údolí

Údolí is the Czech term for a valley, a low-lying stretch of land between hills or mountains. In Slovak, the equivalent is údolie. The word denotes an elongated depression formed through erosion by water, ice, or both, and it commonly serves as a natural corridor for rivers and human activity.

Geographically, valleys vary in shape. River valleys tend to be V-shaped due to downcutting, especially in younger landscapes, while glacial valleys are often broad and U-shaped after glaciation. Valleys may develop flat floors, floodplains, terraces, and networks of tributaries.

Valleys support diverse ecosystems and human use. They are favored locations for settlements, agriculture, and transport because of accessible water, sheltered slopes, and easier routes for roads and railways. Many valleys are scenic and popular for outdoor recreation, tourism, and cultural heritage.

Across Central Europe, údolí is a common landscape unit visible in many regions, and the term appears in numerous place names, reflecting the prominent role of valleys in local geography and culture. See also: valley (geography).