Moravian-Silesian Region

Moravian-Silesian Region (Czech: Moravskoslezský kraj) is an administrative unit (kraj) of the Czech Republic, located in the north-eastern part of its historical region of Moravia and in most of the Czech part of the historical region of Silesia. The region borders the Olomouc Region (to the west) and Zlín Region (to the south). It also borders two other countries - Poland to the north and Slovakia to the east. It is a very industrial region, which was called the "Steel Heart of the Country" in the communist era, for its prevalence of heavy industry, especially steel works. Since the fall of the communism these industries have been in decline and the region suffers from high unemployment. There are, however, several mountainous areas in which the landscape has preserved its natural character. Nowadays, the region benefits from its location on the boundaries with two other Central European countries, Poland and Slovakia.