Hungary: Former Warsaw Pact Country and currently NATO member

Around 14 B.C the western part of Hungary was under the rule of the Romans. It became a Christian nation in A.D 1000 and this acted as a barrier for the expansion of Ottoman Turkish Empire in Europe. Later on Hungary aligned with Austria to form the Austro-Hungarian Empire that disintegrated during World War I. In 1956, it withdrew from the Warsaw Pact for which it had to face Russian military invasion. Later it joined NATO in 1999 and in 2004, it became a member of the European Union.

Hungary Fast Facts:

· National Name: Republic of Hungary
· National Capital: Budapest
· Total Area: 93,030 sq km (35,919 sq miles)
· Total Population: 10 million (UN, 2008)
· Ethnic races: Hungarian 92.3%, Roma 1.9%, other or unknown 5.8% (2001 census)
· Religions: Roman Catholic 51.9%, Calvinist 15.9%, Lutheran 3%, Greek Catholic 2.6%, other Christian 1%, other or unspecified 11.1%, unaffiliated 14.5% (2001 census)
· Currency: Forint
· GDP per capita (PPP): $20,500 (2008 est.)
· Languages: Hungarian 93.6%, other or unspecified 6.4% (2001 census)
· Life expectancy: 69 years (men), 77 years (women) (UN)
· Literacy Rate: 99.4%(2003 est.)

Hungary Geography, Climate and Economy:
Hungary is of the same size as Indiana lying in the heart of Europe. The Terrain of the country mostly comprises of fertile and rolling plains. The important rivers are Danube and Tisza. The northwest plains are called Little Hungarian Plains because of its small size. Lake Balaton lies to its south. The Slovakian border of Hungary consists of hills and low mountains.

The climate of Hungary is relatively temperate with fluctuating temperatures, which may be quite high. The annual average temperature remains at 12 degree Celsius. The winters are cold and humid and January is the coldest month of the year while the summers are warm and the months of July and August are the hottest.

Agriculture was the main driver of Hungarian economy till the World War II when it opted for large-scale industrialization. Formerly it had a centrally planned economy, which got diversified after some years. Around 80% of the Hungarian GDP is contributed by the private sector. Hungary’s natural resources include bauxite, coal and natural gas.

Hungary Culture and Cuisine:
The culture of Hungary comprises of rich folk tradition, which includes different patterns of embroidery, stylized pottery and some wooden carvings. The famous rhapsody musician Franz Liszt hailed from Hungary. The other folk music includes Hungarian gipsy music and Roma music. The literature of Hungary is composed in Finno-Ugric language, which has very limited following.

The Hungarian cuisine has Turkish and Bulgarian influences including the cooking methods. The traditional Hungarian cuisine includes a number of ingredients, which make it hot and spicy. The Hungarian cuisine mostly includes herbs and spices specifically paprika.

Tourist Sites in Hungary:
Budapest, the capital city of Hungary is the popular tourist destination. The Royal Castle in Buda and the Vaci Street in Pest are the major tourist sites. Besides this, Hungary has some World Heritage Sites and well-preserved Biosphere reserves. Lake Hévíz, is the world's second largest thermal lake located in Hungary.

Some other Hungary Tourist Attractions include:

· Staute Park
· Fine Art Museum
· Heroes’ Square
· Chain Bridge
· Balaton
· Eger
· Sopron
· Esztergom
· Bükk National Park
· Aggtelek National Park

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