or Alive? Examples from the Eastern Adriatic Coast (Croatia)|first=Maša|last=Surić|pages=5–19|volume=10|issue=1|date=June 2005|access-date=28 January 2012|doi=10.15291/geoadria.71|doi-access=free}}</ref> The eastern coast's largest part consists of carbonate rocks, while [[flysch]] rock is significantly represented in the Gulf of Trieste coast, on the [[Kvarner Gulf]] coast opposite Krk, and in Dalmatia north of Split.<ref>{{cite book|pages=146–149|title=Tectonic aspects of the Alpine-Dinaride-Carpathian system|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=864MOs0qeuEC|first=Siegfried |last=Siegesmund|publisher=Geological Society|year=2008|isbn=978-1-86239-252-6|access-date=3 February 2012}}</ref> There are comparably small [[alluvial]] areas of the Adriatic coast in Croatia—most notably the [[Neretva]] [[river delta]].<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Croatian Medical Journal|publisher=Medicinska Naklada|title=The Neretva Delta: Green Pearl of Coastal Croatia|first=Jasmina|last=Mužinić|pmc=2121601|date=April 2007|volume=48|issue=2|pages=127–129}}</ref> Western [[Istria#Geography|Istria]] is gradually subsiding, having sunk about {{convert|1.5|m}} in the past 2,000&nbsp;years.<ref>{{cite journal|issn=0277-3791|publisher=Elsevier|url=http://people.rses.anu.edu.au/lambeck_k/pdf/265.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302003305/http://people.rses.anu.edu.au/lambeck_k/pdf/265.pdf |archive-date=2011-03-02 |url-status=live|title=Sea-level change during the Holocene in Sardinia and in the northeastern Adriatic (central Mediterranean Sea) from archaeological and geomorphological data | first1=F| last1=Antonioli| first2=M.| last2=Anzidei| first3=K.| last3=Lambeck| first4=R.| last4=Auriemma| first5=D.| last5=Gaddi| first6=S.| last6=Furlani| first7=P.|last7=Orrù| first8=E.|last8=Solinas|first9=A. |last9=Gaspari|first10=S.|last10=Karinja| first11=V.| last11=Kovačić| first12=L.| last12=Surace| pages=2463–2486|year=2007|issue=19–21|access-date=4 February 2012|journal=Quaternary Science Reviews|doi=10.1016/j.quascirev.2007.06.022|volume=26|bibcode=2007QSRv...26.2463A}}</ref>
In the Middle Adriatic Basin, there is evidence of [[Permian]] volcanism in the area of [[Komiža]] on the island of [[Vis (island)|Vis]], in addition to the volcanic islands of [[Jabuka (island)|Jabuka]] and [[Brusnik (island)|Brusnik]].<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Zadarski list|url=http://www.zadarskilist.hr/clanci/30042011/ostaci-prastarog-vulkana-u-jadranu|language=hr|title=Ostaci prastarog vulkana u Jadranu|trans-title=Remains of an ancient volcano in the Adriatic Sea|first=Branimir|last=Vukosav|date=30 April 2011|access-date=24 February 2012}}</ref> Earthquakes are frequent in the area around the Adriatic Sea, although most are too faint to be felt; an earthquake doing significant damage happens every few decades, with major earthquakes every few centuries.<ref>{{cite news|first=Lidija|last=Crnčević|title=POTRESNA KARTA HRVATSKE Zemljotresi pogađaju jug Dalmacije oko Uskrsa|url=http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/Linkovi/Forum/Hrvatska/tabid/66/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/94391/Default.aspx|trans-title=SEISMIC MAP OF CROATIA: Earthquakes hit southern Dalmatia around Easter|date=7 March 2010|access-date=23 March 2012|work=Slobodna Dalmacija|language=hr}}</ref>
====Dinaric Alps====
{{main|Dinaric Alps}}
The Dinaric Alps are linked to a Late [[Jurassic]] to recent times [[fold and thrust belt]], itself part of the [[Alpine orogeny]], extending southeast from the southern [[Alps]].<ref name="EGU">{{cite journal|journal=EGU Stephan Mueller Special Publication Series|volume=1|publisher=Copernicus Publications|title=Evolution of the northern and western Dinarides: a tectonostratigraphic approach|first=Vlasta|last=Tari-Kovačić|year=2002|pages=223–236|issn=1868-4556|access-date=3 March 2012|url=http://www.stephan-mueller-spec-publ-ser.net/1/223/2002/smsps-1-223-2002.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.stephan-mueller-spec-publ-ser.net/1/223/2002/smsps-1-223-2002.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|issue=1|bibcode=2002SMSPS...1..223T|doi=10.5194/smsps-1-223-2002|doi-access=free}}</ref> The Dinaric Alps in Croatia encompass the entire Gorski Kotar and Lika regions, as well as considerable parts of [[Dalmatia]], with their northeastern edge running from {{convert|1181|m|adj=on}} [[Žumberak]] to the [[Banovina (region)|Banovina region]], along the Sava River,<ref>{{cite book|page=195|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aH3ymyEURHoC|title=Encyclopedia of Caves|editor1-first=William B|editor1-last=White|editor2-first=David C|editor2-last=Culver|isbn=978-0-12-383833-9|publisher=Academic Press|year=2012|access-date=3 March 2012}}</ref> and their westernmost landforms being {{convert|1272|m|adj=on}} [[Ćićarija]] and {{convert|1396|m|adj=on}} [[Učka]] mountains in Istria. The Dinaric Alps contain the highest mountain in Croatia—{{convert|1831|m|adj=on}} [[Dinara]]—as well as all other mountains in Croatia higher than {{convert|1500|m|abbr=off}}: [[Biokovo]], [[Velebit]], [[Plješivica]], [[Velika Kapela]], [[Risnjak]], [[Svilaja]] and [[Snježnik]].<ref name="Yearbook-2011"/>
Karst topography makes up about [[List of karst areas|half of Croatia]] and is especially prominent in the Dinaric Alps.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geografija.hr/clanci/1011/rasirenost-krsa-u-hrvatskoj |title=Raširenost krša u Hrvatskoj |trans-title=Presence of Karst in Croatia |language=hr |publisher=Croatian Geographic Society |date=18 December 2006 |author=Mate Matas |access-date=18 October 2011 |work=geografija.hr |archive-date=9 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609163634/http://www.geografija.hr/clanci/1011/rasirenost-krsa-u-hrvatskoj  }}</ref> There are [[list of caves in Croatia|numerous caves in Croatia]], 49 of which are deeper than {{convert|250|m|2}}, 14 deeper than {{convert|500|m|2}} and 3 deeper than {{convert|1000|m|2}}.<ref name="BBC-Plitvice">{{cite web |publisher=BBC |url=http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20110617-the-best-national-parks-of-europe |title=The best national parks of Europe |date=28 June 2011 |access-date=11 October 2011 |archive-date=1 July 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701184734/http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20110617-the-best-national-parks-of-europe  }}</ref> The longest cave in Croatia, [[Kita Gaćešina]], is at the same time the longest cave in the Dinaric Alps at {{convert|20656|m}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/postojna-vise-nije-najdulja-u-dinaridima-nego-je-hrvatska-kita-gacesina/581211.aspx|title=Postojna više nije najdulja jama u Dinaridima: Rekord drži hrvatska Kita Gaćešina|language=hr|trans-title=Postojna is no longer the longest cave in the Dinarides: The record is held by Croatia's Kita Gaćešina|date=5 November 2011|access-date=3 March 2012|newspaper=Vijesti}}</ref>
[[File:Dinara Knin Croatia.jpg|thumb|right|[[Dinara]] seen from [[Knin]]|alt=Picture of large mountain with about 30-degree sloped sides]]
{|class="wikitable"
! colspan=4|[[List of mountains in Croatia|Highest mountain peaks of Croatia]]<ref name="Yearbook-2011"/>
|-
! Mountain
! Peak
! Elevation
! Coordinates
|-align=center
| Dinara || Dinara || {{convert|1831|m|abbr=on}} || {{Coord|44|3|N|16|23|E|region:HR_type:mountain}}
|-align=center
| Biokovo || Sveti Jure || {{convert|1762|m|abbr=on}} || {{coord|43|20|N|17|03|E|region:HR_type:mountain}}
|-align=center
| Velebit || Vaganski Peak || {{convert|1757|m|abbr=on}} || {{coord|44|32|N|15|14|E|region:HR_type:mountain}}
|-align=center
| Plješivica || Ozeblin || {{convert|1657|m|abbr=on}} || {{Coord|44|47|N|15|45|E|region:HR_type:mountain}}
|-align=center
| Velika Kapela || [[Bjelolasica]]-Kula || {{convert|1533|m|abbr=on}} || {{Coord|45|16|N|14|58|E|region:HR_type:mountain}}
|-align=center
| Risnjak || Risnjak || {{convert|1528|m|abbr=on}} || {{Coord|45|25|N|14|45|E|region:HR_type:mountain}}
|-align=center
| Svilaja || Svilaja || {{convert|1508|m|abbr=on}} || {{Coord|43|49|N|16|27|E|region:HR_type:mountain}}
|-align=center
| Snježnik || Snježnik || {{convert|1506|m|abbr=on}} || {{Coord|45|26|N|14|35|E|region:HR_type:mountain}}
|}
====Pannonian Basin====
[[File:Tree in the sun.jpg|thumb|right|A plain in [[Slavonia]]|alt=Plain with a tree in the middle]]
{{main|Pannonian Basin}}
The Pannonian Basin took shape through Miocenian thinning and [[subsidence]] of crust structures formed during the Late [[Paleozoic]] [[Variscan orogeny]]. The Paleozoic and [[Mesozoic]] structures are visible in [[Papuk]] and other Slavonian mountains. The processes also led to the formation of a [[Stratovolcano|stratovolcanic]] chain in the basin 12–17&nbsp;[[Mya (unit)|Mya]]; intensified subsidence was observed until 5&nbsp;Mya as well as [[flood basalt]]s at about 7.5&nbsp;Mya. The contemporary [[tectonic uplift]] of the [[Carpathian Mountains]] severed water flow to the [[Black Sea]] and the [[Pannonian Sea]] formed in the basin. [[Sedimentation#Geology|Sediments]] were transported to the basin from the uplifting Carpathian and Dinaric mountains, with particularly deep [[fluvial]] sediments being deposited in the [[Pleistocene]] epoch during the [[Transdanubian Mountains]]' formation.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GClF-4rtvoIC|title=Recent Landform Evolution: The Carpatho-Balkan-Dinaric Region|isbn=978-94-007-2447-1|publisher=Springer|year=2012|access-date=2 March 2012|pages=14–18|first1=Milos|last1=Stankoviansky|first2=Adam|last2=Kotarba}}</ref> Ultimately, up to {{convert|3000|m}} of sediment was deposited in the basin, and the sea eventually drained through the [[Iron Gate (Danube)|Iron Gate]] gorge.<ref>{{cite book|page=16|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NJNODA_0IOgC|title=The Nature Guide to the Hortobagy and Tisza River Floodplain, Hungary|first=Dirk|last=Hilbers|publisher=[[Crossbill Guides Foundation]]|year=2008|isbn=978-90-5011-276-5|access-date=2 March 2012}}</ref>
The results are large plains in eastern Slavonia's [[Baranya (region)#Geography|Baranya]] and [[Syrmia#Geography|Syrmia]] regions, as well as in river valleys, especially along the [[Sava]], Drava and [[Kupa]]. The plains are interspersed by [[Horst (geology)|horst]] and [[graben]] structures, believed to have broken the Pannonian Sea's surface as [[Pannonian island mountains|islands]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2019|reason=removed citation to predatory publisher content}}  The tallest among such landforms are {{convert|1059|m|adj=on}} [[Ivanšćica]] and {{convert|1035|m|adj=on}} [[Medvednica]] north of [[Zagreb#Surroundings|Zagreb]]—both are also at least partially in [[Hrvatsko Zagorje]]—as well as {{convert|984|m|adj=on}} [[Psunj]] and {{convert|953|m|adj=on}} Papuk that are the tallest among the Slavonian mountains surrounding [[Požega, Croatia|Požega]].<ref name="Yearbook-2011"/> Psunj, Papuk and adjacent [[Krndija]] consist mostly of Paleozoic rocks from 300 to 350&nbsp;Mya. [[Požeška gora]], adjacent to Psunj, consists of much more recent [[Neogene]] rocks, but there are also Upper [[Cretaceous]] sediments and [[igneous rocks]] forming the main, {{convert|30|km|adj=on}} [[ridge]] of the hill; these represent the largest igneous [[landform]] in Croatia. A smaller piece of igneous terrain is also present on Papuk, near [[Voćin]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Papuk Geopark|url=http://www.papukgeopark.com/publikacije/geo_vodic1_30.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.papukgeopark.com/publikacije/geo_vodic1_30.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Geološki vodič kroz park prirode Papuk|language=hr|trans-title=Geological guide to the Papuk Nature Park|access-date=2 March 2012|first1=Jakob|last1=Pamić|first2=Goran|last2=Radonić|first3=Goran|last3=Pavić}}</ref> The two, as well as the [[Moslavačka gora]] mountains, are possibly remnants of a [[volcanic arc]] from the same [[plate tectonics|tectonic plate]] collision that caused the Dinaric Alps.<ref name="EGU"/>
===Hydrography===
[[File:Željeznički most Zagreb.jpg|thumb|left|[[Sava]], the longest river in Croatia|alt=River under bridge with city in background]]
{{see also|List of rivers of Croatia|List of lakes in Croatia}}
The largest part of Croatia—62% of its territory—is encompassed by the Black Sea [[drainage basin]]. The area includes the largest rivers flowing in the country: the [[Danube#Geology|Danube]], Sava, Drava, [[Mur (river)#River course|Mura]] and Kupa. The rest belongs to the Adriatic Sea drainage basin, where the largest river by far is the Neretva.<ref name="WFD">{{cite web|publisher=Water Framework Directive implementation project in Croatia|url=http://www.wfd-croatia.eu/templates/radnaEng.asp?sifraStranica=556|title=Wetlands and Water|access-date=2 March 2012|archive-date=23 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623193900/http://www.wfd-croatia.eu/templates/radnaEng.asp?sifraStranica=556|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|journal=Rudarsko-geološko-naftni Zbornik|volume=8|first=Darko|last=Mayer|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=20807|title=Zalihe pitkih voda u Republici Hrvatskoj|trans-title=Drinking water resources in Croatia|language=hr|issue=1|date=December 1996|pages=27–35|access-date=2 March 2012|publisher=University of Zagreb|issn=0353-4529}}</ref> The longest rivers in Croatia are the {{convert|562|km|adj=on}} Sava, {{convert|505|km|adj=on}} Drava, {{convert|296|km|adj=on}} Kupa and a {{convert|188|km|adj=on}} section of the Danube. The longest rivers emptying into the Adriatic Sea are the {{convert|101|km|adj=on}} [[Cetina]] and an only {{convert|20|km|adj=on}} section of the Neretva.<ref name="Yearbook-2011"/>
The largest lakes in Croatia are {{convert|30.7|km2|adj=on}} [[Lake Vrana (Dalmatia)|Lake Vrana]] located in the northern Dalmatia, {{convert|17.1|km2|adj=on}} [[Lake Dubrava]] near [[Varaždin]], {{convert|13.0|km2|adj=on}} [[Peruća Lake]] ([[reservoir]]) on the Cetina River, {{convert|11.1|km2|adj=on}} [[Lake Prokljan]] near [[Skradin]] and {{convert|10.1|km2|adj=on}} [[Lake Varaždin]] reservoir through which the Drava River flows near Varaždin.<ref name="Yearbook-2011"/> Croatia's most famous lakes are the [[Plitvice Lakes National Park|Plitvice lakes]], a system of 16 lakes with waterfalls connecting them over [[Dolomite (mineral)|dolomite]] and [[limestone]] cascades. The lakes are renowned for their distinctive colours, ranging from turquoise to mint green, grey or blue.<ref name="BBC-Plitvice"/> Croatia has a remarkable wealth in terms of wetlands. Four of those are included in the [[list of Ramsar wetlands of international importance|Ramsar list of internationally important wetlands]]: [[Lonjsko Polje]] along the Sava and [[Lonja]] rivers near [[Sisak]], [[Kopački Rit]] at the confluence of the Drava and Danube, the [[Neretva Delta]] and [[Crna Mlaka]] near [[Jastrebarsko]].<ref name="WFD"/>
Average annual precipitation and evaporation rates are {{convert|1162|mm|in}} and {{convert|700|mm|in}}, respectively. Taking into consideration the overall water balance, the total Croatian water resources amount to {{convert|25163|m3}} per year per capita, including {{convert|5877|m3}} per year per capita from sources inside Croatia.<ref name="EEA-Freshwater-HR">{{cite web|publisher=European Environment Agency|url=http://www.eea.europa.eu/soer/countries/hr/soertopic_view?topic=freshwater|title=Freshwater (Croatia)|access-date=2 March 2012}}</ref>
[[File:Plitvice-2003.JPG|thumb|right|[[Plitvice Lakes National Park]], a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]]|alt=Two greenish-blue lakes in a forest]]
===Climate===
[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map HRV present.svg|thumb|Köppen climate types of Croatia]]
Most of Croatia has a moderately warm and rainy [[Oceanic climate|oceanic climate (Cfb)]] as defined by the [[Köppen climate classification]]. Mean monthly temperatures range between {{convert|-3|°C|°F}} (in January) and {{convert|18|°C|°F}} (in July). The coldest parts of the country are Lika and Gorski Kotar where a snowy forested climate is found at elevations above {{convert|1200|m|ft}}. The warmest areas of Croatia are at the Adriatic coast and especially in its immediate hinterland, which are characterised by a [[Mediterranean climate]] since temperatures are moderated by the sea. Consequently, temperature peaks are more pronounced in the continental areas: the lowest temperature of {{convert|-36.0|°C|°F}} was recorded on 4 February 1929 in [[Gospić]], and the highest temperature of {{convert|42.8|°C|°F}} was recorded on 5 August 1981 in [[Ploče]].
The mean annual precipitation is {{convert|600|to|3500|mm|in}} depending on the geographic region and prevailing climate type. The least precipitation is recorded in the outer islands (Vis, [[Lastovo#Climate|Lastovo]], [[Biševo]], and [[Svetac]]) and in the eastern parts of Slavonia; however, in the latter case it is mostly during the [[growing season]]. The most precipitation is observed on the Dinara mountain range and in Gorski Kotar, where some of the highest annual precipitation totals in Europe occur.
The prevailing winds in the interior are light to moderate northeast or southwest; in the coastal area, the prevailing winds are determined by local area features. Higher wind velocities are more often recorded in cooler months along the coast, generally as cool northeasterly [[Bora (wind)|buras]] or, less frequently, as warm southerly [[jugo]]s. The sunniest parts of the country are the outer islands, Hvar and Korčula, where more than 2,700&nbsp;hours of sunshine are recorded per year, followed by the southern Adriatic Sea area in general, northern Adriatic coast, and Slavonia, all with more than 2,000&nbsp;hours of sunshine per year.<ref name="DZS-Stat2010"/>
{|class="wikitable"
! colspan=11|Climate characteristics in major cities in Croatia
|-
! rowspan=3|City
! colspan=4|Mean temperature (daily high)
! colspan=6|Mean total rainfall
|-
! colspan=2| January
! colspan=2| July
! colspan=3| January
! colspan=3| July
|-
! °C
! °F
! °C
! °F
! mm
! in
! days
! mm
! in
! days
|-align=center
| [[Dubrovnik]]
| {{convert|12.2|C|F|disp=table}}
| {{convert|28.3|C|F|disp=table}}
| {{convert|95.2|mm|in|disp=table}}
| 11.2
| {{convert|24.1|mm|in|disp=table}}
| 4.4
|-align=center
| [[Osijek]]
| {{convert|2.6|C|F|disp=table}}
| {{convert|28.0|C|F|disp=table}}
| {{convert|45.5|mm|in|disp=table}}
| 12.2
| {{convert|60.8|mm|in|disp=table}}
| 10.2
|-align=center
| [[Rijeka]]
| {{convert|8.7|C|F|disp=table}}
| {{convert|27.7|C|F|disp=table}}
| {{convert|134.9|mm|in|disp=table}}
| 11.0
| {{convert|82.0|mm|in|disp=table}}
| 9.1
|-align=center
| [[Split, Croatia|Split]]
| {{convert|10.2|C|F|disp=table}}
| {{convert|29.8|C|F|disp=table}}
| {{convert|77.9|mm|in|disp=table}}
| 11.1
| {{convert|27.6|mm|in|disp=table}}
| 5.6
|-align=center
| Zagreb
| {{convert|3.1|C|F|disp=table}}
| {{convert|26.7|C|F|disp=table}}
| {{convert|48.6|mm|in|disp=table}}
| 10.8
| {{convert|81.0|mm|in|disp=table}}
| 10.9
|-
| colspan=11|Source:[[World Meteorological Organization]]<ref>{{cite web|publisher=World Meteorological Organization|url=http://www.worldweather.org/europe.htm|title=World Weather Information Service|access-date=27 January 2012}}</ref>
|-
|}
==== Climate change ====
{{excerpt|Climate change in Europe|Croatia}}
===Biodiversity===
[[File:Kopacki rit2.JPG|thumb|left|[[Kopački Rit]] nature park, one of the largest [[wetlands]] in Europe|alt=Trees over water]]
{{Main|Protected areas of Croatia}}
Croatia can be subdivided between a number of [[ecoregion]]s because of its climate and geomorphology, and the country is consequently one of the richest in Europe in terms of biodiversity. There are four types of [[biogeography|biogeographical]] regions in Croatia: Mediterranean along the coast and in its immediate hinterland, Alpine in most of Lika and Gorski Kotar, Pannonian along the Drava and Danube, and continental in the remaining areas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dzzp.hr/dokumenti_upload/20100311/dzzp201003111404160.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.dzzp.hr/dokumenti_upload/20100311/dzzp201003111404160.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|language=hr|publisher=State Institute for Nature Protection|title=Distribution of Emerald/NATURA 2000 species and habitat types by biogeographical regions|date=23 October 2006|first=Ivana|last=Plavac|access-date=16 March 2012}}</ref> Among the most significant are [[karst]] habitats; these include submerged karst, such as [[Zrmanja]] and [[Krka (Croatia)|Krka]] canyons and [[tufa]] barriers, as well as underground habitats. The karst geology has produced approximately 7,000 caves and pits, many of which are inhabited by [[troglobite|troglobitic]] (exclusively cave-dwelling) animals such as the [[olm]], a [[cave salamander]] and the only European troglobitic [[vertebrate]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amphibiaweb.org/cgi-bin/amphib_query?rel-common_name=like&where-scientific_name=anguinus|title=Proteus anguinus|work=AmphibiaWeb|access-date=15 March 2012|first1=Boris|last1=Bulog|first2=Arie|last2=van der Meijden|first3=Kellie|last3=Whittaker|date=16 August 2010}}</ref> Forests are also significant in the country, as they cover {{convert|26487.6|km2}} representing 46.8% of Croatia's land surface.<ref name="EEA-Land-Use"/> The other habitat types include wetlands, grasslands, bogs, fens, scrub habitats, coastal and marine habitats.<ref name="MCult-Biodiversity">{{cite book|publisher=State Institute for Nature Protection, [[Ministry of Culture (Croatia)]]|url=http://www.dzzp.hr/dokumenti_upload/20120515/dzzp201205151608230.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430015320/http://www.dzzp.hr/dokumenti_upload/20120515/dzzp201205151608230.pdf |archive-date=2013-04-30 |url-status=live|title=Biodiversity of Croatia|year= 2006|editor1-first=Jasminka|editor1-last=Radović|editor2-first=Kristijan|editor2-last=Čivić|editor3-first=Ramona|editor3-last=Topić|isbn=953-7169-20-0|access-date=13 October 2011}}</ref> In terms of [[phytogeography]], Croatia is part of the [[Boreal Kingdom]]; specifically, it is part of the Illyrian and Central European provinces of the [[Circumboreal Region]] and the Adriatic province of the [[Mediterranean Region]]. The [[Biome#WWF system|World Wide Fund for Nature]] divides land in Croatia into three ecoregions—[[Pannonian mixed forests]], [[Dinaric Mountains mixed forests]] and [[Illyrian deciduous forests]].<ref name="DU-Sustdev">{{cite web|publisher=6th Dubrovnik Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems|url=http://www.dubrovnik2011.sdewes.org/venue.php|title=Venue|access-date=13 October 2011}}</ref> [[Biome]]s in Croatia include [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forest|temperate broadleaf/mixed forest]] and [[Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub|Mediterranean forests, woodlands and scrub]]; all are in the [[Palearctic realm]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldwildlife.org/science/wildfinder/|title=WildFinder|publisher=World Wide Fund for Nature|access-date=15 March 2012|work=WWF}}</ref>
[[File:Karstformationen Nationalpark-Nord-Velebit.JPG|thumb|right|Karst in [[National Park Sjeverni Velebit]]|alt=Vertically cracked grey rock]]
Croatia has 38,226 known [[Taxon|taxa]], 2.8% of which are [[endemism|endemic]]; the actual number (including undiscovered [[species]]) is estimated to be between 50,000 and 100,000.<ref name="MCult-Biodiversity"/> The estimate is supported by nearly 400 new taxa of [[invertebrate]]s discovered in Croatia in 2000–2005 alone.<ref name="MCult-Biodiversity"/> There are more than a thousand endemic species, especially in the Velebit and Biokovo mountains, Adriatic islands and karst rivers. Legislation protects 1,131 species.<ref name="MCult-Biodiversity"/> Indigenous [[cultivar]]s of plants and [[breed]]s of domesticated animals are also numerous; they include five breeds of horses, five breeds of cattle, eight breeds of sheep, two breeds of pigs and a poultry breed. Even the indigenous breeds include nine endangered or critically endangered ones.<ref name="MCult-Biodiversity"/>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! colspan=5 style="text-align:center;"| Known and endemic taxa in Croatia<ref name="MCult-Biodiversity"/>
|-
! style="text-align:center;"| Name|| style="text-align:center;"| Known taxa|| style="text-align:center;"| Endemic taxa|| style="text-align:center;"| Endemic taxa, %
|-
| align=left|[[Plant]]s || 8,871 || 523 || 5.90%
|-
| align=left|[[Fungi]] || 4,500 || 0 || –
|-
| align=left|[[Lichen]]s || 1,019 || 0 || –
|-
| align=left|[[Mammal]]s || 101 || 5 || 4.95%
|-
| align=left|[[Bird]]s || 387 || 0 || –
|-
| align=left|[[Reptile]]s || 41 || 9 || 21.95%
|-
| align=left|[[Amphibian]]s || 20 || 7 || 35.00%
|-
| align=left|[[Freshwater fish]] || 152 || 17 || 12.00%
|-
| align=left|[[Marine fish]] || 442 || 6 || 1.36%
|-
| align=left|Terrestrial [[invertebrate]]s || 15,228 || 350 || 2.30%
|-
| align=left|Freshwater invertebrates || 1,850 || 171 || 9.24%
|-
| align=left|Marine invertebrates || 5,655 || 0 || –
|-class="sortbottom"
! align=left|TOTAL || style="text-align:right;"|38,266 || style="text-align:right;"|1,088 || style="text-align:right;"|2.84%
|}
There are 444 [[Croatian protected areas]], encompassing 8.5% of the country. These include 8 [[List of national parks of Croatia|national parks]], 2 strict [[Nature reserve|reserves]] and 11 [[nature park]]s, accounting for 78% of the total protected area.<ref name="EEA-Land-Use"/> The most famous protected area and the oldest [[national park]] in Croatia is the Plitvice Lakes National Park, a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]]. Velebit Nature Park is a part of the UNESCO [[Man and the Biosphere Programme]]. The strict and special reserves, as well as the national and nature parks, are managed and protected by the central government, while other protected areas are managed by counties. In 2005, the National Ecological Network was set up as the first step in preparation for EU membership and joining the [[Natura 2000]] network.<ref name="MCult-Biodiversity"/>
[[Habitat destruction]] represents a threat to biodiversity in Croatia, as developed and agricultural land is expanded into previous natural [[habitat]]s, while [[habitat fragmentation]] occurs as roads are created or expanded. A further threat to biodiversity is the introduction of [[invasive species]], with ''[[Caulerpa racemosa]]'' and ''[[Caulerpa taxifolia|C. taxifolia]]'' identified as especially problematic ones.<ref name=EnvRep2008 /> The invasive algae are monitored and regularly removed to protect the [[Benthic zone|benthic habitat]].<ref name="MCult-Biodiversity"/> Agricultural [[monoculture]]s have also been identified as a threat to biodiversity.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload/229899/2005_12_doc02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload/229899/2005_12_doc02.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Environmental and macroeconomic impact assessment of different development scenarios to organic and low-input farming in Croatia |first1=Darko |last1=Znaor |first2=Jules |last2=Pretty |first3=James |last3=Morrison |first4=Sonja Karoglan |last4=Todorović |date=November 2005 |publisher=University of Essex |location=Colchester, United Kingdom}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=The European Corn Borer (''Ostrinia nubilalis'' Hűbner) Review of Results From Croatia |first1=Marija |last1=Ivezić |first2=Emilija |last2=Raspudić |issn=1330-7142 |url=http://www.pfos.hr/~poljo/sites/default/data/2001_1/3_IVEZIC.pdf |journal=Poljoprivreda (Osijek) |year=2001 |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=15–17 |access-date=31 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831201120/http://www.pfos.hr/~poljo/sites/default/data/2001_1/3_IVEZIC.pdf |archive-date=31 August 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Ecology===
[[File:Jakuševec landfill 20090627 0123.JPG|thumb|left|The [[Jakuševec]] landfill, used for [[Zagreb]]'s solid waste disposal<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Večernji list|url=http://www.vecernji.hr/zagreb/gradonacelnik-svakodnevnoj-inspekciji-mirisa-jakusevcu-clanak-399794|title=Gradonačelnik u svakodnevnoj inspekciji "mirisa" na Jakuševcu|language=hr|trans-title=Mayor performs daily inspection of "scent" in Jakuševec|date=19 April 2012|first=Sanela |last=Dropulić|access-date=31 May 2012}}</ref>]]
The [[ecological footprint]] of Croatia's population and industry varies significantly between the country's regions since 50% of the population resides in 26.8% of the nation's territory, with a particularly high impact made by the city of Zagreb and Zagreb County areas—their combined area comprises 6.6% of Croatia's territory while encompassing 25% of the population.<ref name=EnvRep2007>{{cite web|url=http://www.azo.hr/IzvjesceOStanjuOkolisaU|language=hr|date=11 November 2011|title=Izvješće o stanju okoliša u Republici Hrvatskoj, 2007|trans-title=Report on environmental conditions in the Republic of Croatia, 2007|publisher=Croatian Environment Agency|access-date=31 May 2012}}</ref> The ecological footprint is most notably from the increased development of settlements and the sea coast leading to [[habitat fragmentation]]. Between 1998 and 2008, the greatest changes of [[land use]] pertained to artificially developed areas, but the scale of development is negligible compared to EU member states.<ref name=EnvRep2008>{{cite web|url=http://www.azo.hr/lgs.axd?t=16&id=4207|language=hr|title=Konačni nacrt izvješća o stanju okoliša u Republici Hrvatskoj za razdoblje 2005.&nbsp;– 2008|trans-title=Final draft report on environmental conditions in the Republic of Croatia in the 2005–2008 period|publisher=Croatian Environment Agency|access-date=31 May 2012}}</ref>
The Croatian Environment Agency (CEA), a public institution established by the [[Government of Croatia]] to collect and analyse information on the environment,<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Croatian Environment Agency|url=http://www.azo.hr/AboutUs|title=About us|access-date=14 November 2011}}</ref> has identified further ecological problems as well as various degrees of progress in terms of curbing their environmental impact. These problems include inadequate legal [[landfill]]s as well as the presence of illegal landfills; between 2005 and 2008, 62 authorised and 423 illegal landfills were [[Land rehabilitation|rehabilitated]]. In the same period, the number of issued [[waste management]] licences doubled, while the annual [[municipal solid waste]] volume increased by 23%, reaching {{convert|403|kg|abbr=off}} per capita. The processes of [[soil acidification]] and [[soil organic matter|organic matter]] degradation are present throughout Croatia, with increasing [[soil salinity]] levels in the [[Neretva]] river plain and spreading areas of [[alkali soil]] in [[Slavonia]].<ref name=EnvRep2008/>
Croatian [[air pollution]] levels reflect the drop in industrial production recorded in 1991 at the onset of the [[Croatian War of Independence]]—pre-war emission levels were only reached in 1997. The use of [[Hydrodesulfurization|desulfurised]] fuels has led to a 25% reduction of [[sulphur dioxide]] emissions between 1997 and 2004, and a further 7.2% drop by 2007. The rise in [[NOx|NO<sub>x</sub>]] emissions halted in 2007 and reversed in 2008.<ref name=EnvRep2008/> The use of [[unleaded petrol]] reduced emissions of [[lead]] into the atmosphere by 91.5% between 1997 and 2004. [[Air quality]] measurements indicate that the air in rural areas is essentially clean, and in urban centres it generally complies with legal requirements.<ref name=EnvRep2007/> The most significant sources of  [[greenhouse gas emissions|greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions]] in Croatia are [[energy production]] (72%), industry (13%) and agriculture (11%). The average annual increase of GHG emissions is 3%, remaining within the [[Kyoto Protocol]] limits. Between 1990 and 2007, the use of [[Ozone depletion|ozone depleting substances]] was reduced by 92%; their use is expected to be abolished by 2015.<ref name=EnvRep2008/>
Even though Croatia has sufficient [[water resources]] at its disposal, these are not uniformly distributed and public [[water supply network]] losses remain high—estimated at 44%. Between 2004 and 2008, the number of stations monitoring surface [[water pollution]] increased by 20%; the CEA reported 476 cases of water pollution in this period. At the same time [[organic waste]] pollution levels decreased slightly, which is attributed to the completion of new [[sewage treatment]] plants; their number increased 20%, reaching a total of 101. Nearly all of Croatia's [[groundwater]] [[aquifer]]s are top [[water quality|quality]], unlike the available surface water; the latter's quality varies in terms of [[biochemical oxygen demand]] and [[bacteriological water analysis]] results. As of 2008, 80% of the Croatian population are served by the public [[water supply]] system, but only 44% of the population have access to the public [[sewerage]] network, with [[septic system]]s in use. Adriatic Sea water quality monitoring between 2004 and 2008 indicated very good, [[oligotroph]]ic conditions along most of the coast, while areas of increased [[eutrophication]] were identified in the [[Bay of Bakar]], the Bay of [[Kaštela]], the Port of [[Šibenik]] and near [[Ploče]]; other areas of localised pollution were identified near the larger coastal cities. In the period between 2004 and 2008, the CEA identified 283 cases of [[marine pollution]] (including 128 [[ship pollution|from vessels]]), which was a drop of 15% relative to the period encompassed by the previous report,<ref name=EnvRep2008/> 1997 to August 2005.<ref name=EnvRep2007/>
===Land use===
[[File:Papuk from air.jpg|thumb|right|Forest-covered [[Papuk]]|alt=View from the air of a forest-covered mountain]]
As of 2006, 46.8% of Croatia was occupied by {{convert|26487.6|km2}} of forest and shrub, while a further {{convert|22841|km2}} or 40.4% of the land was used for diverse agricultural uses including {{convert|4389.1|km2}}, or 7.8% of the total, for [[permanent crop]]s. Bush and grass cover was present on {{convert|4742.1|km2}} or 8.4% of the territory, inland waters took up {{convert|539.3|km2}} or 1.0% and marshes covered {{convert|200|km2}} or 0.4% of the country. Artificial surfaces (primarily consisting of urban areas, roads, non-agricultural vegetation, sports areas and other recreational facilities) took up {{convert|1774.5|km2}} or 3.1% of the country's area. The greatest impetus for [[land use change]]s is the expansion of settlements and road construction.<ref name="EEA-Land-Use"/>
Because of the [[Croatian War of Independence]], there are numerous leftover [[minefields in Croatia]], largely tracing former front lines. As of 2006, suspected minefields covered {{convert|954.5|km2}}.<ref name="EEA-Land-Use"/> As of 2012, 62% of the remaining minefields are situated in forests, 26% of them are found in agricultural land, and 12% are found in other land; it is expected that [[Demining|mine clearance]] will be complete by 2019.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Glas Slavonije|url=http://www.glas-slavonije.hr/mvijest.asp?rub=3&ID_VIJESTI=12624|language=hr|title=Smrtonosna ostavština rata|trans-title=Deadly legacy of war|date=18 February 2012|access-date=2 March 2012}}</ref>
{{Update|date=June 2021}}
===Regions===
{{main|List of regions of Croatia}}
Croatia is traditionally divided into numerous, often overlapping geographic regions, whose borders are not always clearly defined. The largest and most readily recognisable ones throughout the country are [[Central Croatia]] (also described as the Zagreb macro-region), Eastern Croatia (largely corresponding with Slavonia), and [[Mountainous Croatia]] (Lika and Gorski Kotar; to the west of Central Croatia). These three comprise the inland or continental part of Croatia. Coastal Croatia consists of a further two regions: Dalmatia or the southern littoral, between the general area of the city of [[Zadar]] and the southernmost tip of the country; and the northern littoral located north of Dalmatia, encompassing the [[Croatian Littoral]] and Istria. The geographical regions generally do not conform to county boundaries or other administrative divisions, and all of them encompass further, more specific, geographic regions.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Geoadria|issn=1331-2294|publisher=University of Zadar, Croatian Geographic Society|location=Zadar|volume=5|issue=1|date=June 2000|title=Razmještaj stanovništva u Republici Hrvatskoj&nbsp;– dio općih demogrfskih i društveno-gospodarskih procesa|trans-title=Population Distribution in the Republic of Croatia&nbsp;– A Part of General Demographic and Socio-Economic Processes|language=hr|pages=93–104|first1=Ivo|last1=Nejašmić|first2=Aleksandar|last2=Toskić|doi=10.15291/geoadria.155|doi-access=free}}</ref>
==Human geography==
===Demographics===
{{main|Demographics of Croatia}}
[[File:Croatia population density map 2011 by county.svg|thumb|left|2011 Croatian [[population density]] by county in persons per km<sup>2</sup>:<br /> {{legend inline|yellow|<30}} {{legend inline|lime|30-49}} {{legend inline|teal|50-69}} {{legend inline|olive|70-89}} {{legend inline|navy|90-119}} {{legend inline|purple|120-200}} {{legend inline|red|>1200}}|alt=Map with red spot in upper center reflecting Zagreb's population density of over 1200 people per square kilometre]]
The [[Demographics of Croatia|demographic features of the Croatian population]] are known through censuses, normally conducted in ten-year intervals and analysed by various statistical bureaus since the 1850s. The [[Croatian Bureau of Statistics]] has performed this task since the 1990s. The latest census in Croatia was performed in April 2011. The permanent population of Croatia at the 2011 census had reached 4.29&nbsp;million. The [[population density]] was 75.8 inhabitants per square kilometre, and the overall [[List of countries by life expectancy|life expectancy in Croatia]] at birth is 75.7 years. The population rose steadily (with the exception of censuses taken following the two world wars) from 2.1&nbsp;million in 1857 until 1991, when it peaked at 4.7&nbsp;million. Since 1991, Croatia's [[death rate]] has continuously exceeded its [[birth rate]]; the natural growth rate of the population is thus currently negative.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=14991|journal=Geoadria|publisher=University of Zadar, Croatian Geographic Society|location=Zadar|issn=1331-2294|volume=3|issue=1|date=June 1998|first1=Snježana|last1=Mrđen|first2=Mladen|last2=Friganović|pages=29–56|title=The Demographic Situation in Croatia|access-date=16 March 2012|doi=10.15291/geoadria.45|pmid=12294962 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Croatia is currently in the [[demographic transition]]'s fourth or fifth stage.<ref>{{cite web|title=GG833 Geography: 2002 External Examination Report|url=http://www.tqa.tas.gov.au/4DCGI/_WWW_doc/006107/RND01/GG833_report_02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.tqa.tas.gov.au/4DCGI/_WWW_doc/006107/RND01/GG833_report_02.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|author=Tasmainian Secondary Assessment Board|year=2002|access-date=16 March 2012}}</ref> In terms of age structure, the population is dominated by the 15‑ to 64‑year‑old segment. The median age of the population is 41.4, and the gender ratio of the total population is 0.93 males per 1 female.<ref name="DZS-Stat2010"/><ref name="cbs-2011-settle">{{cite journal|journal=Statistical Reports|issue=1441|url=http://www.dzs.hr/Hrv_Eng/publication/2011/SI-1441.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.dzs.hr/Hrv_Eng/publication/2011/SI-1441.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011, First Results by Settlements|publisher=Croatian Bureau of Statistics|year=2011|access-date=6 November 2011|issn=1333-1876|first1=Ivana|last1=Buršić|first2=Ivana|last2=Lasan
|first3=Grozdana|last3=Stolnik|first4=Vlasta|last4=Miler|first5=Ksenija|last5=Miloš|first6=Jadranka|last6=Škrebenc|editor-first=Ljiljana|editor-last=Ostroški}}</ref>
Croatia is inhabited mostly by [[Croats]] (89.6%), while [[ethnic minorities in Croatia|minorities]] include [[Serbs]] (4.5%) and 21 other ethnicities (less than 1% each) recognised by the [[Constitution of Croatia]].<ref name="DZS-Stat2010"/><ref name="Ustav-RH">{{cite news|newspaper=Narodne Novine|language=hr|url=http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2010_07_85_2422.html|title=Ustav Republike Hrvatske|trans-title=Constitution of the Republic of Croatia|date=9 July 2010|access-date=11 October 2011}}</ref> The demographic history of Croatia is marked by significant migrations, including: the Croats' arrival in the area;<ref name="Mužić-249-293">{{cite book|first=Ivan|last=Mužić|title=Hrvatska povijest devetoga stoljeća|trans-title=Croatian Ninth Century History|language=hr|url=http://www.muzic-ivan.info/hrvatska_povijest.pdf|isbn=978-953-263-034-3|year=2007|publisher=Naklada Bošković|access-date=14 October 2011|pages=249–293|archive-date=8 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808024028/http://www.muzic-ivan.info/hrvatska_povijest.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> the growth of the Hungarian and German speaking population after the [[Croatia in personal union with Hungary|personal union of Croatia and Hungary]];<ref name="HR-HU-Heka">{{cite journal|journal=Scrinia Slavonica|issn=1332-4853|publisher=Hrvatski institut za povijest&nbsp;– Podružnica za povijest Slavonije, Srijema i Baranje|title= Hrvatsko-ugarski odnosi od sredinjega vijeka do nagodbe iz 1868. s posebnim osvrtom na pitanja Slavonije|trans-title=Croatian-Hungarian relations from the Middle Ages to the Compromise of 1868, with a special survey of the Slavonian issue|language=hr|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=68144|first=Ladislav|last=Heka|date=October 2008|volume=8|issue=1|pages=152–173|access-date=16 October 2011}}</ref> joining of the [[Habsburg monarchy|Habsburg Empire]];<ref name="Povijest-saborovanja">{{cite web|url=http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?sec=404 |title=Povijest saborovanja |trans-title=History of parliamentarism |language=hr |publisher=Sabor |access-date=18 October 2010 |archive-date=2 December 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202061135/http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?sec=404  }}</ref> migrations set off by the [[Growth of the Ottoman Empire|Ottoman conquests]];<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Migracijske I Etničke Teme|issn=1333-2546|publisher=Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies|first=Ivan |last=Jurković|language=hr|pages=147–174|title=Klasifikacija hrvatskih raseljenika za trajanja osmanske ugroze (od 1463. do 1593.)|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=11913|trans-title=Classification of Displacees Among Croats During the Ottoman Peril (from 1463 to 1593)|access-date=5 November 2011|volume=19|issue=2–3|date=September 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Croatian Cultural Association in Burgenland|url=http://www.hkd.at/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61&Itemid=102&lang=hr|language=hr|title=Povijest Gradišćanskih Hrvatov|trans-title=History of Burgenland Croats|access-date=17 October 2011|archive-date=14 November 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114132821/http://www.hkd.at/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61&Itemid=102&lang=hr}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author-link1=John R. Lampe|first1=John R|last1=Lampe|first2=Marvin R|last2=Jackson|title=Balkan economic history, 1550–1950: from imperial borderlands to developing nations|page= 62|publisher=Indiana University Press|year=1982|isbn=978-0-253-30368-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OtW2axOSn10C|access-date=17 October 2011}}</ref> and the growth of the Italian-speaking population in [[Istria#History|Istria]] and [[History of Dalmatia|Dalmatia]] during the [[Venetian Republic|Venetian]] rule there.<ref name="bare_url" /> After [[Austria-Hungary#Dissolution|Austria-Hungary's collapse]], the Hungarian population declined,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jLfX1q3kJzgC|title=Ethnic groups and population changes in twentieth-century Central-Eastern Europe|first=Piotr|last=Eberhardt|isbn=978-0-7656-0665-5|publisher=M.E. Sharpe|year=2003|access-date=5 November 2011|pages=288–295}}</ref> while the German-speaking population was forced out or fled during the last part of and after World War II,<ref>{{cite book|title=The Germans and the East|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IHAcEB8jh1AC|first1=Charles W|last1=Ingrao|first2=Franz A J|last2=Szabo|publisher=Purdue University Press|year=2008|isbn=978-1-55753-443-9|page=357
|access-date=5 November 2011}}</ref> and a [[Istrian exodus|similar fate]] was suffered by the Italian population.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/06/world/election-opens-old-wounds-in-trieste.html|title=Election Opens Old Wounds in Trieste|first=James M|last=Markham|date=6 June 1987|access-date=5 November 2011}}</ref> The late 19th century and the 20th century were marked by large scale economic migrations abroad.<ref name="Geografija-migrations">{{cite web|url=http://www.geografija.hr/clanci/1225/iseljavanje-hrvata-u-amerike-te-juznu-afriku|language=hr|title=Iseljavanje Hrvata u Amerike te Južnu Afriku|trans-title=Migrations of Croats to the Americas and the South Africa|first=Jelena|last=Lončar|date=22 August 2007|publisher=Croatian Geographic Society|access-date=5 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825112943/http://www.geografija.hr/clanci/1225/iseljavanje-hrvata-u-amerike-te-juznu-afriku|archive-date=25 August 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="MVPEI-Canada">{{cite web|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (Croatia)|url=http://www.mvpei.hr/hmiu/tekst.asp?q=02hi-hi11|title=Hrvatsko iseljeništvo u Kanadi|trans-title=Croatian diaspora in Canada|language=hr|access-date=5 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813202119/http://www.mvep.hr/hmiu/tekst.asp?q=02hi-hi11|archive-date=13 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=University of Ljubljana|url=http://www.ff.uni-lj.si/oddelki/zgodovin/wwwrepe/20th/Migrations%20in%20the%20territory.pdf|title=Migrations in the territory of former Yugoslavia from 1945 until present time|access-date=5 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528080329/http://www.ff.uni-lj.si/oddelki/zgodovin/wwwrepe/20th/Migrations%20in%20the%20territory.pdf|archive-date=28 May 2013}}</ref> The 1940s and the 1950s in [[Demographics of SFR Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] were marked by internal migrations in Yugoslavia, as well as by [[urbanisation]]. The most recent significant migrations came as a result of the [[Croatian War of Independence]] when hundreds of thousands were displaced.<ref name="OSCE-Reform">{{cite web|publisher=Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|title=STATUS REPORT No.16 ON CROATIA'S PROGRESS IN MEETING INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS SINCE NOVEMBER 2004|date=7 July 2005|url=http://www.osce.org/zagreb/15985|access-date=13 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="Index-Cro-Refugees">{{cite web|publisher=Index.hr|url=http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/savez-udruga-hrvataiz-bih-izabrao-novo-celnistvo/145769.aspx|language=hr|title=Savez udruga Hrvata iz BiH izabrao novo čelništvo|trans-title=Union of associations of Bosnia–Herzegovina Croats elects new leadership|date=28 June 2003|access-date=12 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="PresidentRH-refugees">{{cite web|publisher=Office of the [[President of Croatia]] |url=http://www.predsjednik.hr/29062010 |language=hr |title=Benkovac |date=29 June 2010 |access-date=12 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127220818/http://predsjednik.hr/29062010 |archive-date=27 November 2010 }}</ref>
The [[Croatian language]] is Croatia's official language, but the languages of constitutionally-recognised minorities are officially used in some local government units.<ref name="Ustav-RH"/><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Sabor|url=http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?art=23872|title=Izviješće o provođenju ustavnog zakona o pravima nacionalnih manjina i utrošku sredstava osiguranih u državnom proračunu Republike Hrvatske za 2007. godinu za potrebe nacionalnih manjina|language=hr|trans-title=Report on Implementation of Constitutional Act on National Minority Rights and Expenditure of Funds Appropriated by the 2007 State Budget for Use by the National Minorities|date=28 November 2008|access-date=27 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509061001/http://www.sabor.hr/Default.aspx?art=23872|archive-date=9 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Croatian is the native language identified by 96% of the population.<ref name="Census-2011">{{Croatian Census 2011|T}}</ref> A 2009 survey revealed that 78% of Croatians claim knowledge of at least one foreign language—most often [[English language|English]].<ref name="Index-lang">{{cite web|publisher=Index.hr|url=http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/istrazivanje-tri-posto-visokoobrazovanih-ne-zna-niti-jedan-strani-jezik-hrvati-uglavnom-znaju-engleski/545687.aspx|language=hr|title=Istraživanje: Tri posto visokoobrazovanih ne zna niti jedan strani jezik, Hrvati uglavnom znaju engleski|trans-title=Survey: Three percent of higher educated people cannot speak any foreign languages, Croats mostly speak English|date=5 April 2011|access-date=11 October 2011}}</ref> The largest religions of Croatia are [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]] (86.3%), [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christianity]] (4.4%) and [[Islam]] (1.5%).<ref name="Census2011-religion">{{Croatian Census 2011|R}}</ref> Literacy in Croatia stands at 98.1%.<ref name="CIA" /> The proportion of the population aged 15 and over attaining [[academic degree]]s has grown rapidly since 2001, doubling and reaching 16.7% by 2008.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Croatian Bureau of Statistics|url=http://www.dzs.hr/Hrv/censuses/Census2001/Popis/H01_02_14/H01_02_14_RH.html|language=hr|title=Radno sposobno stanovništvo staro 15 i više godina prema starosti, trenutačnom statusu aktivnosti i završenoj školi, po županijama, popis 2001|trans-title=Population capable of employment, aged 15 and over, according to age, present activity status and completed education by county, 2001 census|access-date=7 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Slobodna Dalmacija|language=hr|url=http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/Hrvatska/tabid/66/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/21394/Default.aspx|title=Hrvatska po rastu broja studenata prva u Europi|trans-title=Croatia tops European countries [university] student number growth|first=Petar|last=Dorić|date=7 September 2008|access-date=7 November 2011}}</ref> An estimated 4.5% of GDP is spent for education.<ref name="CIA"/> Primary and secondary education are available in Croatian and in the languages of recognised minorities. Croatia has a [[universal health care]] system and in 2010, the nation spent 6.9% of its GDP on healthcare.<ref name="WB-Health">{{cite web|publisher=World Bank|url=http://go.worldbank.org/R62VSWTTU0|language=hr|title=Svjetska banka podržava gospodarski oporavak Hrvatske|trans-title=World Bank Supports Economic Recovery of Croatia|date=10 May 2011|access-date=12 October 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416074845/http://www.worldbank.hr/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/ECAEXT/CROATIAEXTN/0,,contentMDK:22910402~menuPK:301250~pagePK:2865066~piPK:2865079~theSitePK:301245,00.html|archive-date=16 April 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The net monthly income in September 2011 averaged 5,397&nbsp;[[Croatian kuna|kuna]] ({{circa}} {{euro|729|link=yes}}).<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Poslovni dnevnik|url=http://www.poslovni.hr/vijesti/prosjecna-neto-placa-za-rujan-5397-kuna-191051.aspx|language=hr|title=Prosječna neto plaća za rujan 5.397 kuna|trans-title=September average net salary is 5,397 kuna|date=22 November 2011|access-date=28 November 2011|archive-date=27 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227065930/http://www.poslovni.hr/vijesti/prosjecna-neto-placa-za-rujan-5397-kuna-191051|url-status=dead}}</ref> The most significant sources of employment in 2008 were wholesale and retail trade, the manufacturing industry and construction. In October 2011, the unemployment rate was 17.4%.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Croatian Employment Service|url=http://www.hzz.hr/default.aspx?id=6191|language=hr|title=Stope nezaposlenosti i zaposlenosti u Republici Hrvatskoj|trans-title=Unemployment and Employment Rates in the Republic of Croatia|access-date=28 November 2011|archive-date=20 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020032446/http://www.hzz.hr/default.aspx?id=6191|url-status=dead}}</ref> Croatia's median equivalent household income tops the average [[Purchasing Power Standard]] of [[2004 enlargement of the European Union|the ten countries which joined the EU in 2004]], while trailing the EU average.<ref name="UNDP-HR">{{cite web|publisher=United Nations Development Programme|url=http://www.undp.hr/upload/file/171/85528/FILENAME/Regionalne_nejednakosti_hrv.pdf|language=hr|title=Regionalne nejednakosti|trans-title=Regional inequalities|year=2007|access-date=28 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501070955/http://www.undp.hr/upload/file/171/85528/FILENAME/Regionalne_nejednakosti_hrv.pdf|archive-date=1 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The 2011 census recorded a total of 1.5&nbsp;million private households; most owned their own housing.<ref name="DZS-Stat2010"/><ref name="cbs-2011-settle"/>
===Political geography===
{{Further|Counties of Croatia|NUTS of Croatia}}
[[File:NUTS of Croatia.PNG|thumb|right|NUTS of Croatia: {{legend|#FF8000|Northwest Croatia}}{{legend|green|Central and Eastern (Pannonian) Croatia}}{{legend|#0080FF|Adriatic Croatia}}|alt=Division of Croatia into 3 sections, one coastal, one upper left, and one with the rest]]
Croatia was first subdivided into counties in the [[Kingdom of Croatia (medieval)#Establishment|Middle Ages]].<ref name="Medieval-Counties">{{cite journal |publisher=Školska knjiga |journal=Historijski Zbornik |volume=5 |issue=1–2 |year=1952 |url=http://www.historiografija.hr/hz/1952/HZ_5_11_MANDIC.pdf |first=Oleg |last=Mandić |language=hr |title=O nekim pitanjima društvenog uređenja Hrvatske u srednjem vijeku |trans-title=On some issues of Croatia's social system in the Middle Ages |pages=131–138 |access-date=9 September 2011 |archive-date=8 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808023945/http://www.historiografija.hr/hz/1952/HZ_5_11_MANDIC.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The divisions changed over time to reflect losses of territory to Ottoman conquest and subsequent liberation of the same territory, in addition to changes in the political status of Dalmatia, Dubrovnik and Istria. The traditional division of the country into counties was abolished in the 1920s, when the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and the subsequent Kingdom of Yugoslavia introduced [[oblast]]s and [[Subdivisions of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia|banovinas]] respectively. <!-- name="frucht429-429" -->{{sfn|Frucht|2005|pp=429–429}} Communist-ruled Croatia, as a constituent part of post-WWII Yugoslavia, abolished earlier divisions and introduced (mostly rural) [[Municipalities of Croatia|municipalities]], subdividing Croatia into approximately one hundred municipalities. Counties were reintroduced in 1992 by legislation, significantly altered in terms of territory relative to the pre-1920s subdivisions—for instance, in 1918 the [[Transleithania]]n part of Croatia was divided into eight counties with their seats in Bjelovar, Gospić, Ogulin, Požega, Vukovar, Varaždin, Osijek and Zagreb, while the 1992 legislation established 14 counties in the same territory. Međimurje County was established in the [[eponymous]] region acquired through the 1920 [[Treaty of Trianon]].{{sfn|Biondich|2000|p=11}}<ref name="CountiesAct1992">{{cite news|newspaper=Narodne novine |date=30 December 1992 |access-date=9 September 2011 |language=hr |title=Zakon o područjima županija, gradova i općina u Republici Hrvatskoj |trans-title=Territories of Counties, Cities and Municipalities of the Republic of Croatia Act |url=http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/1992_12_90_2333.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828162010/http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/1992_12_90_2333.html |archive-date=28 August 2013 }}</ref> (The 1990 Croatian Constitution provided for a [[Parliament of Croatia#Chamber of Counties|Chamber of the Counties]] as part of the government, and for counties themselves without specifying their names or number.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Narodne Novine|url=http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/1990_12_56_1092.html|language=hr|title=Ustav Republike Hrvatske|trans-title=Constitution of the Republic of Croatia|date=22 December 1990|access-date=20 March 2012}}</ref> However, the counties were not actually re-established until 1992,<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Narodne novine |url=http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/1992_12_90_2333.html |title=Zakon o područjima županija, gradova i općina u Republici Hrvatskoj |language=hr |trans-title=County, city and municipal areas in the Republic of Croatia Act |date=30 December 1992 |access-date=20 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828162010/http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/1992_12_90_2333.html |archive-date=28 August 2013 }}</ref> and the first Chamber of the Counties was elected in 1993.)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.izbori.hr/arhiva/pdf/1993/1993_2_Rezultati_Sabor_zupanijski_dom.pdf|language=hr|publisher=State Election Commission|title=Izviješće o provedenim izborima za zastupnike u Županijski dom Sabora Republike Hrvatske|trans-title=Report on performed election of representatives in the Chambers of Counties of the Parliament of the Republic of Croatia|date=February 1993|access-date=20 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601185220/http://www.izbori.hr/arhiva/pdf/1993/1993_2_Rezultati_Sabor_zupanijski_dom.pdf|archive-date=1 June 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Since the counties were re-established in 1992, Croatia has been divided into 20 counties and the capital city of [[Zagreb]], the latter having the authority and legal status of a county and a city at the same time ([[Zagreb County]] outside the city is administratively separate as of 1997).<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Croatian Chamber of Economy|url=http://hgk.biznet.hr/hgk/tekst.php?a=b&page=tekst&id=680|language=hr|title=Gospodarski profil Grada Zagreba i Zagrebačke županije|trans-title=Economic profile of the City of Zagreb and the Zagreb County|access-date=20 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060507094819/http://hgk.biznet.hr/hgk/tekst.php?a=b&page=tekst&id=680|archive-date=7 May 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Narodne Novine|language=hr|url=http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/1997_01_10_151.html|title=Zakon o područjima županija, gradova i općina u Republici Hrvatskoj|trans-title=Territories of Counties, Cities and Municipalities of the Republic of Croatia Act|date=30 January 1997|access-date=20 March 2012}}</ref> The county borders have changed in some instances since (for reasons such as historical ties and requests by cities), with the latest revision taking place in 2006. The counties subdivide into 127 [[List of cities in Croatia|cities]] and 429 municipalities.<ref name="CountiesAct2006">{{cite news|newspaper=Narodne novine|date=28 July 2006|access-date=9 September 2011|language=hr|title=Zakon o područjima županija, gradova i općina u Republici Hrvatskoj|trans-title=Territories of Counties, Cities and Municipalities of the Republic of Croatia Act|url=http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2006_07_86_2045.html}}</ref>
The EU [[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics]] (NUTS) [[NUTS of Croatia|division of Croatia]] is performed in several tiers. NUTS 1 level places the entire country in a single unit, while there are three NUTS 2 regions; these are Central and Eastern (Pannonian) Croatia, Northwest Croatia and Adriatic Croatia. The last encompasses all counties along the Adriatic coast. Northwest Croatia includes the city of Zagreb and Krapina-Zagorje, Varaždin, Koprivnica-Križevci, Međimurje and Zagreb counties, and the Central and Eastern (Pannonian) Croatia includes the remaining areas—Bjelovar-Bilogora, Virovitica-Podravina, Požega-Slavonia, Brod-Posavina, Osijek-Baranja, Vukovar-Syrmia, Karlovac and Sisak-Moslavina counties.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds (Croatia)|url=http://www.mrrfeu.hr/UserDocsImages/EU%20fondovi/OP_za_regionalnu_konkurentnost_hr.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.mrrfeu.hr/UserDocsImages/EU%20fondovi/OP_za_regionalnu_konkurentnost_hr.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Operativni program za regionalnu konkurentnost 2007–2009; Dodatak XIX|language=hr|trans-title=Operative programme for regional competitiveness 2007–2009; Annex XIX|page=235|access-date=29 May 2012}}</ref> Individual counties and the city of Zagreb represent NUTS 3 level subdivision units in Croatia. The NUTS [[Local administrative unit]] divisions are two-tiered. The LAU 1 divisions match the counties and the city of Zagreb—in effect making these the same as NUTS 3 units—while the LAU 2 subdivisions correspond to the cities and municipalities of Croatia.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Council of Europe|language=hr|url=http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/cultureheritage/heritage/cemat/confminist1-15/15eCEMAT_National_Report_Croatia_2010_HR.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/cultureheritage/heritage/cemat/confminist1-15/15eCEMAT_National_Report_Croatia_2010_HR.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Nacionalno izviješće Hrvatska|trans-title=Croatia National Report|date=January 2010|access-date=25 February 2012}}</ref>
{{Croatian counties|style=float:left; font-size:95%; border:3px; max-width:480px; width:50%;}}
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="margin-top:7px; margin-right:0px; text-align:left; font-size:90%;"
|- style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"
! <!--style="width:120/75/75/85px"--> [[Counties of Croatia|County]] !! Seat !! Area (km<sup>2</sup>)!! Population
|-
| [[Bjelovar-Bilogora County|Bjelovar-Bilogora]] || [[Bjelovar]] || style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|2,652|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|119,743
|-
| [[Brod-Posavina County|Brod-Posavina]] || [[Slavonski Brod]] || style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|2,043|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|158,559
|-
| [[Dubrovnik-Neretva County|Dubrovnik-Neretva]] || [[Dubrovnik]] || style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|1,783|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|122,783
|-
| [[Istria County|Istria]] || [[Pazin]] || style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|2,820|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|208,440
|-
| [[Karlovac County|Karlovac]] || [[Karlovac]] || style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|3,622|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|128,749
|-
| [[Koprivnica-Križevci County|Koprivnica-Križevci]] || [[Koprivnica]] ||style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|1,746|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|115,582
|-
| [[Krapina-Zagorje County|Krapina-Zagorje]] || [[Krapina]] || style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|1,224|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|133,064
|-
| [[Lika-Senj County|Lika-Senj]] || [[Gospić]] || style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|5,350|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|51,022
|-
| [[Međimurje County|Međimurje]] || [[Čakovec]] || style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|730|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|114,414
|-
| [[Osijek-Baranja County|Osijek-Baranja]] || [[Osijek]] || style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|4,152|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|304,899
|-
| [[Požega-Slavonia County|Požega-Slavonia]] || [[Požega, Croatia|Požega]] || style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|1,845|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|78,031
|-
| [[Primorje-Gorski Kotar County|Primorje-Gorski Kotar]] || [[Rijeka]] || style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|3,582|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|296,123
|-
| [[Šibenik-Knin County|Šibenik-Knin]] || [[Šibenik]] || style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|2,939|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|109,320
|-
| [[Sisak-Moslavina County|Sisak-Moslavina]] || [[Sisak]] ||style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|4,463|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|172,977
|-
| [[Split-Dalmatia County|Split-Dalmatia]] || [[Split, Croatia|Split]] || style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|4,534|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|455,242
|-
| [[Varaždin County|Varaždin]] || [[Varaždin]] || style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|1,261|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|176,046
|-
| [[Virovitica-Podravina County|Virovitica-Podravina]] || [[Virovitica]] || style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|2,068|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|84,586
|-
| [[Vukovar-Srijem County|Vukovar-Srijem]] || [[Vukovar]] || style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|2,448|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|180,117
|-
| [[Zadar County|Zadar]] || [[Zadar]] || style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|3,642|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|170,398
|-
| [[Zagreb County]] || Zagreb || style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|3,078|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|317,642
|-
| [[City of Zagreb]] || Zagreb ||style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|641|| style="text-align:right;padding-right:2px"|792,875
|}
===Urbanisation===
{{see also|List of cities in Croatia|List of inhabited islands of Croatia}}
The average urbanisation rate in Croatia stands at 56%, with a growing urban population and shrinking rural population. The largest city and the nation's capital is Zagreb, with an urban population of 686,568 in the city itself. Zagreb's [[metropolitan area]] encompasses 341 additional settlements and, by the year 2001, the population of the area had reached 978,161; approximately 60% of Zagreb County's residents live in Zagreb's metropolitan area, as does about 41% of Croatia's urban population.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Hrvatski Geografski Glasnik|publisher=Croatian Geographic Society|issn=1331-5854|volume=67|issue=1|date=July 2005|title=Apsolutna decentralizacija u populacijskom razvoju Zagrebačke aglomeracije|language=hr|trans-title=Absolute Decentralization in Population Development of Zagreb Agglomeration|first=Ksenija|last=Bašić|pages=63–80|doi=10.21861/HGG.2005.67.01.04|doi-access=free}}</ref> The cities of Split and Rijeka are the largest settlements on the Croatian Adriatic coast, with each city's population being over 100,000. There are four other Croatian cities exceeding 50,000&nbsp;people: Osijek, Zadar, [[Pula]] and Slavonski Brod; the Zagreb [[Zagreb#City districts|district]] of [[Sesvete]], which has the status of a [[naselje|standalone settlement]] but not a city, also has such a large population. A further eleven cities are populated by more than 20,000.<ref name="cbs-2011-settle"/>
{{Largest cities of Croatia}}
{{clear}}
==See also==
{{portal|Croatia|Geography}}
* [[Geography of Europe]]
{{clear}}
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
==Works cited==
* {{cite book|first=Mark|last=Biondich|title=Stjepan Radić, the Croat Peasant Party, and the politics of mass mobilization, 1904–1928|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dZBgIIZ18WMC|year=2000|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=978-0-8020-8294-7|access-date=18 October 2011}}
* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lLVFW0an7NUC|title=The maritime boundaries of the Adriatic Sea|publisher=IBRU|year=1996|isbn=978-1-897643-22-8|access-date=1 February 2012|first1=Gerald Henry|last1=Blake|first2=Duško|last2=Topalović|first3=Clive H|last3=Schofield}}
* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lVBB1a0rC70C|first=Richard C|last=Frucht|title=Eastern Europe: An Introduction to the People, Lands, and Culture|year=2005|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn= 978-1-57607-800-6|access-date=18 October 2011}}
==External links==
{{commons category|Geography of Croatia}}
* {{Wikiatlas|Croatia}}
* {{osmrelation-inline|214885|Croatia|bullet=no}}
{{Croatia topics|state=collapsed}}
{{Geography of Europe}}
{{Europe topic|Climate of}}
{{Danube}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Geography of Croatia}}
[[Category:Geography of Croatia| ]]