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Ljubljana

Capital of SloveniaLjubljana lies in the Ljubljana Basin near the centre of Slovenia, between the Alps and the Karst. The Ljubljanica River flows through the city, and a medieval castle stands on Castle Hill above the centre.

Why it's the capital

For centuries Ljubljana was the capital of Carniola, a historical land. Later it became the capital of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia inside Yugoslavia, and in 1991, when Slovenia became independent, it became the capital of the new state.

Fun facts

  1. The city's symbol is the Ljubljana Dragon, which appears on the city's coat of arms and on the Dragon Bridge over the Ljubljanica.
  2. In Roman times a city called Emona stood where Ljubljana is now.
  3. The oldest wooden wheel yet discovered, about 5,100 to 5,350 years old, was found in 2002 in the Ljubljana Marsh, some 20 km south of the city.

Finding it on the globe

Start at the top of the Adriatic Sea, where Slovenia has its short coast between Italy and Croatia, then move a little northeast and inland: that is Ljubljana.

Easy to mix up

Slovenia and Slovakia are easy to confuse. Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia, next to Italy; Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is further northeast on the Danube, beside Austria and Hungary.

Sources: Wikipedia: Ljubljana, Wikipedia: Ljubljana Marshes Wooden Wheel, Wikipedia: Slovenia, Wikipedia: Slovakia, Wikipedia: Bratislava