Slovakia (also known as the Slovak Republic), is a country in
Central Europe that achieved its independence after the dissolution of the former country of
Czechoslovakia on
January 1,
1993. Slovakia borders the
Czech Republic,
Austria,
Poland,
Ukraine and
Hungary and has a population of over five million people. Slovakia is currently a member of the
European Union, as well as a participating country in the
NATO treaty. Slovakia is divided up into eight separate regions - which are each named after their capital city.