| Bosnia and Herzegovina |
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Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country, which situated on the Balkan peninsula of southern Europe. It is surrounded by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east and Montenegro to the south. Though it has only 20 km of the Adriatic Sea coastline, it is entirely landlocked country. Moreover Bosnia and Herzegovina consists many large mountains and various big rivers. Sarajevo is a capital as well as the largest city of the country. The Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the official name of the country.
| Country Name : | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Capital : | Sarajevo |
| Largest City : | Sarajevo |
| Official Language : | Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian |
| Government : | Republic |
| President : | (Presidency Members) Sulejman Tihic, Borislav Paravac, Ivo Miro Jovic |
| Prime Minister : | Adnan Terzic |
| Area : | 51,129 kmē |
| Area Rank : | 124th |
| Population : | 4,498,976 |
| Population Rank : | 127th |
| Density : | 79/kmē |
| Density Rank : | 90th |
| GDP Total : | $28.26 billion |
| GDP Total Rank : | 98th |
| GDP per Capita : | $6,800 |
| GDP per Capita Rank : | 83rd |
| Currency : | Convertible Mark |
| Time Zone : | CEST (UTC+1) |
| Internet TLD : | .ba |
| Calling Code : | +387 |
| Geographic Coordinates : | 44 00 N, 18 00 E |
| Railways : | 1,021 km |
| Highways : | 21,846 km |
| Waterways : | N/A |
| Internet Users : | 225,000 |
| Radio Users : | 940,000 |
| Mobile Users : | 1.05 million |
| Telephone Users : | 928,000 |
| Population Growth : | 1.35% |
| Birth Rate : | 8.77 births/1,000 |
| Death Rate : | 8.27 deaths/1,000 |
| Airport : | 27 |
Description :
A wide medium blue vertical band on the fly side with a yellow isosceles triangle abutting the band and the top of the flag; the remainder of the flag is medium blue with seven full five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom along the hypotenuse of the triangle.
During the Bronze Age: - The Neolithic people replaced by more warlike Indo-European tribes known as the Illyres or Illyrians. During the 4th century, some Celtic and Illyrian tribes were mixed in this territory. Moreover in this period, this region was populated by a number of different people. Disputes between the Illyrians and Romans started in 229 BD, but Rome would not completely annexed this region until 9 AD.
At the end of the 1st century, Christianity arrived at this region. This region was conquered by the Ostrogoths in 455 and further exchanged hands between the Alans and Hans in the years to follow. By the 6th century. Emperor Justin Nan has re-conquered this area for the Byzantine Empire.
Medieval Bosnia: - During the 9th century, the Slavs arrived at this region and they brought Feudalism with them.
The principalities of Serbia and Croatia split control of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 9th and 10th century, but by the High Middle Ages political circumstance led to the region being contested between the Kingdom of Hungary and the Byzantine Empire.
Ban Kulin was the first Bosnian monarch, who ruled over Bosnia during the 12th century. In 1204, Ban Kulin was died. After that, internal disputes started between the Subic and kotromanic families for power. This conflict ended in 1322, when Stjepan II Kotromanic became ban (ruler). He became successful ruler and annexed northern as well as western territories, and Zahumlje and parts of Dalmatia. In 1353, he was died. After his death, his nephew Turtko became the ruler of the country. He was crowned 1377 in Mileseva monastery as king of Serbia, Bosnia and the Seaside. After his death in 1391, Bosnia fell into a long period of decline.
Ottoman era: - Due to Bosnia's political and social instability, the Ottoman Empire conquered Bosnia in 1463 and Herzegovina in 1482. The Ottoman Empire ruled over Bosnia for about four centuries. In 1878, the Ottomans were forced to code administration of the country to Austria. Hungary through the treaty of Berlin.
Austro-Hungarian rule: - Though an Austro-Hungarian occupying force quickly conquered initial armed resistance upon take over, tensions remained in some parts of the country and a mass emigration of Muslims occurred. However, a state of relative stability was reached soon enough and Austro-Hungarian authorities were able to embark on a number of social and administrative reforms, which intended to make Bosnia and Herzegovina into a "model colony".
Though Bosnia was economically successful, but it was failed to get nationalism. The concept of Croat and Serb nationhood had already spread to Bosnia and Herzegovina's Catholics and Orthodox communities from neighboring Croatia and Serbia in the mid 19th century. By the latter half of the 1910s, nationalism was an integral factor of Bosnian politics.
The idea of a unified South Slavic state became a popular political ideology in the region of this time, including in Bosnia and Herzegovina. the Austro-Hungarian government's decision to formally annex Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908 added to a sense of urgency among these nationalists. The political tensions caused by all this culminated on 28th June, 1914, when Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip led the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo an event that proved to be the spark that set off World War I.
The first Yugoslavia: - After the war, Bosnia was incorporated into the South Slav Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. The establishment of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929, however, brought the redrawing of administrative regions into banates that purposely avoided all historical and ethnic lines, removing any trace of a Bosnian entity. In 1939, the famous Cvetkovic-Macek agreement was made, which established the Croatian banate, encouraged what was a partition of Bosnia between Croatia and Serbia. But Yugoslav politicians were forced to shift their attention to the rising threat posed by Hitler's Nazi Germany. But finally, Yugoslavia was invaded by Germany on 6th April 1941.
Second World war: - The kingdom of Yugoslavia was conquered by Nazi Germany in the Second World War, moreover all of Bosnia was also ceded to the Nazi-puppet state of Croatia. In Bosnia Jewish, the Nazis treated Serbian and Gypsy civilians very cruelly. The Jewish population was totally destroyed and roughly 7,50,000 Serbs died. Under the leadership of the Chetniks, who was a Serb nationalist, many Serbs took part in resistance movement. The Chetniks managed to conquered most of eastern Bosnia and eastern Herzegovina. Approximately 3,00,000 Bosniaks were killed.
Socialist Yugoslavia: - Under the leadership of Josip Broz tito Yugoslav communists created their own multiethnic created their own multiethnic resistance group the partisans in 1941. They fought against Axis and Chetnik forces. On 25th November 1943 the Anti -Fascist Council of National Liberation of Yugoslavia with Tito held a conference in Jajce, where Bosnia and Herzegovina was reestablished as a republic within the Yugoslavian federation in its Ottoman borders. Military success prompted the Allies to support the Partisans and the end of war resulted in the establishment of the Socialist Federal republic for Yugoslavia, with the constitution of 1946 officially making Bosnia and Herzegovina one of six constituent republics in the new state.
The Bosnian War: - The 1990 parliamentary elections led to a national assembly dominated by 3 ethnically based parties. Croatia and Slovenia's subsequent declarations of independence and the warfare placed Bosnia and Herzegovina in an awkward position. Whether they had to stay with Yugoslav federation or seek independence. 99.4% of people voted in favor of the proposal, Bosnia and Herzegovina became an independent, and an open warfare began in Sarajevo on 6th April 1992. Bosnia and Herzegovina increased pressure for the Yugoslav Army (JNA) to withdraw from the territory, and formed the Army of Republika Srpska and continued fighting. By 1993, about 70% of the country was under the control of Republika Srpska.
In March 1994, the signing of the Washington accords between the leaders of the republican government and Herzeg-Bosnia lead to the creation of a joint Bosniak-Croat federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. with the signing of the Dyton Agreement, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Yugoslavia halted the fighting.
Bosnia's diverse population has made the country's cultural life rich.
Education: - Education is free and compulsory for all children from ages 7 through 15, in Bosnia and Herzegovina secondary educational is also free. Bosnia has a highly developed educational system, which not only encouraged study and higher education but also respected academic achievements.
Vladimir Prelog is the famous Bosnian Nobel prizewinner, who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1975. Ivo Andric is also the Nobel Prize winner, who achieved Novel Prize for literature.
Bosnia and Herzegovina have seven universities, which produce highly educated graduates in maths, Science, and literature.
Literature: - Epic stories, a form of traditional oral literature is an outstanding example of Bosnian literature. Moreover Bosnia and Herzegovina have great writers as well as poets.
Ivo Andric was a famous Bosnian writer, who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1961. 'Na Drine cuprija' was his remarkable novel. Dzevad karachasan, Aleksandar Hemon, Miljenko Jergovic, Dario Dzamonja, Nedzad Ibrisimovic and Mesa Selimovic were great writers of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
While, Mak Dizdar and Abdulah Sidran were great poets of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Film: - Mirza Idrizovic, Aleksandar Jevdjevic, Ivica Matic, emir kusturica, Danis Tanovic, Ademir Kenovic, Pjer Zalica, Dino Mustafic, Jasmila Zbanic and Srdjan Vuletic are well-known film-makers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Acadamy of Performing Arts Sarajevo was established in 981 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Music: - Bosnian love songs largely Muslim in origin, were popular throughout the, former Yugoslavia. Through 1991 the Bosnian rock group Bijelo dugme was highly popular throughout Yugoslavia, playing music influenced by the various traditions of Bosnia.
Sports: - Basketball, football, volleyball are Bosnia and Herzegovina's popular as well as famous sports.
Location: - Bosnia and Herzegovina is located on the Balkan Peninsula, which is surrounded by Croatia to the north and southwest, Serbia to the east and Montenegro to the southeast.
Area: - The total area of the country is about 51, 197 sq. km.
Landscape: - The landscape of Bosnia and Herzegovina is mostly mountainous, encompassing the central Dinaric Alps. The northeastern parts reach into the Pannonian basin, while in south it borders the Adriatic.
Mountains: - Bosnia consists May Mountains, like Vlasic, Cvrsnica and Prenj. Its eastern part has also many mountains like Trebevic, Jahorina, Igman, Bjelsanica and Treskaviaca.
The merger of two regions: - The country's name comes from the two regions Bosnia and Herzegovina, which have a very vaguely defined border between them Bosnia occupies the northern areas, which are approximately four fifth of the entire country, while Herzegovina occupies the rest.
Rivers: - There are 7 major rivers in the country. The Una river, The Sana river, the Vrbas river, The Bosna river, The Drina river, The Neretva river, The Sava river.
The Una river in the northwest part of the country flours along the northern and western border of Bosnia and Croatia and though the Bosnian city of Bihac. It is a very beautiful river and popular for raffling and adventure sports.
The Sana flows through the city of Snski Most. The Vrbas flows through the cities of Gornji Vakuf- Uskoplje, Bugojno, Jaice and Banja luka and reaches the river Sava in the north. The Bosna is the longest river of Bosnia, and it fully contained within the country, The Drina flows through the eastern part of Bosnia at many places in the border between Bosnia and Serbia. The Neretva is a large river in Central and Southern Bosnia, flowing from Jablanica south to the Adriatic Sea. The Sava River is the largest river in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It flows through Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. Sava Crates a natural border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia and towns like Bosanka Gardiska lies on the river.
Population: - According to the July 2006 estimate, the total population of the country was about 44,98,976 and its population density was about 76 persons per sq. km.
Forests: - Eastern Bosnia is heavily forested along the river Drina and overall nearly 50% of Bosnia and Herzegovina is forested. Most forest area is in Central Eastern and western arts of Bosnia.
Agriculture: - Northern Bosnia contains very fertile agricultural land so have agriculture is well developed.
Climate: - The south part of Bosnia has Mediterranean climate but rest of the country has continental climate, with hot summers and could snowy winters.
Capital: - Sarajevo is the capital as well as largest city of the country.
Pyramid: - Bosnia and Herzegovina has recently been the subject of heavy speculating regarding the possible discovery of a pyramid. The pyramid, located in the town of Visoko.
convertible marka per US dollar - 1.5576 (2006), 1.5727 (2005), 1.5752 (2004), 1.7329 (2003), 2.0782 (2002)
note: the convertible mark is pegged to the euro
| 1.00 - (Bosnia and Herzegovina ) | = | USD - (United States Dollars) |
| 1.00 USD - (United States Dollars) | = | - (Bosnia and Herzegovina ) |
| Unit | Currency Name | EUR/Unit | Unit/EUR |
Pre-war economy: - When Bosnia and Herzegovina was a part of Yugoslavia, its economy was well developed, its GDP was very, high. Moreover it financed many large construction projects, throughout that country.
War's effects: - But due to war, its economy was totally changed. Production fell to 6%, GDP fell 75% and the destruction of physical infrastructure created massive economic problems, like high unemployment rate and a large trade defeat.
Today's GDP: - as per 2006 estimate, the total GDP was about $24.33 billion and its per capita GDP was about $6,159.
Currency: - The National currency is the Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark (BAM), which is fixed to the Euro.
Inflation: - Bosnia and Herzegovina's inflation is the lowest in comparison to other countries. In 2004, inflation was 1.9%, but in 2005, it was 1.4%.
International debt: - As per 2005 estimate, Bosnia and Herzegovina's international debt was $3.1 billion.
Foreign investments: - The Foreign countries like Croatia, Austria, Lithuania, Slovenia, Netherlands, and Germany invest in Various sectors like, in manufacturing about 55%, in banking about 16.5% in services about 8.6%, in trade about 6.2%, in transport about 0.9%, in tourism about 0.7%.
Tourism: - Today, tourism is an important source of income for Bosnia and Herzegovina. according to an estimation of the World Tourism Organization, Bosnia and Herzegovina will have the third tourism growth rate in the world among 1995 to 2020.
Population: - According to the 2006 estimate, the total population of Bosnia and Herzegovina was about 44,98,976 and its population density was about 76 persons per sq. km.
Ethnic groups: - according to the 1991 census, Bosnia and Herzegovina had a population of 43,54,911, among them, 43.7% were Bosniaks, 31.3% Serbs and 17.3% Croats, with 5.5% declaring themselves Yugoslavs.
But as per 2000 data from the CIA World Fact book, Bosnia and Herzegovina is ethnically 48% Bosniak, 37.1% Serb, 14.3% Croat, and 0.6% other.
Religion: - In Bosnia and Herzegovina Islam is the largest single religion, which followed by about 48% of the total population. The second largest religion in Bosnia and Herzegovina is Serb Orthodox Christianity, accounting for an estimated 37% and the third largest religion in Bosnia and Herzegovina is Roman Catholicism, with about 14% being Catholics.
The people of Bosnia speak the Bosnian language. Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian are Bosnia and Herzegovina's official languages. In writing, the Serbs use the Cyrillic alphabet, while Bosniaks and Croats use the Latin alphabet.
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