Giant Mountains
| Krkonoše / Karkonosze | |
|---|---|
Sněžka – the highest peak of Krkonoše
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Sněžka / Śnieżka |
| Elevation | 1,603 m (5,259 ft) |
| Coordinates | 50°44′10″N 15°44′25″E / 50.73611°N 15.74028°E |
| Naming | |
| Etymology | "krak"+"noš" (see Names) |
| Geography | |
| Countries | Czech Republic and Poland |
| States/Provinces | Liberec Region (CZ), Hradec Králové Region (CZ) and Lower Silesian Voivodeship (PL) |
| Range coordinates | 50°46′N 15°37′E / 50.77°N 15.62°ECoordinates: 50°46′N 15°37′E / 50.77°N 15.62°E |
| Borders on | Jizera Mountains and Rudawy Janowickie |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Caledonian orogeny |
| Age of rock | Neoproterozoic and Paleozoic |
| Type of rock | granite, schist and shale |
The Krkonoše (Czech: [ˈkr̩konoʃɛ]) or Karkonosze (Polish: [karkɔˈnɔʂɛ]) (English: Giant Mountains;German: Riesengebirge; Silesian German: Riesageberge) are a mountain range located in the north of the Czech Republic and the south-west of Poland, part of the Sudetes mountain system (part of the Bohemian Massif). The Czech-Polish border, which divides the historic regions of Bohemia and Silesia, runs along the main ridge. The highest peak, Sněžka (Polish: Śnieżka, German: Schneekoppe), is the Czech Republic's highest point with an elevation of 1,603 metres (5,259 ft).
On both sides of the border, large areas of the mountains are designated national parks (the Krkonoše National Park in the Czech Republic and the Karkonosze National Park in Poland), and these together constitute a cross-border biosphere reserve under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. The River Elbe springs within the Krkonoše. The range has a number of major ski resorts, and is a popular destination for tourists engaging in downhill and cross-country skiing, hiking, cycling and other activities.
The Czech name "Krkonoše" is first mentioned in singular "Krkonoš" in a 1492 record on division of the Manor of Štěpanice into two parts. The first map occurrence of the name dates back to 1518, when Mikuláš Klaudyán referred to the mountains as "Krkonoss". The origin of the name is usually interpreted as a compound of "krk" or "krak" – an Old Slavonic word for Krummholz (reference to local vegetation) – and "noš" – derived from "nosit" (carry). Alternative linguistic theories mention a connection with the pre-Indo-European word "Corconti," which is first listed by Ptolemy and refers to a pre-Celtic or Germanic people.
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Wikipedia