Geography

The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in the middle of Europe. The Czech Republic as a country in the heart of Central Europe, not in the Eastern Europe, as many refer to a expolitical status, rather then geographical location of the country.

The Czech Republic is divided into 14 regions (“kraj” in the Czech language)

Prague Capital Region
Central Bohemian Region
Southern Bohemian Region
Plzeňský Region
Karlovarský Region
Ústecký Region
Liberecký Region
Královéhradecký Region
Pardubický Region
Vysočina Region
Southern Moravian Region
Olomoucký Region
Moravian-Silesian Region
Zlínský Region.

Since January 2003 the Czech Republic has also been subdivided into 205 municipalities.

Climate is four seasons continental climate. The hottest month is July and Agust (28°C) while the coldest month is January and February (–10°C).

Average altitude above sea level: 430 m, but goes from 117 m to about 1, 600 m, mountains Snezka, Jested, and others .

The country is located on the border between the Czech Highlands (Šumava, Český les, Krušné hory, Krkonoše, Orlické hory and Jeseníky) and the Western Carpathian Mountains (Beskydy).

Three main European water divides (with the border point of Kralický Sněžník) are located on the territory of the republic; they divide basins of the North Sea, Baltic Sea and Black Sea.

Highest Mountain: Sněžka (1, 602 m above sea level)
Lowest point: Hřensko (117 m above sea level)
Longest river: Vltava (433 km)

There are 4 national parks on the territory of the Czech Republic. The largest national parks are the Šumava Narodni Park and Podyjí Narodni Park, the oldest national park is the Krkonošský Narodni Park (KRNAP) and the newest one is the České Švýcarsko Narodni Park (since 1 January 2000).

The Czech Republic is a major tourist destination. It offers its visitors not only numerous historical sights but also the varied countryside, mountains, ponds, caves, world famouns spas with sources of mineral water, local folk customs and traditions, and much more.

Geographic coordinates:
49 45 N, 15 30 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 78, 867 sq km
country comparison to the world: 122
land: 77, 247 sq km
water: 1, 620 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:
total: 1, 989 km
border countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 815 km, Poland 615 km, Slovakia 197 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Terrain:
Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Elbe River 115 m
highest point: Snezka 1, 602 m

Natural resources:
hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber

Land use:
arable land: 38.82%
permanent crops: 3%
other: 58.18% (2005)

Irrigated land:
240 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:
16 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.91 cu km/yr (41%/57%/2%)
per capita: 187 cu m/yr (2002)

Natural hazards:
flooding

Environment - current issues:
air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests; efforts to bring industry up to EU code should improve domestic pollution

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
landlocked; strategically located astride some of oldest and most significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is a traditional military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in central Europe