CZECH REPUBLIC - BASIC FACTS

This section offers you general information about the Czech Republic, its topography, waters and climate . Among other items you can find here a picture of the national flag, the national emblem and a sound bite of the national anthem. For more detailed information you can also consult the Czech Info Centre.

Czech National Flag

Czech National Emblem The three original lands of the Czech Crown are represented on the national emblem by three crests: a silver split-tailed lion representing Bohemia, a silver and red checkered eagle representing Moravia and a black eagle with silver crescent representing Silesia.

National Anthem: Kde domov muj...(Where is my Home)

Capital: Prague (Praha)

Area: 78,864 sq. km

Length of state border: 2,303 km

Population : 10,302,215

Population density: 131 inh/sq. km

Time zone: Central European (C.E.T.)

Political system: Republic with

a parliamentary democracy

Currency: Koruna (Kc) - Czech crown

(1 USD = approximately 29 Kc)

TOPOGRAPHY

The divide between the two principal orographic systems in Europe - the Hercynian and Alpine-Himalayan - runs through Czech territory. Thus the country's topography is quite varied: plains (4.5% of the territory), hills (50.1%) highlands (33.9%) and mountains (11.6%).

Altitude levels:

lowland regions up to 200 m above sea level (4.9% of the territory)

regions 200 - 500 m above sea level (74.1%)

regions 600 - 1 000 m above sea level (19.3%)

regions above 1 000 m above sea level (1.6%)

Principal Mountain Ranges

Krkonose (Giant Mountains)

• The Krkonose range stretches 40 km into Bohemian territory, creating a natural border between the Czech Republic and Poland.
• It is the highest mountain range of the Czech Republic.
• lThe highest peak is Mt. Snezka (1,602 m). Several other peaks exceed 1,500 m.
• In order to preserve both wildlife and the environment, Krkonose was proclaimed a national park in 1963.

Hruby Jesenik (Ash Montains)

• The second highest mountain range of the Czech Massif.

Highest peak - Praded Peak (1,491 m).

• Located in northern Moravia, this range is similar in character to that of the Krkonose range.
• It has been a protected region since 1969.

Sumava (Bohemian Forest)

The third highest mountain range of the Czech Massif (Plechy Peak: 1,373 m).

• It extends 125 km into southwestern Bohemia from the border and creates a natural boundary with Germany.
• Five limestone lakes found here are of glacial origin. The Black Lake is the largest (46 acres).
• Sumava has been a protected region since 1962 and was declared a national park in 1991. This region is also protected on the German side as it becomes The Bavarian Forest National Park.

WATERS

The Czech lands are called the "roof of Europe" since their only source of water is atmospheric rain and snowfall. All the rivers which have their source in the area, drain into neighboring countries.

The Czech Republic has three watersheds:

• The Labe (Elbe) River Basin (North Sea bound) - 51,399 sq.km

Main rivers: Labe, Vltava

• The Odra (Oder) River Basin (Baltic bound) - 4,721 sq.km

Main rivers: Odra, Opava, Ostravice and Olse

• The Dunaj (Danube) River Basin (Black Sea bound) - 22,744 sq. km

Main rivers: Morava, Dyje

The watersheds intersect at Kralicky Sneznik on the Polish border.

Lakes and Ponds

There are 455 natural lakes in the Czech Republic, 350 of which are river lakes in the grasslands of larger rivers.

• A characteristic feature of the Czech landscape is the large number of ponds created for fish-farming. They number 21,800 in total and cover about 101,311 acres. The largest of them are Lake Rozmberk and Lake Bezdrev in southern Bohemia.

Mineral Waters

The abundance and quality of mineral springs in the Czech Republic makes it a world leader in this area.

Many large and renowned spas have been founded around natural or drilled mineral water springs, including the spa at Karlovy Vary, as well as Marianske Lazne, Frantiskovy Lazne, Podebrady, Luhacovice, Jachymov, and many others which are smaller but therapeutically important. The warmest Czech springs include the famous Thermal Spring in Karlovy Vary (720C), springs in Teplice (420C) and Janske Lazne (29.60C). The waters from former uranium mines in Jachymov have the highest radioactivity in the world (5,085 Mach units, .08 oz. Rn/gal.)

CLIMATE

The Czech Republic lies in the temperate climate zone of Europe, which makes for pleasantly mild summers and winters with only moderate amounts of precipitation.

• Lowland temperatures in July average 200C, (Prague 19.50C) and in

mountainous areas 8-110C.

• Lowland temperatures in January average -1 to -20C, in the mountains -5 to -70C.