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Geography of Czech Republic

Location:Central Europe, southeast of Germany
Geographic coordinates:49 45 N, 15 30 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 78,866 sq km
land: 77,276 sq km
water: 1,590 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:total: 2,290.2 km
border countries: Austria 466.3 km, Germany 810.3 km, Poland 761.8 km, Slovakia 251.8 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)
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

Czech Republic Quickstats

  • Population: 10,228,744 (July 2007 est.)
  • Area: 78,866 sq km
  • Density: 130 /km² (77th)
  • GDP (total): $236.536
  • GDP (per capita): $13,848 (41st)
  • Literacy: 99%

Languages of Czech Republic

Useful to know

  • Currency: Czech koruna (CZK)
  • Dial code: +4205

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