Czech Republic

I

Introduction

Czech Republic, republic comprising the historic regions of Bohemia, Moravia, and part of Silesia, in central Europe, bordered on the north by Poland, on the east by Slovakia, on the south by Austria, and on the west and north by Germany. Formerly parts of Czechoslovakia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia emerged as independent republics on January 1, 1993. The Czech Republic has an area of 78,864 sq km (30,450 sq mi). Prague (Czech, Praha) is the capital and largest city.

II

Land and Resources

The Czech Republic rests on elevated tablelands, known as the Bohemian Plateau, which stretch west to the German border and east to Slovakia. Mountains, including the Bohemian, Sudety, and Carpathian ranges, rise along the plateau’s edges, primarily to the north and east. The country’s highest point is Sněžka, which rises 1,602 m (5,256 ft) in the Sudety Mountains. The lowest point is the River Elbe, which at the border with Germany is 117 m (384 ft) above sea level. The central part of the Czech Republic is made up of the Bohemian Basin and the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands; the Moravian Lowlands lie to the east. These regions contain the republic’s most fertile soils. The central part of the plateau consists primarily of rolling hills, farmland, and fertile river valleys. The Bohemian Forest forms the south-western border with Germany.

A

Rivers and Lakes

The republic’s primary rivers include the Elbe, Vltava, Morava, Neisse, and Oder. Other important streams include the Jizera, Ohre, Beca, Sázava, Svratka, and Luznice. Lakes are mostly small, some of the largest being man-made reservoirs.

B

Climate

The interior plateau areas of the republic have a primarily continental temperate climate with warm summers and cold winters. The mountainous areas endure harsher winters and receive heavy rainfall. The southern areas of the republic near the border with Austria have hot summers and milder winters. The average temperature in Prague in January is -3° C (27° F), in July, 18° C (64° F). The average annual precipitation is 410 mm (16 in) in Prague, and 550 mm (22 in) in Brno.