NORTHERN BOHEMIACzechInvest Information Series No. 13
Serial No.: REG/02/94-13
Date of Issue: February 10, 1994
NORTHERN BOHEMIAArea: 7,820 square kilometres
Population: 1,189,592*
Economically Active Population: 608,160, or 51.8% of the population (286,508 were women)*
Population Density: 152 inhabitants per square kilometre
Ethnic Diversity: 91.0% Czech; 4.9% Slovak; 0.4% Moravian; 3.7% Other (in descending order: Silesian, Hungarian, Romanian, Polish, German, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, and Russian)*
Largest City: Usti nad Labem (population=106,345*)
*From the 1991 Census
INDUSTRY
As the Czech Republic's main energy producer, Northern Bohemia is economically one of the country's most important regions.
The region's leading industry is engineering, specialising in the production of transportation vehicles (Liberec and Jablonec nad Nisou) and textile machinery (Chrastava). The region's largest metallurgy plant is located in Chomutov; other important engineering plants are in Roudnice nad Labem and Decin. The chemical industry is located in Zaluzi u Mostu, Usti nad Labem, and Lovosice, and the textile industry is centred in the north-eastern part of the region. North Bohemian glass-making is famous world-wide, and is centred in Jablonec nad Nisou, Desna, Novy Bor, Zelezny Brod, Kamenicky Senov, Teplice, Dubi, and Bilina.
Northern Bohemia also contains areas of intensive agricultural production, where farmers specialise in grain, potatoes, and sugar-beet. Fruit, vegetables, and wine grapes are produced in the Czech Central Highlands. Hops, a main component of beer production and one of the country's most important export articles, is produced mainly in the Zatec area. Live-stock production concentrates on cattle, pig, sheep, and poultry.
Northern Bohemia contains the country's largest deposits of brown coal, and thus produces most of the country's energy. Mines are concentrated around Most, Litvinov, Duchcov, and Bilina, all of which are located near the region's largest thermal power stations (Pocerady, Prunerov, Tusimice, and Ledvice). The region also contains deposits of non-ferrous ores, uranium, fluorite, glass sands, and building materials.
With the assistance of international organisations, intensive environmental reparation activities are addressing the effects of the former Communist regime's industrial structure.
Northern Bohemia has one of the densest transportation networks in the country, with major national and international railway, road, and water routes intersecting the region. The backbone of the road network is the Chomutov-Decin-Liberec motor way, which connects the regions of highly concentrated industry and population. Other roads connect each of the region's areas with Prague.
The density of the region's railroad network is higher than the country's average, spreading throughout the region and to Prague. Main routes for freight transportation are the Trebusice-Usti nad Labem-Litomerice line (by which most of the region's coal is transported to the rest of the country) and the Most-Lovosice route (also used for coal).
The Labe river is used for both domestic and international water transport. The river's main port is in Decin, and a modern ship-loading facility is located at Lovosice.
Northern Bohemia is host to numerous castles, manors, castle ruins, and examples of folk architecture. The region's most touristed areas include the Decin Walls and the Labe Sandstones, which contains the largest rock formations in Europe. The Czech Central Highlands, which contain 40 nature reserves, is another popular recreational area. Also well-known are the spas of Northern Bohemia, including Teplice, the country's oldest spa. Frequently touristed North Bohemian towns include Litomerice, Ustek, and Zatec, which contain numerous medieval, Baroque, and Gothic buildings. One of the region's most important monuments is Terezin, originally a late Baroque fortress which was transformed into a Nazi concentration camp during World War II.
NOTE: This information is current as of February 1994. Although we have made every effort to ensure the reliability of our sources, CzechInvest does not assume responsibility for its accuracy.
