Introduction to Geography of Czech Republic
Czech Republic, a country in central Europe. From 1918 to 1993 it was a part of Czechoslovakia. The Czech Republic is made up of the historic regions of Bohemia and Moravia and part of the historic region of Silesia. It is bordered by Poland, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany. The area of the Czech Republic is 30,452 square miles (78,864 km2).
Physical Geography
The Czech Republic is a country in central Europe.LandTopographically, the country is divided into two main regions, Bohemia in the west and Moravia in the east. Bohemia is a plateau ringed by low mountains and hilly regions. These include the Ore Mountains in the northwest, the Sudeten Mountains in the northeast, the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands in the east, and the Bohemian Forest in the southwest. Elevations rarely exceed 3,600 feet (1,100 m). The highest point in Bohemia, and the Czech Republic, is Mount Snézka, which rises to 5,256 feet (1,602 m) above sea level.
Moravia is mainly a lowland of fertile plains and intervening hills. In the north the Moravian Gate, a narrow gap between the Sudeten and Carpathian mountains, links this lowland with upper Silesia. In eastern Moravia are the White Carpathian Mountains, which form most of the Czech Republic's border with Slovakia.
WaterThe Elbe and its tributaries, including the Vltava and Oh$re rivers, drain Bohemia. Most of Moravia is drained by the Morava River, a tributary of the Danube. Other important rivers include the Oder, which begins in Moravia and flows into Poland, and the Jihlava.
ClimateThe Czech Republic has a continental type of climate, with warm summers and cold winters. Average temperatures in Prague, the capital, range from 66° F. (19° C.) in July to 30° F. (-1° C.) in January. Annual precipitation for the country as a whole is usually about 20 inches (510 mm).
Economy
During 1948–89, when it was under Communist control, Czechoslovakia had a centrally planned economy. The government owned nearly all productive resources. All factories and almost all farms were put by the Communists under state control. The economy's focus was changed from light industry, such as glass and textiles, to heavy industry, such as machinery and steel. In the mid 20th century, poor planning, labor shortages, and other problems caused this economy to decline. After the Communists fell from power in 1989, measures were introduced in Czechoslovakia to transform the economy to one based on private enterprise and market forces. Many new businesses were established, especially in retail trade and other service industries. Leaders in the Czech Republic favored a rapid transition while those in Slovakia wanted a slower transformation. Differences concerning the pace of Czechoslovakia's economic changes were a major cause of the breakup of that country in 1993.
Approximately, 50 per cent workers of the Czech Republic have jobs in service industries. Although the service sector was largely undeveloped during the Communist period, it is growing rapidly today. There are many new, privately owned insurance and real estate firms, medical and other professional services, repair shops, and retail stores. There has been a large increase in tourism since the late 20th century, which has led to the expansion of hotels and travel agencies.
ManufacturingManufacturing is well developed. It employs about 40 per cent of the Czech Republic’s labor force. Heavy industries, including the metalworking, chemical, and electric-power industries, are especially important. These industries were extensively developed during the Communist era, often with little concern for the environment; the resulting air and water pollution has become a major problem, especially in northern Bohemia.
Products made in the Czech Republic include machinery, electrical equipment, chemicals, machine tools, transportation equipment, textiles, footwear, glass, processed foods, beer, wood products, and ceramics. Much of the Czech Republic's manufacturing is concentrated in and around Prague, Brno, Hradec, Kralove, Plzen, Ostrava, and Usti nad Labem..
The Czech Republic's main trade relations are with Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, and the United States. Its chief exports are automobiles, coal, footwear, iron and steel, and machinery. The country is very dependent on imports of natural gas and petroleum. Other major imports include iron ore, other ores, and automobiles.
AgricultureAgriculture employs about 10 per cent of Czech Republic’s workers. During the Communist era virtually all farms in Czechoslovakia were owned and operated by the governmentor they were collectives. State farm workers earned a salary from the government, while collective farm workers received a share of the farm's profits, some of its products, and a small wage. Legislation passed in 1991 allowed farmland to be returned to private farmers. By 2000, about 80 per cent of the farmland was privately owned.
About 40 per cent of the country's land is suitable for farming. The main crops grown in the Czech Republic are wheat, barley, corn, sugar beets, oats, potatoes, and hops, rapeseed, rye and other vegetables. Cattle and hogs are the chief livestock, along with poultry and sheep. The harvesting of the country's forests, especially of conifers, is also important.
MiningThe Czech Republic has only a few valuable mineral resources, although it does have large deposits of brown coal. The Oder valley around Ostrava is the source of good-quality bituminous coal, especially the kind used to make coke. Other minerals produced include kaolin, graphite, fluorspar, uranium, tungsten, lead, and zinc. Large deposits of uranium and small amounts of antimony, mercury, and tin are found in the Ore Mountains.
TransportationTransportation is well developed. Prague, with several railways and highways radiating from it, is the hub of the country's transportation system. It has a subway system and an international airport. Railways and highways link all of the major cities and provide links to bordering countries. There are nearly 35,000 miles (56,000 kilometers) of highways and 5,900 miles (9,500 kilometers) of railways. The Elbe, Oder, and Vltava rivers are used extensively for inland shipping. The country has several international airports, including ones serving Prague, Brno, and Ostrava.
CurrencyThe basic currency unit of the Czech Republic is the koruna.
The People
In 1991 the population of the Czech Republic was 10,302,215; that of Prague was 1,212,010. About 94 per cent of the people are Czechs. Slovaks, who account for about 3 per cent of the population, are the largest minority. There are also Poles, Germans, and Roma (Gypsies).
Czech, a Western Slavic language, is the most widely spoken language. It is written with the Latin alphabet. About 40 per cent of the people are Roman Catholic and another 40 per cent have no religion. Protestants and Eastern Orthodox Christians make up most of the rest.
CultureThe Czechs have a rich cultural heritage. Some of the world's greatest composers were Czechs, including Bedrich Smetana, Antonin Dvorák, and Leoš Janácek. Notable Czech writers include the poet Jaroslav Seifert, the historian František Palacký, the novelists Milan Kundera and Jaroslav Hašek, and the dramatists Karel Capek and Václav Havel.
Prague, with its many theaters, museums, galleries, and educational institutions, is the Czech Republic's cultural center. The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in Prague is internationally acclaimed. The National Gallery, also in Prague, houses a large collection of European art, including works of the 14th-century Czech artist Theodoric of Prague.
Prague is the seat of Charles University (founded 1348), the Czech Republic's oldest and largest institution of higher learning. Other large educational institutions include the Czech Technical University, in Prague, and Masaryk University, in Brno.
SportsThe Czechs are avid sports enthusiasts. Hockey, ice skating, soccer, tennis, gymnastics, and basketball are very popular. Notable Czech athletes include the tennis players Ivan Lendl and Martina Navratilova.
Government
The Czech Republic is a parliamentary democracy with an elected president. The country has a two-house legislature—the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, which makes the country’s laws. The Senate is the smaller house, which has 81 members who serve six-year terms. One-third of the senators are elected by voters every two years. The Chamber of Deputies is the larger house, which has 200 members who are elected to four-year terms. The Parliament elects a president for five years, who serves as head of state. The head of government is the prime minister, who oversees its day-to-day operations. He is appointed by the president with the approval of the Chamber. The prime minister selects a cabinet to assist in the executive functions of the government.
The Czech Republic is divided into fourteen regions. Prague is the nation’s largest city and forms one of these regions. An elected assembly governs each region. Cities, towns, and villages also have their own local governments.
The Czech Republic has many political parties. The Civic Democratic Party, which is a moderately conservative party, and the Czech Social Democratic Party, whose members are moderately liberal are the two leading parties. Other political parties include the Christian Democratic Union-Czech People's Party, the Communist Party, and the Freedom Union. The voting age for all Czech citizens is 18 years and older.
The highest court in the Czech Republic is the Supreme Court. The Czech Republic also has a constitutional court and high, regional, and district courts.