The Croatians settled in the Balkans in early 7th century and formed two principalities: Dalmatia and Pannonia. The establishment of the Trpimirovic dynasty circa 850 brought strengthening to the Dalmatian Croat Duchy, which together with the Pannonian principality became a Kingdom in 925 under King Tomislav. In 1102, Croatia entered into a union with the Hungarian Kingdom. After the 1526 Battle of Mohacs Croatia became a part of the Habsburg Monarchy in 1527. In 1918 Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia formed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. In 1941-1945 an Axis puppet-state known as the Independent State of Croatia was set up. After the victory of the Allies, Croatia became a constitutive republic of Yugoslavia. In 1992, Croatia separated from Yugoslavia, as Republic of Croatia. In 2000, it formed a parliamentary system of government.Croatia is located in Southern Europe. Its shape resembles that of a crescent or a horseshoe, which flanks its neighbors Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. To the north lie Slovenia and Hungary; Italy is across the Adriatic Sea. Its mainland territory is split in two non-contiguous parts by the short coastline of Bosnia and Herzegovina around Neum.

City of Dubrovnik, favorite tourist destination		Island of Korcula

Croatia's terrain is diverse, including:

• plains, lakes and rolling hills in the continental north and northeast (Central Croatia and Slavonia , part of the Pannonian plain);
• densely wooded mountains in Lika and Gorski Kotar, part of the Dinaric Alps;
• rocky coastlines on the Adriatic Sea ( Istria , Northern Seacoast and Dalmatia).

The country is famous for its many national parks and coastal tourism. Croatia has a mixture of climates. In the north and east it is continental , Mediterranean along the coast and a semi-highland and highland climate in the south-central region. Offshore Croatia consists of over one thousand islands varying in size. National Geographic Adventure Magazine named Croatia as Destination of the Year in 2006.

Sheraton Meridien Lav hotel in Split		Plitvice Lakes national park

• 3-Letter abbreviation: CRO
• 2-Letter abbreviation: HR
• Country common name: Croatia
• Country official name: Republic of Croatia (Republika Hrvatska)
• Continent: Europe
• Capital: Zagreb
• Other major cities: Split, Rijeka, Dubrovnik, Osijek, Pula
• Currency: Kuna
• Official languages: Croatian
• Motto: Our beautiful homeland (Lijepa naša domovino)
• National holiday: Independence Day, 8 October (1991)

• Surface area: 56,542 km²
• Highest point: Dinara 1,830 m
• Neighboring countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km, Serbia 241 km, Montenegro 25 km, Slovenia 670 km
• Neighboring seas and oceans: Adriatic Sea

• Population (in millions): 4.42
• Gross domestic product (GDP) per inhabitant (in US dollars): 13,200 (2006)
• Density (inhabitants per km²): 81
• Average age (in years): 40.6
• Life expectancy at birth (in years): 74.9

• Country international telephone code: + 385
• Internet code: .hr
• Number of Internet users: 1.45 million (2005)