- Východočeský
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kraj (region), north-central Czech Republic. It is bordered by Středočeský and Severočeský kraje to the west, Poland to the north, Severomoravský kraj to the east, and Jihomoravský and Jihočeský kraje to the south. The Krkonoše (“Giant”) Mountains range across the north; in them rises the Labe (Elbe) River, which flows first south, then west, and which, with its tributaries, forms the central plains of Východočeský kraj. The plains slope gently upward to the Českomoravská Vrchovina in the south and the Svitavská Pahorkatina and Orlické (Orlice) Mountains to the east.The principal crops grown in the kraj's plains include corn (maize) for animal feed, sugar beets, wheat, barley, potatoes, oats, rye, flax, and vegetables. Apples, plums, cherries, and pears are grown in the western parts of the region. Livestock includes hogs, cattle, and poultry. Dairying accounts for about one-third of the region's cattle. Forests of spruce, oak, fir, and pine occupy about one-third of Východočeský kraj, and several lumbering and paper-milling operations are located in the region. A large bituminous coalfield is mined in the Broumovské Highlands. Nickel, lead, and zinc are mined in the southwest, and manganese and fluorite are mined and building stones are quarried at other locations in the kraj.Hradec Králové, Východočeský kraj's capital, and Pardubice are the main industrial cities; both have metalworking, electronics, chemical, synthetic rubber, woodworking, textile, and food-processing plants. Hradec Králové also has glassworks, and Pardubice has an oil refinery and petrochemicals plant. Other industrial centres are the Labe River valley north of Hradec Králové and the Orlice Valley, where nearly every town has textile and clothing plants. Heavy machinery, transport equipment, electronics, synthetic rubber, appliances, cement, and glass are variously produced at the cities of Chrudim, Vamberk, Prachovice, Lanškroun, and Jičín in the kraj.The Krkonoše (Giant Mountains) Mountains are one of the Czech Republic's most visited regions for winter sports, hiking, fishing, and camping. The tourist centre for the area is Špindlerův Mlýn, which has hotels and summer and winter sports facilities. The noted Janské Lázně thermal mineral spa and Pec pod Sněžkou spa are located in this area. Other regions attracting tourists are the Vale of Ratiboř, a natural reserve in the Úpa River valley; the Teplice and Adršpach Rocks, a series of sandstone labyrinthine formations; and the Orlické Mountains, northeast of Hradec Králové, which feature virgin pine forest and camping and hiking facilities. Hradec Králové, the history of which dates to the 10th century AD, was a residence for the queens of Bohemia and in the 14th century rivaled Prague in importance; it is the cultural centre of the kraj. Other towns of cultural importance are Pardubice, Vamberk, Hořice, and Harrachov. Area 4,340 square miles (11,240 square km). Pop. (1991 prelim.) 1,232,646.
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Universalium. 2010.
