View source for Geography of the Czech Republic

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Country geography
|name = Czech Republic
|map = Relief Map of Czech Republic.png
|map size =
|continent =[[Europe]]
|region = [[Central Europe]]
|coordinates =
|area ranking = 115th
|km area = 78,871
|percent water = 2.12
|km coastline = 0
|borders = 2290.7 km<ref>{{cite web |title=Základní informace o ČR|url=https://www.mzv.cz/bratislava/cz/cr_a_eu/zakladni_informace_o_cr/index.html|publisher=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Czech Republic)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic]]|language=cs|access-date=13 December 2023}}</ref> <br />
* [[Germany]] – 810.3 km
* [[Poland]] – 761.8 km
* [[Austria]] – 466.3 km
* [[Slovakia]] – 252.3 km
|highest point = [[Sněžka]],<br /> 1603.3 m
|lowest point = [[Hřensko]],<br /> 115 m
|longest river = [[Vltava]], <br /> 433 km
|largest lake = [[Černé jezero|Černé]], <br /> 18.4 ha
|climate = [[temperate]]
|terrain = hills and lowlands surrounded by low mountains
|natural resources = [[kaolin]], [[lithium]], [[graphite]], [[Bituminous coal|black coal]], [[brown coal]], [[uranium]], [[timber]]
|natural hazards =
|environmental issues =
|exclusive economic zone=
}}
The [[Czech Republic]] is a [[landlocked country]] in [[Central Europe]]. It is bordered by [[Germany]] to the west, [[Austria]] to the south, [[Slovakia]] to the east and [[Poland]] to the north. It consists mostly of low hills and [[plateau]]s surrounded along the borders by low mountains. Two areas of lowlands follow the [[Elbe]] river and the [[Morava (river)|Morava]] river. About a third of the area of the Czech Republic is covered by forests.
The Czech Republic also possesses [[Moldauhafen]], a 30,000 m<sup>2</sup> [[enclave]] in the middle of [[Hamburg]] docks in Germany, which was awarded to [[Czechoslovakia]] by Article 363 of the [[Treaty of Versailles]] to allow the landlocked country a place where goods transported down river could be transferred to seagoing ships. This territory reverts to Germany in 2028.
==Physical geography==
{{see also|Geomorphological division of the Czech Republic}}
===Climate===
[[File:Czech_Republic_Köppen.svg|thumb|Köppen climate classification of the Czech Republic]]
{{main|Climate of the Czech Republic}}
The Czech Republic's climate is temperate, transitional between an [[oceanic climate]] and a [[continental climate]]. The summers are rather cool and dry, with average temperatures in most areas around 20&nbsp;°C, the winters are fairly mild and wet with temperatures averaging around 0&nbsp;°C in most areas. The [[relative humidity]] varies between 60% and 80%.
==== Examples ====
{{Weather box
|width=auto
|location=Prague (1981–2010 normals, extremes 1775–present)
|metric first=Yes
|single line=Yes
|collapsed=Yes
|Jan record high C=17.4
|Feb record high C=19.2
|Mar record high C=22.5
|Apr record high C=28.8
|May record high C=32.5
|Jun record high C=37.9
|Jul record high C=37.8
|Aug record high C=37.4
|Sep record high C=33.1
|Oct record high C=27.0
|Nov record high C=19.5
|Dec record high C=17.4
|year record high C=37.9
|Jan high C=2.6
|Feb high C=4.4
|Mar high C=9.1
|Apr high C=15.1
|May high C=20.3
|Jun high C=22.8
|Jul high C=25.3
|Aug high C=25.1
|Sep high C=19.9
|Oct high C=14.2
|Nov high C=7.2
|Dec high C=3.4
|year high C=
|Jan mean C=0.1
|Feb mean C=1.3
|Mar mean C=5.3
|Apr mean C=10.1
|May mean C=15.0
|Jun mean C=17.8
|Jul mean C=19.9
|Aug mean C=19.6
|Sep mean C=15.2
|Oct mean C=10.3
|Nov mean C=4.6
|Dec mean C=1.1
|Jan low C=−2.4
|Feb low C=−1.8
|Mar low C=1.5
|Apr low C=5.1
|May low C=9.7
|Jun low C=12.7
|Jul low C=14.5
|Aug low C=14.2
|Sep low C=10.5
|Oct low C=6.4
|Nov low C=2.1
|Dec low C=−1.1
|year low C=
|Jan record low C=−27.5
|Feb record low C=−27.1
|Mar record low C=−27.6
|Apr record low C=−8.0
|May record low C=−2.3
|Jun record low C=1.9
|Jul record low C=6.7
|Aug record low C=6.4
|Sep record low C=0.7
|Oct record low C=−7.5
|Nov record low C=−16.9
|Dec record low C=−24.8
|year record low C=−27.6
|precipitation colour=green
|Jan precipitation mm=34
|Feb precipitation mm=30
|Mar precipitation mm=40
|Apr precipitation mm=34
|May precipitation mm=63
|Jun precipitation mm=70
|Jul precipitation mm=82
|Aug precipitation mm=75
|Sep precipitation mm=47
|Oct precipitation mm=34
|Nov precipitation mm=40
|Dec precipitation mm=38
|year precipitation mm=587
|Jan snow cm=17.9
|Feb snow cm=15.9
|Mar snow cm=10.3
|Apr snow cm=2.9
|May snow cm=0.0
|Jun snow cm=0.0
|Jul snow cm=0.0
|Aug snow cm=0.0
|Sep snow cm=0.0
|Oct snow cm=0.1
|Nov snow cm=8.4
|Dec snow cm=15.9
|year snow cm=71.4
|Jan precipitation days=5.7
|Feb precipitation days=5.2
|Mar precipitation days=6.6
|Apr precipitation days=5.8
|May precipitation days=8.5
|Jun precipitation days=9.4
|Jul precipitation days=8.9
|Aug precipitation days=8.4
|Sep precipitation days=7.3
|Oct precipitation days=5.5
|Nov precipitation days=7.1
|Dec precipitation days=5.9
|year precipitation days=
|Jan humidity=86
|Feb humidity=83
|Mar humidity=77
|Apr humidity=69
|May humidity=70
|Jun humidity=71
|Jul humidity=70
|Aug humidity=71
|Sep humidity=76
|Oct humidity=81
|Nov humidity=87
|Dec humidity=88
|year humidity=77
|Jan dew point C=-4.6
|Feb dew point C=-3.5
|Mar dew point C=-1.1
|Apr dew point C=2.0
|May dew point C=7.0
|Jun dew point C=10.3
|Jul dew point C=11.6
|Aug dew point C=11.5
|Sep dew point C=9.1
|Oct dew point C=5.1
|Nov dew point C=0.6
|Dec dew point C=-2.9
|year dew point C=3.8
|Jan sun=50.0
|Feb sun=72.4
|Mar sun=124.7
|Apr sun=167.6
|May sun=214.0
|Jun sun=218.3
|Jul sun=226.2
|Aug sun=212.3
|Sep sun=161.0
|Oct sun=120.8
|Nov sun=53.9
|Dec sun=46.7
|year sun=1667.9
|Jan uv=1
|Feb uv=1
|Mar uv=3
|Apr uv=4
|May uv=6
|Jun uv=7
|Jul uv=6
|Aug uv=6
|Sep uv=4
|Oct uv=2
|Nov uv=1
|Dec uv=1
|source 1=''World Meteorological Organization'' (temperature and rainfall 1981–2010)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.chmi.cz/historicka-data/pocasi/uzemni-teploty# |title=The Climate of Prague 1981–2010 (Temperatures, Humidity) |publisher=Czech Hydrometeorological Institute |access-date=9 May 2016 |language=cs |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118083942/https://www.chmi.cz/historicka-data/pocasi/uzemni-teploty |url-status=live }}</ref> [[NOAA]]<ref name=NOAA >{{cite web |url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_VI/CZ/11518.TXT |title=Praha Climate Normals 1961–1990 (Precipitation, Precipitation days, Snow, Sunhours) |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date=28 February 2013}}</ref> and Weather Atlas<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/czech-republic/prague-climate |title=Prague, Czech Republic – Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast |publisher=Yu Media Group |website=Weather Atlas |language=en |access-date=2 July 2019 |archive-date=2 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702211837/https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/czech-republic/prague-climate |url-status=live }}</ref>
|date=July 2018
|source=
}}
{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Brno ([[Brno-Tuřany Airport]]), 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1939-present
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high C = 16.0
|Feb record high C = 17.6
|Mar record high C = 24.0
|Apr record high C = 29.5
|May record high C = 31.8
|Jun record high C = 36.6
|Jul record high C = 36.4
|Aug record high C = 37.8
|Sep record high C = 32.2
|Oct record high C = 27.7
|Nov record high C = 19.3
|Dec record high C = 19.0
|year record high C = 37.8
|Jan high C = 1.1
|Feb high C = 3.6
|Mar high C = 8.7
|Apr high C = 15.1
|May high C = 20.1
|Jun high C = 23.0
|Jul high C = 25.6
|Aug high C = 25.4
|Sep high C = 20.0
|Oct high C = 13.8
|Nov high C = 6.9
|Dec high C = 2.0
|year high C = 13.8
|Jan mean C = −2.5
|Feb mean C = −0.3
|Mar mean C = 3.8
|Apr mean C = 9.0
|May mean C = 13.9
|Jun mean C = 17.0
|Jul mean C = 18.5
|Aug mean C = 18.1
|Sep mean C = 14.3
|Oct mean C = 9.1
|Nov mean C = 3.5
|Dec mean C = -0.6
|year mean C = 8.7
|Jan low C = -4.3
|Feb low C = -3.3
|Mar low C = 0.2
|Apr low C = 4.5
|May low C = 9.3
|Jun low C = 12.1
|Jul low C = 14.0
|Aug low C = 13.8
|Sep low C = 10.0
|Oct low C = 5.7
|Nov low C = 1.1
|Dec low C = -2.9
|year low C = 5.0
|Jan record low C = −24.1
|Feb record low C = −22.2
|Mar record low C = −18.9
|Apr record low C = −7.0
|May record low C = −2.8
|Jun record low C = 0.0
|Jul record low C = 1.1
|Aug record low C = 2.8
|Sep record low C = −2.2
|Oct record low C = −6.5
|Nov record low C = −13.0
|Dec record low C = −21.0
|year record low C = −24.1
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 23.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 23.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 29.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 28.9
|May precipitation mm = 61.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 72.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 69.0
|Aug precipitation mm = 55.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 47.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 31.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 34.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 31.9
|year precipitation mm = 508.1
|Jan snow cm = 17.4
|Feb snow cm = 12.4
|Mar snow cm = 5.2
|Apr snow cm = 0.6
|May snow cm = 0.0
|Jun snow cm = 0.0
|Jul snow cm = 0.0
|Aug snow cm = 0.0
|Sep snow cm = 0.0
|Oct snow cm = 0.0
|Nov snow cm = 4.5
|Dec snow cm = 12.5
|year snow cm = 52.6
|Jan precipitation days = 5.8
|Feb precipitation days = 5.3
|Mar precipitation days = 6.4
|Apr precipitation days = 5.7
|May precipitation days = 8.1
|Jun precipitation days = 8.6
|Jul precipitation days = 9.1
|Aug precipitation days = 7.4
|Sep precipitation days = 6.5
|Oct precipitation days = 6.3
|Nov precipitation days = 7.1
|Dec precipitation days = 7.5
|year precipitation days = 83.8
|Jan humidity = 84
|Feb humidity = 81
|Mar humidity = 73
|Apr humidity = 65
|May humidity = 67
|Jun humidity = 69
|Jul humidity = 67
|Aug humidity = 68
|Sep humidity = 73
|Oct humidity = 78
|Nov humidity = 84
|Dec humidity = 85
|year humidity = 75
|Jan sun = 53.8
|Feb sun = 82.9
|Mar sun = 137.5
|Apr sun = 208.7
|May sun = 226.4
|Jun sun = 246.9
|Jul sun = 245.7
|Aug sun = 246.3
|Sep sun = 175.5
|Oct sun = 112.5
|Nov sun = 59.3
|Dec sun = 44.5
|year sun = 1840.0
| Jan uv  =1
| Feb uv  =1
| Mar uv  =3
| Apr uv  =4
| May uv  =6
| Jun uv  =7
| Jul uv  =7
| Aug uv  =6
| Sep uv  =4
| Oct uv  =2
| Nov uv  =1
| Dec uv  =1
|source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]] ([[United Nations|UN]])<ref name= WMOBrno >{{cite web
| url = http://www.worldweather.org/172/c00693.htm
| title = World Weather Information Service – Brno
| access-date = 28 February 2013
| publisher = World Meteorological Organization
| date = May 2011
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171756/http://www.worldweather.org/172/c00693.htm
| archive-date = 3 March 2016
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= NOAABrno >{{cite web
| url = ftp://dossier.ogp.noaa.gov/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-VI/CZ/11723.TXT
| title = Brno Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = 28 February 2013}}</ref>
|date=January 2011
}}
{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Ostrava (1981−2010 normals, extremes 1980−present)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high C = 14.2
|Feb record high C = 17.3
|Mar record high C = 22.8
|Apr record high C = 29.0
|May record high C = 31.9
|Jun record high C = 35.2
|Jul record high C = 36.7
|Aug record high C = 36.9
|Sep record high C = 33.7
|Oct record high C = 26.2
|Nov record high C = 22.5
|Dec record high C = 16.7
|Jan record low C = -29.3
|Feb record low C = -24.7
|Mar record low C = -21.9
|Apr record low C = -7.8
|May record low C = -3.0
|Jun record low C = 1.2
|Jul record low C = 4.2
|Aug record low C = 3.8
|Sep record low C = -0.6
|Oct record low C = -7.6
|Nov record low C = -18.7
|Dec record low C = -25.8
|Jan high C = 0.4
|Feb high C = 2.8
|Mar high C = 7.7
|Apr high C = 13.5
|May high C = 18.9
|Jun high C = 21.9
|Jul high C = 23.6
|Aug high C = 23.4
|Sep high C = 19.4
|Oct high C = 14.0
|Nov high C = 6.7
|Dec high C = 2.0
|Jan low C = -5.6
|Feb low C = -4.1
|Mar low C = -0.8
|Apr low C = 3.0
|May low C = 7.3
|Jun low C = 10.6
|Jul low C = 11.9
|Aug low C = 11.6
|Sep low C = 8.7
|Oct low C = 4.7
|Nov low C = 0.9
|Dec low C = -3.2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 26.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 30.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 34.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 52.4
|May precipitation mm = 91.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 104.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 91.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 91.8
|Sep precipitation mm = 58.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 42.3
|Nov precipitation mm = 44.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 34.3
|Jan precipitation days = 7
|Feb precipitation days = 7
|Mar precipitation days = 7
|Apr precipitation days = 8
|May precipitation days = 11
|Jun precipitation days = 11
|Jul precipitation days = 11
|Aug precipitation days = 10
|Sep precipitation days = 8
|Oct precipitation days = 7
|Nov precipitation days = 9
|Dec precipitation days = 8
|source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organisation]] (UN)<ref name= WMOOstrava >{{cite web | url=http://www.worldweather.org/172/c00920.htm| title=World Weather Information Service – Ostrava| access-date=21 January 2011| publisher=United Nations}}</ref>
|source 2 = infoclimat.fr<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie/normales-records/1991-2020/ostrava-mosnov/valeurs/11782.html
|title=Normales et records pour la période 1991–2020 à Ostrava
| publisher = infoclimat.fr
| access-date = March 15, 2022}}</ref>
|date=January 2011
}}
===Geology===
{{main|Geology of the Czech Republic}}
Most of the area of the Czech Republic belongs to the geographically stable [[Bohemian Massif]]. Only an area of the [[Western Carpathians]] in the east of the country is younger, lifted during the [[Tertiary]]. Igneous rocks make up the base of the Bohemian Massif. Sedimentary rocks are mostly found in the north-eastern part of [[Bohemia]] with significant areas of sandstone. Among the metamorphic rocks, the most commonly found is [[Gneiss]].
===Mountains===
{{main|List of highest mountains of the Czech Republic}}
The most notable mountain ranges in the Czech Republic are all found along the borders of the country. In [[Bohemia]] it is the [[Bohemian Forest]] and [[Ore Mountains]], both bordering Germany. Then the long region of [[Sudetes]] with several mountains ranges, including [[Giant Mountains]] with [[Sněžka]] – the highest peak of the Czech Republic. The last major mountain range is the [[Moravian-Silesian Beskids]] in the east.
===Rivers===
[[File:Povodí Labe Vltavy Moravy.PNG|thumb|Drainage areas of the Elbe and the Morava rivers]]
{{main|Rivers of the Czech Republic}}
There are four major rivers in the Czech Republic. The [[Elbe]] (locally "Labe") flows from the [[Giant Mountains]] in the north east of Bohemia to the west and then through northern Germany all the way to the [[North Sea]]. The [[Morava (river)|Morava River]] drains most of Moravia and flows to the south into the [[Danube]] and ultimately to the [[Black Sea]]. The [[Oder]] starts in the [[Moravian Silesia]] and flows north through Poland into the [[Baltic Sea]]. The fourth major river is the [[Vltava]], which is the longest river of the Czech Republic and drains the southern part of Bohemia before flowing into the Elbe at [[Mělník]].
===Bodies of water===
{{main|List of ponds of the Czech Republic}}
Natural occurring bodies of water are rather scarce; most of the significant bodies of water are man-made ponds and reservoirs. The largest pond is the [[Rožmberk Pond]], which is one of the system of fish ponds built in the 16th century around [[Třeboň]]. The largest reservoir by area covered is the [[Lipno Reservoir]] (4,870 ha), built in the 1950s and the largest reservoir by volume is [[Orlík Reservoir]] (716 million m<sup>3</sup>), built around the same time. The largest and deepest natural lake is [[Černé jezero]] (18.4 ha).
==Human geography==
{{see also|List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic}}
===Population geography===
[[File:Population_density_in_the_Czech_Republic.png|thumb|Population density in the Czech Republic]]
[[File:Natural resources of the Czech Republic.png|thumb|300px|Natural resources:
Metals are in blue: Fe — iron ore, PY — [[pyrite]], PM – polymetal ores (Cu, Zn, Pb, etc.), U — [[uranium]].
Fossil fuels are in red: C — coal, L — [[lignite]], O – oil.
Non-metallic minerals are in green: G — [[graphite]], KA — [[kaolinite]]. ]]
{{main|Demographics of the Czech Republic}}
The population of the Czech Republic is estimated to be around 10.6 million. The highest population density is in the larger metropolitan area of [[Ostrava]] and of course in the area around the capital of [[Prague]]. The lowest population density is in the Czech-German and Czech-Austrian borderlands, mostly as a lasting result of the [[expulsion of Germans from Czechoslovakia]] after the [[World War II]].
===Political geography===
{{main|Regions of the Czech Republic}}
The Czech Republic is divided into thirteen [[Regions of the Czech Republic|regions]] and one capital city with regional status. The older administrative units of seventy-six [[Districts of the Czech Republic|districts]] are still recognized and remain the seats of various branches of state administration. Historically, the Czech Republic can be split into three regions: [[Bohemia]] in the west, [[Moravia]] in the east and [[Czech Silesia]] in the north east.
===Industry and agriculture===
Areas affected the most by heavy industry are the [[Sokolov Basin]] and the [[Most Basin]] in the north-west of the Czech Republic. The extensive deposits of brown coal in those areas are mostly used for electricity production. It is estimated, that almost 40% of all electric power produced in the Czech Republic comes from burning brown coal mined in these areas. Plant agriculture is focused around the [[Polabí|lowlands surrounding the Elbe]] and the Morava. Around 34% of the country is covered by forests and approximately 37% of land is arable. The estimated area of irrigated land is 385&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, and freshwater withdrawal per capita is around 164 m<sup>3</sup> every year.
== See also ==
* [[Protected areas of the Czech Republic]]
* [[Rivers of the Czech Republic]]
* [[List of highest mountains of the Czech Republic]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{CIA World Factbook}}
{{Czech Republic topics}}
{{Geography of Europe}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Geography Of The Czech Republic}}
[[Category:Geography of the Czech Republic| ]]
[[pt:República Checa#Geografia]]