Prachatice District borders Germany in the southwest and briefly Austria in the south. Most of the territory has a foothill character, but along the state border, the landscape is mountainous, and in the east, the terrain is only slightly undulating. The majority of the district is located at an altitude of 600–800 m. The territory extends into three geomorphological mesoregions: Bohemian Forest Foothills (north, centre and southeast), Bohemian Forest (south and west), and České Budějovice Basin (small part in the east). The highest point of the district is the mountain Plechý in Nová Pec with an elevation of 1,378 m (4,521 ft), the lowest point is the river bed of the Bezdrevský Stream in Malovice at 410 m (1,350 ft).
From the total district area of 1,376.8 km2 (531.6 sq mi), agricultural land occupies 495.8 km2 (191.4 sq mi), forests occupy 728.5 km2 (281.3 sq mi), and water area occupies 28.2 km2 (10.9 sq mi). Forests cover 52.9% of the district's area.[1]
The most important river is the Vltava, which originates here as the Teplá Vltava and flows across the Bohemian Forest mountain range. The Volyňka also originates here and flows to the north. The eastern part of the territory is drained by the Blanice River. This part of the district is rich in fishponds, otherwise there are not many bodies of water. The largest body of water is the Husinec Reservoir, with an area of 61 ha (150 acres). A small part of the Lipno Reservoir also extends into the district. Near Plechý is Plešné Lake, one of the few natural lakes in the country.
From west to south, the Šumava National Park stretches across the territory of the district, while the centre of the territory falls under the protection of the Šumava Protected Landscape Area.
Demographics
A German minority used to live in Prachatice, composing 47% of the district's population by 1930.[3] After World War II, the German population was expelled, and the district experienced a notable demographic change as more ethnic Czechs were settled in the region.[4]
As of 2024, Prachatice District is the third least populated district in the country.[2]
There are no motorways in the district. The most important road is the I/4, which separates from the D4 motorway and leads through the district to the Czech-German border.
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