Family and friends play an important role for people in Bosnia and Herzegovina and hospitality is common. People often meet at local coffee shops or cafés, known as kafanes and kafićis. Popular foods include baklava, a type of sweet cake, and stuffed vegetables, both of which have Turkish roots. NATUREAround 40 percent of Bosnia and Herzegovina is covered in forest, consisting of oak, pine, and beech trees. Plums, grapes, pears, and apples are common in the country. Bosnia and Herzegovina is abundant in wildlife, which includes bears, wolves, foxes, otters, and falcons. A pilot project in the sustainable collection of wild plants in Bosnia and Herzegovina proved successful in 2009 with the possibility of its use as a model for conservation in other European countries.

C. Later, in the sixth century, the area of Bosnia would become part of the Byzantine Empire. The area of Herzegovina came to being in 1448, joining Bosnia later that century under Turkish rule. The Russo-Turkish War broke out in 1877 and resulted in Bosnia and Herzegovina being placed under the rule of Austria-Hungary the following year. Following World War I and the collapse of Austria-Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina fell into the hands of Serbia.

GOVERNMENT & ECONOMYBosina and Herzegovina is split into two regions that govern themselves independently, each having its own president. As a result of tensions that remain among the country's three main ethnic communities, the president is elected as part of a tripartite presidency, whereby a Bosniak, Serb, and Croat president rotate, each serving eight months. Agriculture plays a major role in Bosnia and Herzegovina's economy, with some 50 percent of the land used to raise livestock or grow crops. Some of the main crops include corn, wheat, cotton, and fruit. HISTORYBosnia and Herzegovina's history extends way back to the time of Roman conquest in the first and second centuries B.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is bordered by Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro, and has a narrow stretch of land along the Adriatic Sea. The country consists of numerous mountains. The Dinaric Alps stretch along the western border. The mountainous areas are earthquake-prone. An earthquake in 1969 caused widespread building damage in the city of Banja Luka. Forest covers half the land in Bosnia and Herzegovina and natural springs are found throughout the country. Map created by National Geographic MapsPEOPLE & CULTUREBosnia and Herzegovina is a diverse country made up of a mix of Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats, and people of other ethnicities who follow a mix of Muslim, Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and other faiths.

Bosnia and Herzegovina - The Carter Center

Bosnia and Herzegovina Country Profile - National Geographic KidsMostar is a historic town in Bosnia and Herzegovina along the Neretva River. Mostar is a historic town in Bosnia and Herzegovina along the Neretva River. Photograph by Orhan Çam, DreamstimeBosnia and Herzegovina is bordered by Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro, and has a narrow stretch of land along the Adriatic Sea. GEOGRAPHYPlease be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

Bosnia and Herzegovina - The World Factbook - CIA

Bosnia And Herzegovina | Crisis Group