Croatia: landmarks, animals & facts for kids

Croatia is a country in southeastern Europe, curving like a crescent around the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. Its capital is Zagreb, and about 3.9 million people live there. Croatia is famous for its long, rocky coastline with more than a thousand islands, its crystal-clear sea, walled medieval towns, Roman ruins and waterfall-filled national parks. It is a favourite destination for travellers from all over the world.

On My Earth Toy you can visit Dubrovnik Old Town, a walled city of orange roofs by the sea, and Plitvice Lakes, a chain of turquoise lakes linked by waterfalls in a forested valley. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Geography and nature

Croatia has three main regions: the Pannonian plains in the north and east, with farms along the Drava and Sava rivers; mountainous Gorski Kotar and Lika in the middle; and the long Adriatic coast of Istria and Dalmatia in the south. The coast is limestone karst, full of caves, coves and islands. At Plitvice, minerals in the water build natural dams of travertine, creating 16 terraced lakes. Brown bears, wolves and lynx live in the mountain forests.

People, languages and culture

Croatian is the official language, written in the Latin alphabet. Most people are Roman Catholic. Along the coast, people enjoy seafood, olive oil and grilled fish, while inland cooking is heartier, with meats and pastries. Klapa, a style of harmonious singing by small groups, is listed by UNESCO. Croatians are passionate about sport, especially football, water polo and handball. Many towns hold summer festivals with music under the stars.

History in a nutshell

The Romans built cities here; the emperor Diocletian's huge palace still forms the heart of Split. Croatian dukes founded a kingdom in the 900s. Later Croatia was linked to Hungary and then ruled within the Habsburg Empire, while Venice controlled much of the coast. After World War I it became part of Yugoslavia. Croatia declared independence in 1991, followed by a war that ended in 1995. It joined the European Union in 2013.