Riesen Mountains

Krkonoše / Karkonosze
Sněžka – the highest peak of Krkonoše
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 / 50.73611; 15.74028
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 / 50.767°N 15.617°E / 50.767; 15.617Coordinates: 50°46′N 15°37′E / 50.767°N 15.617°E / 50.767; 15.617
Borders on	Jizera Mountains and Rudawy Janowickie
Subdivisions	List Western Krkonoše Mountains Eastern Krkonoše Mountains Wielki Staw Mały Staw Rivers: Elbe Jizera Úpa Mumlava Bóbr Kamienna
Geology
Orogeny	Caledonian orogeny Variscan Alpine orogeny
Age of rock	Neoproterozoic and Paleozoic
Type of rock	granite schist shale limestone

The Krkonoše (Czech: [ˈkr̩konoʃɛ] ( listen)), Karkonosze (Polish: [karkɔˈnɔʂɛ]) or 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 source of the River Elbe is 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.