Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country situated in the region of Central and Southeast Europe, characterized by its extensive coastline along the Adriatic Sea. It shares land borders with Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to the southeast, while maintaining a maritime border with Italy to the west. The country's geography is highly diverse, encompassing rugged Dinaric Alps, fertile coastal plains, and numerous islands. With a population of approximately 3.87 million people, Croatia's culture is deeply influenced by its Mediterranean location and its history as a crossroads of empires.