Czechoslovakia. Population and Economic Activities.

Ethnic Structure. The population of Czechoslovakia is 14,000,000 and is composed mainly of Czechs and Slovaks. These are two Slavonic peoples with kindred languages and traditions. A few Hungarians live in the southern part of the country, close to the Hungarian border. The average density of population in the country is 107 persons to the square kilometre. The Czech regions, however, are more densely populated than those of Slovakia. Edu­cation, science and art have reached a high level in Czechoslovakia.
Economic Activities. Czechoslovakia is one of the most highly developed industrial countries of the world. Czechoslovakia pro­duces a great variety of machinery, e.g., machine-tools, steam-boil­ers, turbines for power-plants, automobiles and motor-cycles. It also manufactures fabrics, foot-wear, furniture and glass and por­celain ware. Brown coal (lignite) is mined in great quantities. Lig­nite serves as a fuel and is employed, moreover, in the production of gas and various chemicals. Local power-stations operate on coal and water-power. The coal mining and smelting industries are con­centrated mainly in the Czech part of the Upper Silesian Basin (Fig. 52).
Slovakia, formerly a backward region, today constructs huge plants and powerful hydroelectric stations. The large smelteries and the Republic's first atomic power-plant now under construction deserve special mention. Industrial output, as compared with the pre-war level, has increased many times.
As for field crops, wheat, high-quality barley and hops (used in beer brewing) prevail. Special importance is attached to sugar-beet. Dairy cattle are bred in great numbers. The peasants work in producer co-operatives and on state farms.
Czechoslovakia exports complex machinery and other industrial goods, mainly to countries of the socialist commonwealth. From the

Fig. 53. Prague: In the foreground are the bridges across the Vltava, a tributary
of the Labe. The one in the centre is Karlov Bridge, built in the 14th century. On
the left is an ancient building. The chimneys of numerous factories and plants
may be seen in the distance.

U.S.S.R. it receives iron ore and other ores, plant equipment, oil, cotton and grain.
Prague (1,000,000 inhabitants) is the capital of Czechoslo­vakia, the political and cultural centre of the country. It is charmingly situated on beautiful hilly ground. The city has many ancient buildings with pointed tiled roofs. On one of the hills amidst these stands the ancient Grad—the Prague Kremlin. In the suburbs are numerous machine-building plants. Prague is an im­portant railway and airline junction. It is a beautiful city. The Czechs call it lovingly 'Zlata Praha', i. e., Golden Prague (Fig. 53).
The principal town of Slovakia is Bratislava, situated on the Danube.
Questions and Assignments.

• Discuss the common features and points of difference in the
  economic activities of the populations of Czechoslovakia and Po­
  land.
• Mark on the outline map the towns of Czechoslovakia known
  to you.