Croatia is bordered to the north by Slovenia and in the south-east by Bosnia and Herzegovina, and also Montenegro. Cliffs of the Dinaric Alps extend the limestone formations of the Alps to the south-east and form a dividing line between the Sea coast and northern region where capital is located. The Mediterranean towns, the olive groves and the vineyards are protected by mountains against the cold and strong gusts of wind.
The strong winds and the cold air are responsible for typical appearance of the coast landscape. The parts of the island that are facing the main land are largely dry and infertile. The interior and north-west coast are rich in flora with maquis, oak, pine and olive trees.
Geologically the coast is marked by karst limestone eroded in many places by landslides, the waves of the sea or rainwater infiltration. There are no large caves with stalactites as in northern Slovenia but the Baredine caves of Istria and the Biserujka Spilja of Krk are places worth visiting.