Czech geography, regions and nature
What this domain covers
Geography, regions and nature tests place knowledge rather than map reading. You should be able to locate Czechia, name its four neighbours, distinguish the 14 self-governing regions, identify major mountain ranges and rivers, and explain the national park system. Questions often ask which sea a river reaches or which peak belongs to which range.
Core facts
- Czechia is landlocked in Central Europe. It borders Germany to the west and southwest, Austria to the south, Slovakia to the southeast, and Poland to the north and northeast. Area is about 78,900 km².
- There are 14 self-governing regions (kraje): Prague and 13 others. Prague is both the capital and a region. Regions are divided into municipalities (obce), which are the basic self-governing units.
- The highest peak is Sněžka (1,603 m) in the Krkonoše mountains. Other ranges include Šumava, Krušné hory, Jizerské hory, Jeseníky and Beskydy.
- The Vltava is the longest river on Czech territory. It joins the Labe (Elbe) at Mělník; the Labe flows to the North Sea. The Morava flows to the Danube and the Black Sea, while the Odra (Oder) drains to the Baltic.
- There are four national parks: Krkonoše, Šumava, Podyjí and České Švýcarsko. Large protected landscape areas (CHKO) and Natura 2000 sites cover much more.
Worked example
A town on the Morava River near the Austrian border discharges water into which sea? Trace the Morava to the Danube, and the Danube to the Black Sea. The answer is the Black Sea, not the Baltic or North Sea. The Odra, not the Morava, reaches the Baltic.
Traps
Do not count Prague twice: it is one of the 14 regions. Sněžka is in Krkonoše, not Jeseníky; Praděd is the Jeseníky peak. Czechia has no sea coast. The Vltava is longest within Czechia, but the Labe is longer overall.