Otázka: The Czech Republic
Jazyk: Angličtina
Přidal(a): Milan Štefek
Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Germany to the west, Austria to the south, Slovakia to the east and Poland to the north. Its capital and largest city, with 1.3 million inhabitants, is Prague. The Czech Republic includes the historical territories of Bohemia and Moravia and a small part of Silesia.
Symbols of Czech Republic
National motto: Truth prevails
National anthem: Where is my home?
National flag: The flag consists of the white stripe on the top, the red on the bottom and blue wedge reaching from the pole to the middle of the length.
The coat of arms: It displays three historical regions. Silver double-tailed lion on red background represents Bohemia, red and silver chequered eagle on red for Moravia and black eagle on golden background for Silesia. Small coat of arms displays only the lion.
Geography
The Czech landscape is exceedingly varied. Bohemia consists of a basin drained by the Elbe and the Moldau rivers, surrounded by mountains, such as the Giant mountains and Bohemian Forest. Moravia is also quite hilly. It is drained mainly by the Morava River, but it also contains the source of the Oder River.
Area: 78866 km2
Giant mountains
They make up the natural western border with Poland. The highest hill of the country called Sněžka (1602 m a.s.l.) is located here. The range has a number of major ski resorts, and is a popular destination for tourists engaging in downhill and cross-country skiing, hiking, cycling and other activities.
Bohemian Forest
It creates a natural border between the Czech Republic on one side and Germany and Austria on the other. The highest point is Großer Arber with an elevation of 1456 m.
Other important mountains:
Beskids- highest mountain is Lysá Mountain, the sacred mountain of Radhošť
High Ash Mountains-Grandfather
Ore Mountains- Klínovec, mining and metallurgy centre of former Realms
There are four national parks in the Czech Republic. The oldest is Krkonoše National Park (Biosphere Reserve), Šumava National Park (Biosphere Reserve), Podyjí National Park, Bohemian Switzerland.
Natural resources: hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber, uranium
Hydrography
Water from the landlocked Czech Republic flows to three different seas: the North Sea, Baltic Sea and Black Sea. The Czech Republic also leases the Moldauhafen, a 30,000-square-metre (7.4 acres) lot in the middle of the Hamburg Docks, which was awarded to Czechoslovakia by Article 363 of the Treaty of Versailles.
Elbe
It is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia, then Germany and flowing into the North Sea. Its total length is 1,094 kilometers. At Mělník its stream is more than doubled in volume by the Vltava.
Moldau
It is the longest river in the Czech Republic, running north from its source near the German border in Šumava through Český Krumlov, České Budějovice, and Prague, merging with the Elbe at Mělník. It is 430 kilometres long. Vltava actually has more water than the Elbe and is even much longer, but joins the Elbe at a right angle to its flow so that it appears a mere tributary.
Morava, Oder – both Moravian rivers
Cities
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. It is also the historical capital of Bohemia proper. The city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its larger urban zone is estimated to have a population of nearly 2 million. Prague has been a political, cultural, and economic centre of central Europe with waxing and waning fortunes during its 1,100-year existence. Prague is home to a number of famous cultural attractions, many of which survived the violence and destruction of 20th-century Europe. Main attractions include the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square (with its Astronomical clock), the Jewish Quarter, the Lennon Wall, and Petřín hill. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
Brno
Brno is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. The most visited sights of the city include the castle and fortress Špilberk and the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul on Petrov hill, two formerly medieval buildings that form the characteristic cityscape and are often depicted as its traditional symbols.
Brno is also known for hosting motorbike and other races on the Masaryk Circuit. Almost half of the citizens make students. Brno University of Technology.
Ostrava
Ostrava is the third largest city in the Czech Republic and the second largest urban agglomeration after Prague. Its history and growth have been largely affected by exploitation and further use of the high quality black coal deposits discovered in the locality, giving the town a look of an industrial city and a nickname of the “steel heart of the republic”.
Pilsen
It´s fourth most populous city in the Czech Republic. The city is known worldwide thanks to Pilsner Urqell brewery.
Liberec
Olomouc
Hradec Králové
Budweis (České Budějovice) – known because of Budweiser Budvar brewery
Ústí nad Labem
Pardubice – Gingerbread production tradition, It’s also home of a famous steeplechase, the Velká pardubická.
