Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina is shaped like a heart between Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro. The Dinaric Alps cross the country, with deep valleys cut by the Neretva, Vrbas, Drina, and Bosna rivers. Sarajevo, the capital, sits in a basin surrounded by ski slopes, while Mostar features the famous Stari Most bridge arching over emerald water. A short coastline near Neum reaches the Adriatic Sea.

The state is organized as a federal parliamentary republic with two main entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska, plus the Brčko District. A three-member Presidency, representing Bosniak, Croat, and Serb communities, shares head-of-state duties, while a Council of Ministers and Parliamentary Assembly pass laws. Cantonal and municipal governments manage schools, healthcare, and police, and international partners assist with reforms.

History includes ancient Illyrian settlements, Roman roads, medieval Bosnian kingdoms, and more than four centuries under Ottoman rule. Later, the region joined the Austro-Hungarian Empire and then the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. World War II resistance fighters established unity, and after Yugoslavia began to break apart, Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence in 1992. A devastating war followed, ending with the Dayton Peace Agreement in 1995, which created the current political structure.

The economy relies on metalworking, forestry, energy, agriculture, and tourism. Hydropower plants on the Neretva and Drina Rivers produce electricity, and miners extract iron ore, bauxite, and salt. Farmers grow plums, raspberries, and corn, while shepherds graze sheep on high pastures. Visitors explore Ottoman bazaars, UNESCO sites like the Old Bridge, rafting trips on the Tara River canyon, and winter resorts near Jahorina.

Culture celebrates shared traditions among Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs. Coffee is poured from copper đezva pots, and meals include ćevapi, stuffed peppers, and baklava. Sevdah songs tell stories of love and longing, while festivals such as the Sarajevo Film Festival showcase cinema from around the world. Mosques, churches, and synagogues stand within walking distance in Sarajevo, reminding residents of centuries of coexistence despite difficult chapters in recent history.