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Karlovy Vary Region

Karlovy Vary Region
Karlovarský kraj
Carlsbad Region
Region
Skyline of Karlovy Vary Region
Flag of Karlovy Vary Region
Flag
Coat of arms of Karlovy Vary Region
Coat of arms
Karlovarský kraj in Czech Republic.svg
Coordinates: 50°13′42″N 12°58′00″E / 50.22833°N 12.96667°E / 50.22833; 12.96667Coordinates: 50°13′42″N 12°58′00″E / 50.22833°N 12.96667°E / 50.22833; 12.96667
Country Czech Republic
Capital Karlovy Vary
Districts Karlovy Vary District, Sokolov District, Cheb District
Government
 • Governor Jana Vildumetzová
Area
 • Total 3,314.46 km2 (1,279.72 sq mi)
Highest elevation 1,244 m (4,081 ft)
Population (01/2012)
 • Total 303,165
 • Density 91/km2 (240/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code CZ-KA
Vehicle registration K
Website http://www.kr-karlovarsky.cz/

The Karlovy Vary Region or Carlsbad Region (Czech: Karlovarský kraj) is an administrative unit (Czech: kraj) of the Czech Republic, located in the westernmost part of its historical region of Bohemia. It is named after its capital Karlovy Vary. The region is world-famous for its spas, including Karlovy Vary and Mariánské Lázně.

The Karlovy Vary Region is divided into 3 districts:

At a lower level, the region has 132 municipalities, comprising 54 in the Karlovy Vary District, 40 in the Cheb District and 38 in the Sokolov District.

As of 1 January 2012 the population of the Karlovy Vary Region was 303,165 with 149,432 males and 153,733 females, accounting for 49.3% and 50.7% of the population respectively.

The region is well known for its spas and is responsible over half of the county's spa industry. Twelve spas can be found in the city of Karlovy Vary alone. Other famous spa towns in the region include Františkovy Lázně, Mariánské Lázně, Lázně Kynžvart and Jáchymov. The spas are visited not only by Czechs but by people from the rest of Europe, Russia, Israel and North America as well. Karlovy Vary spa wafers, a food item from the region, was awarded protected designation of origin (PDO) status by the European Commission in 2011.

The water from the region is used in locally produced beverages including Mattoni from Karlovy Vary and Aquila from the village of Kyselka.

The region is the home of two power stations, Vřesová and Tisová, both in the Sokolov District. The region is also part of the so-called Black Triangle, an area of heavy industrialization and environmental damage on the three-way border of Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic.


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