The Czech Republic is landlocked between Germany Austria, Hungary, Poland and the U.S.S.R. Over half the country consists of mountains, lakes, rivers, and forests.

In the High Tatras (Vysoke Tatry), the roof of the country, several peaks exceed 8,000 ft; the highest is Gerlachovka at 8,737 ft. There is an exceptional amount of wildlife. The climate is temperate, with con­tinental influences. Summers can be hot, winters usually sparklingly cold, with snow on high ground. Prague has an average minimum temperature of -4 C and a high of 23 C.

Two Slavonic languages, Czech and Slovak, arc spoken, but English, German, and Russian are widely understood.