Formerly one of the six republics of Yugoslavia, Croatia declared its independence in 1991. Containing a small-size land mass and hundreds of small islands along the Adriatic coast, the scenic beauty of Croatia brings millions of tourists to the country every year. Culturally, the Croatian people are somewhat divided by region and religion. For example the Dalmatian region of Croatia has similar traditions and customs as the Italians, while eastern regions are strongly influenced by Germanic culture. In other regions, Slavic and Hungarian influences are predominant.