Slovakia is a highly diversified country in respect to it's natural environment. It is largely located in the mountainous territory of the western Carpathian arch, which forms the boundary between important physical and bio-geographic zones and several main European watersheds. It's diversified territory covers an area of 49,036 km² , with it's maximum west-east length being 428 km and minimum width being 76 km. Altitude varies from 92 m to 2,655 m.

The climate is temperate but is influenced locally by elevation and type of relief. The lowlands have an average annual temperature of 9-10 °C. The temperature lowers approximately 0.52 °C per 100 m as altitude increases. As a result of this, the average annual temperature on the highest peaks (above 2,500 m) is only -3.7 °C.

The total length of the Slovak river network is 44,943 km and represents an average river network density of 0,92 km per km² (1,8 km per km² in highlands and
0,25 km per km² in lowlands). The greater part (96%) of Slovakia is drained to the Black Sea by the Danube River and its tributaries: Morava, Váh, Nitra, Hron, Ipel, Slaná, Hornád and Bodrog.
A small part (4%) drains into the Baltic Sea by the Visla River and its tributaries: Poprad and Dunajec. Underground water is abundant. The law protects the ten most important underground water reserves which cover 6,942 km² or 14.16 % a of the total area of Slovakia. Due to the geological structure of the territory, there are many mineral springs and thermal waters in Slovakia.

From a phytogeographic point of view, a substantial portion of the country falls in the Western Carpathian Region. Only a small part of Eastern Slovakia belongs to
the Eastern Carpathian Region. Communities vary from thermophilous in southern parts of the country, to mountainous in the higher altitudes.

More than 5,324,000 inhabitants live here but population density is irregular. Most inhabitants are concentrated in the lowlands and valleys. An average population density
is 109 persons per square kilometre. Extensive land-use and settlement of the country has had a considerable impact on the original landscape structure and ecosystem composition.

The economy of the Slovak Republic is presently undergoing a substantial qualitative and quantitative transformation. It is turning from the form of exclusive state control to a liberal regime of market economy. The whole process is accompanied by considerable changes in ownership relations that lead to a large amount of problems in relation to both the protection and use of natural resources.