Slovakia has an area of 49 000 square kilometers. The Slovak republic is bordered in the west by Czech republic, in the north by Poland, in the east by Ukraine, in the south by Hungary and Austria. The borders are mostly natural, made by rivers and mountains. Slovakia has no borders with sea. Bratislava is the capital city of Slovakia. It has about 400 000 inhabitants and it is a Danube port. Bratislava used to be a very important fortress of Great Moravian Empire in the 9th century. Today it is the seat of Slovak President, Government, Parliament and other cultural and scientific institutions. Slovakia is a hilly country with a number of mountain ranges. Many tourists have discovered the beauties of the mountains. There are the Little Fatra, the Giant Fatra, The Muran Plain, Poloniny, Polana, the Slovak Paradise, the Slovak Karst, Stiavnica Hills, the Nitra Valley but the most attractive spots are still in the High and Low Tatras Mountains. There are beautiful mountain lakes in Slovakia.
Slovakia is not rich only in naturals beauties but also in great number of curative and mineral springs. Bardejov is the spa center in the eastern region.
Teplice is a spa situated in the valley in Strazovske Mountains. There is suitable mineral water for curing nervous sicknesses and the locomotive organs. A real international spa is Piestany. People who have problems with their mobility or they need treatment after some serious injuries visit the spa. The coldest month of the year is January with an average about –2°C in the southern lowlands, and about –11°C in the highest mountains of the north. The warmest month of the year is July with its average temperatures of 20°C in the south and 4°C on the highest peaks of the mountains.
The most important rivers of Slovakia include the Danube, the Vah, the Moravia, the Hron, the Nitra, the Hornad, the Orava and other. The only river that is used for river transport is the Danube.