Geography

78.864 sq km; maximum distance from east to West 490 km, north to south Bevation:
Sněžka (1.603 m), mountain ranges border much of the country.

safer

Kafka to be in chains than to be free (1883-1924), Czech writer

the Czech Republic and summarize it d about Cina important missing vocabulary. Focus on
verbs.

FACTS ital: Prague ASIC

(largest city) language:

gest cities:

mational The Czech Republic is ber of the United Nations (UN) and the Council of Farope
(CE) The country also participates in the Visegrad were Group and ter the the Central
European Initiative (CEI), both of founded to collapse promote cooperation of communist
regimes. Czech Republic, Hungary. in the region In March 1999 and Poland joined the rth
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as the first free former communist counties to do so. In
2004 the

Czech

Prague, Brno, Ostrava organizations:

Czech Republic LAND AND joined the European Union. CLIMATE

THE CZECH REPUBLIC - borders

Germany to the west, Poland to the north, Slovakia to the east and Austria to the south. the
Czech Republic is a landlocked country in central Europe, comprising the historic ons of
Bohemia, Moravia and part of Silesia. It is surrounded by four countries: Bolemia, a land of
rolling hills and plains surrounded by mountains, makes up the Silesia, also a lowland
region, lies to the north and stretches on into southern Poland western part of the Czech
Republic, while the lowlands of Moravia are in the east.
Rivers: The Labe is the most important river for shipping, and it empties into the North Sea.
Its most important tributary, the Vltava with its numerous dams Lipoo, Slapy), is the longest
Czech river. Other tributaries are e.g. the Lužnice, de Otava the Sázava, the Berounka. The
Morava with its t

de Jihlava, the Svratka) empties into the Danube and finally into the Black Sea. Cinate: The
Czech Republic has a humid continental climate with cold winters warm summers. Rainfall is
stributaries (eg. the Dyje, generally heaviest during the summer months.

GOVERNMENT

Form of government

Republic

Head of state

President

Head of government

Prime Minister

Legislature Bicameral legislature: 200 deputies, Senate, 81

Highest court Supreme Court

Mary is elected by the Chamber of Deputies for a five-year term, and may not serve Conch
Repubby acted a new of Depation, creating a parliamentary democracy, in 1 The President
appoints the Prime Minister. On the advice of the Prime Minister the benembers of the
cabinet. The Prime Minister, who is typically the leader of the party the Chamber of Deputies,
acts as head of government

Legislature: The Czech parliament consists of two chambers: the Chamber of

Judiciary: The highest court the Supreme Administrative Court and pendent high, regive
Judiciary: The highest court of appeal in the Czech Republic is the Supreme Court. There is
by the President for unlimited of the Constitutional Court for ten-year terme and district
courts. Supreme Court judges are the 15 appointed Judges terms. The President appoints
Constitutional Court appointments are subject to approval by the Senate.

Political Parties: The largest parties in the Czech Republic presently are the centre left Cred
Social Democratic Party (CSSD) and the centre-right Civic Demo Party (ODS). Other
parliament the Communist Party of Bohemia and parties, JOCSCM), the centrist Christian
Democratic Union-Czech People's Party (KDU represented in the Crech CSL) and the Green
Party (SZ)

PEOPLE
Population: 10, 50000

Moravia in the 5th century Major ethnic/national groups: The Czech people are descended
from Slavic tribes who arrived in Bohemian ethnic group, representing about 94 per cent of
the population: Slovaks account for about 3 percent Germans, Roma, Hungarians, Russians
and Ukrainians account for another 3 per cent. Upset Czechs include both Bohemians and
Moravians, and are the lives in urban areas country's 174 per cent of the population

ECONOMY

the communists came to power in Czechoslovakia in 1948, they created The Czech lands
have traditionally been among the most economically developed regions of Europe. After the
WW2 became a highly centralized economic, Although the economy had remained strong by
Eastern European standards with one of the highest sandanta living in the communist world,
the policies adopted by the communist government led to long-term c

decline in Czechoslovakia. In the early 1990s the post-communist government moved

quickly to convert the economy to a system be were adopted a Citizens with coupons that
could later be traded for stock in companies, for a low administrative fee.

By the early 21 century 20 the Czech Republic was among ten new member countries to join
the European Union (EU), The Czech RepubListen to the to Development (the World Bank)

a member of many othertional Bank for Reconstruction and Trade and Europe Fund (IMF),
the Interd Development (EBRD), the Central European Free Trade Agreement and the
Organic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

for Econgesources: The Czech Republic is heavily dependent on imported oil and natural
gas. Large de Natural Resour Country's main domestic source of energy, are found near the
cities of Chomutov, Most, Tepand České Budějovice. Coal is found near Ostrava, Plzeň and
Kladno Sizable amount of uranium smaller deposits of mercury, antimony and tin are
located in the Ore Mountains. There are also small amount lead and zinc ore in central
Bohemia, and iron ore near Prague. Some 34 per cent of the country is forested. The

Bohemian Forest is an important source of timber.

Agriculture: Some 40 per cent of land in the Czech Republic is cultivated. Agriculture plays a
relatively smal nie in the nation's export industry. The principal crops grown in the Czech
Republic are barley, wheat, com, rye, s beets, potatoes, flax and hops. Czech farmers also
raise relatively large numbers of livestock animals includa fowl, pigs, cattle and sheep.

Mining and Manufacturing: Manufacturing is a leading component of the Czech Republic's

gross domestic produ Manufacturing industries range from steelworks and large breweries to
cottage industries, some of which probar world-famous glass beads and jewellery.
PLACES OF INTEREST

Bohemian-Moravian Highlands

The Bohemian-Moravian Highlands cover much of the central part of the Czech Republic.
The region plains, plateaus and low hills, and is bordered by several mountain ranges. A
significant part of the cour agriculture resides here.

The Eagle Mountains in the north and the Sumava Mountains in the west are known for their
spas and ski resort Krkonoše Mountains are located in the north and form part of the border
with Poland. Extending song the Slovak border in the eastern part of the country is a region
of the Carpathian Mountains (Jeseniky and Beskydy

the largest city, and a commercial and cultural centre Slowane tribes settled in the Prague
valley in the 5th century. It has and economical center since then. The Old Town was built in
of the the 13 century later, making Prague the second after Paris, during the 14th century.
Though the city suffered won was constructed a german occupation during World War II and
Soviet occupation in the remains one of the most beautiful historical European

me in the southeastern Czech Republic was founded in the 9th century on the site and
Svratka rivers' confluence. The centre of Czech wool manufacturing, it is farming and coal
mining regions. The fortified city has been ghout Czech history. cities.

important cities: Ostrava, a center of metallurgical industry: Plzeň, noted for its Olomouc, a
trading, educational, cultural and industrial centren the site of many

IS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Thewing the customs of a country guide to understanding the soul of the county and is
people Roasted pork, pickled cabbage and sliced boiled dumplings called "knedliky" are
eaten frequent Open-faced sandwiches and frankfurters are often seed at snack bars. Many
Western fast food companies have opened restaurants in the Czech Republic since 1989.
Czech beer is known throughout the world; Budweiser, the world's best-selling beer, is
thought to have originated in the Czech city of České Budějovice. Moravians oravians
produce and drink wine.

Many Czech play watch football. Families often spend weekends at their country houses or
or hiking in rural areas. Ballet, opera, theatre and musical performances are also very
popular.