Hungary


Hungary was part of the polyglot Austro-Hungarian Empire, which collapsed during World War I. The country fell under communist rule following World War II. In 1956, a revolt and announced withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact were met with a massive military intervention by Moscow. In the more open GORBACHEV years, Hungary led the movement to dissolve the Warsaw Pact and steadily shifted toward multiparty democracy and a market-oriented economy. Following the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Hungary developed close political and economic ties to Western Europe. It joined NATO in 1999 and is a frontrunner in a future expansion of the EU.
Location: Central Europe, northwest of Romania
47 00 N, 20 00 E
Population: 10,106,017 (July 2001 est.)
Area: total:  93,030 sq km
land:  92,340 sq km
water:  690 sq km
slightly smaller than Indiana
Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border
Elevation: lowest point:  Tisza River 78 m
highest point:  Kekes 1,014 m

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