Basic Information of Hungary
Geography and Climate
Hungary is nestled between Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Austria in the Carpathian Basin. Measuring just under 36,000 square miles (93030 square km), it is roughly the size of the state of Indiana.
Hungary is mainly a flat country divided into three major regions: The Great Plain, The Trans-Danube Region, and the Northern Hills. The sweeping, fertile plains have created a robust agricultural economy while the forest areas are home to abundant wildlife and seven national parks.
The river Danube, Europe's second longest river, and the only major European river that runs west to east, divides Hungary down the middle, going through Budapest, its capital. Hungary’s other major river is the Tisza. These two rivers separate Hungary into three large parts.
Western Hungary is characterized by hills and low mountains. The mountains of Sopron and Kőszeg, are built up of ancient crystalline rocks, while to the north, the highest and most varied terrain of Hungary exists. In this region the mountains are mostly volcanic.
Nearly 50 miles long, Lake Balaton hails not only as Hungary's largest freshwater lake, but that of Central Europe. Hungarians often refer to it as the Hungarian Sea. To the south, its shoreline is sandy and shallow, making it ideal for swimming and fishing. Across the lake, the northern shores are steep and hilly, and the surrounding land is marked with hiking and biking trails. In winter months, its frozen waters continue to provide entertainment for visitors.
Hungary's longest cave is Baradla in the Aggtelek Karst.
But diverse land characteristics are only a few of the things that set Hungary apart from its many neighbors. Often described as picturesque, Hungary offers a wide variety of natural and historical attractions.
Hungary's climate is considered continental, with marked differences between summer and winter conditions. The average temperature is 50 degrees F, but July, being the warmest month, has an average temperature of 82 degrees F, while January, (coldest month) has an average temperature of 30 degrees F.
Hungary general information
Hungary is a Central-European country, it is located in the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia.
The country's official name is Republic of Hungary, in Hungarian it is Magyar Köztársaság
After the fall of the Communist regime (October 23, 1989) Hungary was declared a parliamentary republic, and the first free elections were held on March 25 and on April 9, 1990. We have elections each 4 years, and since 1990, Hungary has experienced a government-change each 4 years. In 2006, this "habit" changed, and for the first time since 1990, the ruling coalition could win the elections again. Now the ruling coalition is formed by the socialists (MSZP) and the liberals (SZDSZ). The prime minister is Ferenc Gyurcsány, the president of Hungary is László Sólyom.
Hungary became a member of the Visegrad Group in 1991, a member of the NATO in 1999, and a member of the European Union on May 1, 2004.
The currency of Hungary is still the Forint, we are still not members of the Euro-zone. According to estimated plans, we can reach a proper level of economy to be able to join the Euro-zone not before 2012.
The official language is Hungarian.
Hungary's total area is 93,030 km2, this is approximately the third of the so-called "big-Hungary" - Hungary has lost approximately 70% of its territory and 60% of its population after World War I, after signing the so-called Trianon Treaty, June 4, 1920.
According to the data of the National Census 2001 the population of Hungary is 10,198,315.
Hungary's official currency is the FORINT. Its name derives from the city of Florence (Italy) - during the 13th century the money minted here was called "fiorino d'oro". In Hungary it was used between 1325 and 1553, under the name "florentinus" (later forint).
It was the official currency of the Austro-Hungarian Empire between 1857 and 1892, it was called Austrian florin, and it was subdivided into 100 "krajczár" On 1st August, 1946 (after the 1945-1946 hyperinflation of the actual currency, the "pengõ") the forint was introduced again. The exchange rate was hard to imagine: 1 forint equaled 4 x 1029 pengõ. The forint was subdivided into 100 fillér, but because of inflation, the fillér became useless, so since 1999 it is not in circulation any more.
There is now much debate about when Hungary can join the Euro-zone. Even if we are members of the European Union (since 1st May, 2004) we still use our currency, because our economy is not fulfilling the so-called Maastrict-criteria. According to conservative estimations it seems to be realistic that we will use our forint instead of the Euro up until 2010-2012, so it is very likely that Hungary will be the last country to adopt the euro currency of the ten countries that joined the EU in 2004.
The short form of forint is either Ft (it is used after the amount, like this: 3000 Ft), or simply 3000 HUF (HUF stands for HUngarian Forint).
Geography and Climate
Hungary is nestled between Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Austria in the Carpathian Basin. Measuring just under 36,000 square miles (93030 square km), it is roughly the size of the state of Indiana.
Hungary is mainly a flat country divided into three major regions: The Great Plain, The Trans-Danube Region, and the Northern Hills. The sweeping, fertile plains have created a robust agricultural economy while the forest areas are home to abundant wildlife and seven national parks.
The river Danube, Europe's second longest river, and the only major European river that runs west to east, divides Hungary down the middle, going through Budapest, its capital. Hungary’s other major river is the Tisza. These two rivers separate Hungary into three large parts.
Western Hungary is characterized by hills and low mountains. The mountains of Sopron and Kőszeg, are built up of ancient crystalline rocks, while to the north, the highest and most varied terrain of Hungary exists. In this region the mountains are mostly volcanic.
Nearly 50 miles long, Lake Balaton hails not only as Hungary's largest freshwater lake, but that of Central Europe. Hungarians often refer to it as the Hungarian Sea. To the south, its shoreline is sandy and shallow, making it ideal for swimming and fishing. Across the lake, the northern shores are steep and hilly, and the surrounding land is marked with hiking and biking trails. In winter months, its frozen waters continue to provide entertainment for visitors.
Hungary's longest cave is Baradla in the Aggtelek Karst.
But diverse land characteristics are only a few of the things that set Hungary apart from its many neighbors. Often described as picturesque, Hungary offers a wide variety of natural and historical attractions.
Hungary's climate is considered continental, with marked differences between summer and winter conditions. The average temperature is 50 degrees F, but July, being the warmest month, has an average temperature of 82 degrees F, while January, (coldest month) has an average temperature of 30 degrees F.
Hungary general information
Hungary is a Central-European country, it is located in the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia.
The country's official name is Republic of Hungary, in Hungarian it is Magyar Köztársaság
After the fall of the Communist regime (October 23, 1989) Hungary was declared a parliamentary republic, and the first free elections were held on March 25 and on April 9, 1990. We have elections each 4 years, and since 1990, Hungary has experienced a government-change each 4 years. In 2006, this "habit" changed, and for the first time since 1990, the ruling coalition could win the elections again. Now the ruling coalition is formed by the socialists (MSZP) and the liberals (SZDSZ). The prime minister is Ferenc Gyurcsány, the president of Hungary is László Sólyom.
Hungary became a member of the Visegrad Group in 1991, a member of the NATO in 1999, and a member of the European Union on May 1, 2004.
The currency of Hungary is still the Forint, we are still not members of the Euro-zone. According to estimated plans, we can reach a proper level of economy to be able to join the Euro-zone not before 2012.
The official language is Hungarian.
Hungary's total area is 93,030 km2, this is approximately the third of the so-called "big-Hungary" - Hungary has lost approximately 70% of its territory and 60% of its population after World War I, after signing the so-called Trianon Treaty, June 4, 1920.
According to the data of the National Census 2001 the population of Hungary is 10,198,315.
Hungary's official currency is the FORINT. Its name derives from the city of Florence (Italy) - during the 13th century the money minted here was called "fiorino d'oro". In Hungary it was used between 1325 and 1553, under the name "florentinus" (later forint).
It was the official currency of the Austro-Hungarian Empire between 1857 and 1892, it was called Austrian florin, and it was subdivided into 100 "krajczár" On 1st August, 1946 (after the 1945-1946 hyperinflation of the actual currency, the "pengõ") the forint was introduced again. The exchange rate was hard to imagine: 1 forint equaled 4 x 1029 pengõ. The forint was subdivided into 100 fillér, but because of inflation, the fillér became useless, so since 1999 it is not in circulation any more.
There is now much debate about when Hungary can join the Euro-zone. Even if we are members of the European Union (since 1st May, 2004) we still use our currency, because our economy is not fulfilling the so-called Maastrict-criteria. According to conservative estimations it seems to be realistic that we will use our forint instead of the Euro up until 2010-2012, so it is very likely that Hungary will be the last country to adopt the euro currency of the ten countries that joined the EU in 2004.
The short form of forint is either Ft (it is used after the amount, like this: 3000 Ft), or simply 3000 HUF (HUF stands for HUngarian Forint).