Interesting Facts about Slovenia

Interesting Facts about Slovenia:

• Slovenia is one of the best economic performers in Central and Eastern Europe with GDP per capita at $17,008 in 2005 and receives the highest credit rating of all transition economies.

• Slovenia's Port of Koper on the Adriatic Sea provides a 7-10 day shorter route for shipments arriving from Asia than do Europe's northern ports.

• Slovenians in their first state, Carinthia, practiced the unique custom of the Installation of the Dukes of Carinthia (7th –14th century). According to some scholars, the ritual of installing Carinthian dukes carried out in the Slovenian language and the democratic arrangement between people and ruler is said to have influenced Thomas Jefferson's drafting of the Declaration of Independence.

• Several exceptional sportsmen of this nation of two million have made it into the halls of fame of extreme sports achievements. Among them are ultra-marathon swimmer Martin Strel, the first to swim the Mississippi River, and Jure Robic, the two time winner of RAAM - the endurance bicycle race from the west to the east coast of the United States.