Ústí nad Labem Region - Ústecký kraj
Ústí nad Labem, a city with one of the largest railway junctions in the CR and the largest Elbe river port, is the administrative centre of Ústí nad Labem Region (www.kr-ustecky.cz). The region shares most of its borders with Germany and - in the CR - with Karlovy Vary, Liberec and Central Bohemia Regions and a very small part with Plzeň region. It consists of seven districts - Děčín, Litoměřice, Žatec, Chomutov, Most, Teplice and Ústí nad Labem. Significant industrialisation and coal mining are typical for the region and, despite the decline in coal extraction and de-sulphuring of power plants, it is the most polluted area in the CR.
Ústí nad Labem Region is situated in the north-western part of Bohemia and its important part is covered by Krušné (Ore) Mountains. The southern slopes of Klínovec (the highest mountain: 1244 m) fall sharply into Most basin. Its southern edge is created by typical distinctive hills of České středohoří split by the Elbe into two parts. In the south, there are plains in the Ohře and Elbe valleys.
Regional raw-material basis includes especially the largest national deposits of brown coal. There are also deposits of clays and lower-quality kaolins; important deposits of sand and gravel can be found along the rivers.
The region belongs among areas with a highly developed industrial production. Heavy industries with high material and power demand prevail - power generation, chemical, engineering, metallurgical and glass industries and the production of textiles. Brown coal extraction is still significant although its importance keeps decreasing.
As for agriculture, the region is an important hops production area. Fruit and vegetables growing are developed mainly in Litoměřice area along the Ohře and Elbe rivers.
Transport with the EU links is rather important for the region; it includes road, railway and water routes. The region can be quickly accessed by transport from the neighbouring regional cities and from Prague.
Although large-scale industrial production is typical for the region, there are also several protected landscape areas with precious natural value, e.g. České Středohoří or Labské pískovce areas. České Švýcarsko National Park, with the area of 79 km2, was established on 1/1/2000 and borders with the Saxon Switzerland National Park in Germany. It is famous for unique sandstone formations, of which Pravčická brána is the best known - a unique sandstone-rock bridge classified among national natural monuments.
Urban conservation areas in Litoměřice, Úštěk, Kadaň, Žatec and especially in Terezín are well-known destinations. Thanks to its technologically unique relocation, the dean's church in Most is also famous.
With a view to tourism, the whole area of Ústí nad Labem Region belongs to the Northeast Bohemia tourist marketing region.
The region is relatively densely populated, its largest cities include Ústí nad Labem, Most, Teplice, Chomutov and Děčín. For many years, the region has witnessed the highest unemployment rates in all its districts.
Thanks to the position along the German border, municipalities are involved in cross-border-cooperation within the following Euroregions: Krušnohoří (Louny, Most, Chomutov and part of Teplice districts), Labe (Litoměřice, Ústí nad Labem and parts of Teplice and Děčín districts) and Nisa created by a part of Děčín district.
