The country is composed of two older regions, Bohemia and Moravia, and part of a third one, Silesia. As of May 1, 2004, it is a member state of the European Union.
The Czech landscape is quite varied; Bohemia to the west consists of a basin, drained by the Elbe (Czech: Labe) and Vltava rivers, surrounded by mostly low mountains such as the Sudeten with its part Krkonoše, where one also finds the highest point in the country, the Sněžka at 1,602 m. Moravia, the eastern part, is also quite hilly and is drained predominantly by the Morava river, but also contains the source of the Oder (Czech: Odra) river. Water from the landlocked Czech Republic flows to three different seas: the North Sea, Baltic Sea and Black Sea.
The local climate is temperate with warm summers and cold, cloudy, humid winters, typified by a mixture of maritime and continental influences.
Cultural Notes:
The most concentrated linguistic minority in the Czech Republic are ethnic Poles, historically the majority, and today constituting between 10 and 45% of the population in the Český Těšín district. Poles have the right to use their language in official dealings, and there are some Polish primary and secondary schools in the area.
According to the 2001 census there remain 38 and 13 municipalities and settlements in the Czech Republic with more than 10% Poles and Germans respectively (10% is the limit to erect bilingual signs).
Do not accept food or drink from strangers. Travellers have been drugged and subsequently robbed. Individuals posing as plainclothes police officers may ask to see foreign currency and passports. If approached, politely decline to cooperate, but offer to go to the nearest police station. Identification should be carried at all times, preferably a photocopy of your passport. For emergency assistance, call 112.
