Carinthia, Slovenia

Traditional regions of Slovenia, with Carinthia in yellow

Carinthia (Slovene: Koroška), also the Slovene Carinthia or the Slovenian Carinthia (slovenska Koroška), is a traditional region in the north of Slovenia. It has no official status as an administrative unit within Slovenia, although the association with an informal province (Slovene: pokrajina) is quite common. It encompasses the Meža Valley, the Mislinja Valley and the Upper Drava Valley, and the hilly and mountainous areas around them.

History

The name derives from the fact that the today's territory formed part of the Duchy of Carinthia, which belonged to the Habsburg Empire until World War I. In 1919, the newly established Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later renamed to Yugoslavia) occupied southern Carinthia. Jezersko, the Meža Valley and the area around Dravograd, which are today the territory of Slovenia, were annexed without a referendum. However, in the region north and west of this, on 10 October 1920 the voters in the Carinthian Plebiscite determined that those parts should remain with the newly founded Republic of Austria. After World War II, the region formed part of the Yugoslav Yugoslav Republic of Slovenia and became part of independent Slovenia after the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991.

Geography

The Carinthia statistical region (number 4) has included several Styrian municipalities including the town of Slovenj Gradec, while Jezersko has become part of the Upper Carniola Statistical Region (number 1)

The area covers 1,041 square kilometres (402 sq mi). The landscape of Carinthia is very diverse, with predominace of hilly and mountainous relief, in the Pleistocene transformed by glaciers. The climate is partially alpine climate, partially transient continental climate. An important element is the temperature inversion. The biggest rivers are Drava, Meža, and Mislinja. Over two thirds of Carinthia are covered by forest and the percentage is still increasing. The predominant tree species are beech, fir and spruce. The lower areas have been polluted by lead due to a lead mine. Despite this, Carinthia is home to much game (hares, deers, roe deers) and alpine animal species above the timberline, at Peca, Olševa, Raduha and elsewhere. Drava is home to numerous fish.

Demographics

Carinthia had 73,754 inhabitants in 2008, with an uneven settlement and relatively young population. Nonetheless, due to low birth rate and shorter life span, the number of inhabitants is decreasing. The biggest employer is the processing industry. Many people are commuters, working in Ljubljana, Maribor, Velenje, and Austria. In 2008, there was a relatively high unemployment, 10.5% in the mining town Črna na Koroškem and 11.8 in Ravne na Koroškem, known by its steel industry. Other large settlements are the mininig towns Mežica and Prevalje, Dravograd along the Maribor-Klagenfurt railway, Slovenj Gradec, the administrative centre of the Mislinja Valley and a cultural centre, Muta with metal industry based on a blacksmith tradition, Radlje ob Dravi, a lively trades business and commercial centre.

Economy

In the 1990s, a lead and zinc mine in the Meža Valley, the most highly industrialized valley of the region, and the lead smelter in Žerjav were closed down. The only factory in the area around the mine still operating is TAB, a manufacturer of batteries. Metal Ravne, the steel mill at Ravne, which was one of the largest employers in the Duchy of Carinthia in the 19th century, managed to survive and now specializes in alloy steel and machinery components. There are five hydroelectric plants in the Carinthian stretch of the Drava Valley, with a total capacity of about 60 megawatts, and metal products are produced in different places.

Environment

After the shut-down of the zinc mine, the extremely poor environmental situation in the narrow Meža Valley with its century-long lead and zinc ore exploitation has slowly been improving. However, the entire area of the Slovene Carinthia continues to suffer from severe damage to its forests. In some areas, up to 40% of the trees are damaged due to heavy sulfur dioxide emissions from the Šoštanj Power Plant and the iron works in Ravne.

Despite the pollution of the Meža and Drava rivers, water supply has never been a problem. Clean water is abundant due to the mountainous terrain with its impermeable rock. Almost every farm in the mountains has its own water supply system, and the settlements in the valleys are connected to municipal water supply systems.

Education and culture

The Dr. Franc Sušnik Central Carinthian Library and the Carinthian museum are in Ravne na Koroškem, but the Carinthian Regional Museum, the Carinthian Gallery of Fine Arts, and the regional radio station are located in Slovenj Gradec (historically part of Styria). In the past, educational establishments and other activities were dispersed among several small towns. There are high schools in Ravne and Muta. Students who wish to continue their tertiary education mostly choose the universities of Maribor and Ljubljana. In Črna na Koroškem, there is a center for the protection and vocational training of physically and mentally handicapped youth.

Notable natives

• Aleš Gorza, skier
• Robert Koren, football player
• Lado Kralj, writer, thetre critic and literary historian
• Alojzij Kuhar, historian, diplomat, journalist and politician
• Mitja Kunc, skier
• Nataša Lačen, cross country skier
• Tina Maze, skier
• Jerica Mrzel, actress, singer and politician
• Boštjan Nachbar, basketball player
• Vinko Ošlak, essayist, translator, and Christian thinker
• Andrej Pečnik, football player
• Nejc Pečnik, football player
• Miro Petek, investigative journalist and politician
• Peter Poles, TV host
• Iztok Puc, handball player
• Danilo Pudgar, skier
• Renata Salecl, philosopher
• Mines Šišić, football player
• Danilo Slivnik, journalist, columnist, author and editor
• Adi Smolar, singer-songwriter
• Katarina Srebotnik, tennis player
• Marko Šuler, football player
• Prežihov Voranc, writer
• Hugo Wolf, composer