The Czech Republic's central European landscape is dominated by the Bohemian Massif, which rises to heights of 3,000 ft (900 m) above sea level. This ring of mountains encircles a large elevated basin, the Bohemian Plateau. The principal rivers are the Elbe and the Vltava.
Country lead by President: Václav Klaus (2003)
Prime Minister: Mirek Topolánek (2006)
Population
10,235,455 (growth rate: –0.1%); birth rate: 9.0/1000; infant mortality rate: 3.9/1000; life expectancy: 76.2; density per sq mi: 337
Land Area
29,836 sq mi (77,276 sq km); total area: 30,450 sq mi (78,866 sq km)
Monetary unit
Koruna Language
Czech
Ethnicity Czech 90.4%, Moravian 3.7%, Slovak 1.9%, other 4% (2001)
Religion Roman Catholic 27%, Protestant 2%, unaffiliated 59% (2001)
Transportation Railways: total: 9,543 km (2004). Highways: total: 127,204 km; paved: 127,204 km (including 518 km of expressways); unpaved: 0 km (2002). Waterways: 664 km (on Elbe, Vltava, and Oder rivers) (2004). Ports and harbors: Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem. Airports: 120 (2004 est.).
Old Town Square
Prague Castle
Charles Bridge