Natural attractions in the Krkonoše Mountains and the Krkonoše Lowlands

In 1963 the first Czech national park was declared there. In terms of nature especially "inanimate" part and flora are remarkable - the mountainous, stone and rock formations, creeks and streams with waterfalls, peak bogs, mountain meadows, vegetation of scrub pines and rare plants. The highest so-called subalpine zone is the most valuable. It is a place where rare glacial relicts survive between the tundra flora and fauna, i.e. plants and animals (especially insects) that were found in our country even before the last Ice Age. A number of species for which nowhere else in our republic and in central Europe suitable conditions are, and which can only be found in Scandinavia, found refuge there. The Krkonoše Mountains are the place of the southernmost point of the occurrence of bramble cloudberry, but also the northernmost occurrence of pine in the worldwide expansion of both species. One of the most important Czech and European rivers - the Elbe - springs there. They are the most visited mountains in the Czech Republic and considering the number of visitors of all tourist regions they also hold the first place. A great many of tourists, recreational and sports facilities is a factor which in many ways threatens the existence of the Krkonoše Mountains as the unique national park. Due to the number of buildings and a continuous presence of people in all mountain areas there is not an unbroken complex of unspoilt landscape where bigger mammel species – wildlife - could live as in other national parks. Nevertheless as for the natural resources the Krkonoše Mountains are one of the most precious areas.

The Krkonoše Lowlands are also very pictoresque with the dominant ridge Zvičina. The big tourist magnet in that area is zoo in Dvůr Králové nad Labem, one of the most favourite tourist attraction in East Bohemia.

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Krkonoše – horské louky (mountain meadows)

Only very few of the mountain meadows on the slopes of Krkonoše are purely of a natural origin. Krakonošovy zahrádky (Krakonoš gardens) with a rich vegetation of many rare flowers were created accidentally as a relic of the so-called mountain agriculture.

www.krkonose.eu

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Krkonoše – Krkonoše National Park (KRNAP)

The first national park in the Czech Republic designated in 1963 and from 1992 the bio-spherical reservation UNESCO. Its 363 km2 + 186 km2 protection zone includes the highest section of the Krkonoše Mountains and the part of the foothills. The park in particular protects in particular the unique and irreplaceable landscape value.

www.krnap.cz

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Krkonoše – Obří důl (Giant’s Valley)

The most beautiful and most difficult way to Sněžka leads through Obří důl (Giant's Valley). This treasure of the Krkonoše Mountains, attracting lovers of nature since the Middle Ages, was formed by the Úpský Glacier, which left three moraines. There are also other valleys of glacial origin which empty out here.

www.vyletnik.cz

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Krkonoše – pramen Labe (source of the Elbe)

The symbolic source of the Elbe at an elevation of 1368 m on the Elbe grassland has a concrete centering and coats of arms of towns which the river flows through on its way to the sea. The actual source is located somewhat higher, however this amply frequented location has its own unrepeatable magic.

wikipedia.org

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Krkonoše – Sněžka

Sněžka (in Polish Śnieżka) is with its 1 602 m above the sea level an important dominant of the Krkonoše Mountains and the highest mountain in the Czech Republic. The rocky summit falls on the Polish side to the Lomničky Valley, the southern slope to Obří důl (Giant's Valley), and the western part to Úpské Moorland.

www.snezka.net

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Krkonoše – moorland

One of the forms of arctic–alpine tundra of the Krkonoše Mountains, which represents an entirely unique natural environment in the context of the whole of Central Europe, is a moorland. The most significant are the national natural reservations of Černohorské and Úpské Moorlands.

www.krnap.wz.cz

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Krkonoše – Rýchory

The easternmost tip of the Krkonoše Mountains is made up of a zone of wide woody ridges from Horní Lysečiny through Mravenečník to Sklenářovický Hill. In the protected territory there is Dvorský les (Dvorský Forest), the remains of a natural beech primeval forest at a height of around 1000 m above the sea level.

www.krnap.cz

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Zoological garden Dvůr Králové nad Labem

The largest zoo in the Czech Republic. It specializes in the breeding of African animals, which can be seen from a short distance on a unique safari. Rearing of endangered animals is very much appreciated. There is also a new stylish safari camp.

www.zoodvurkralove.cz

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