Świętokrzyskie Mountains | |
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Holy Cross Mountains | |
Świętokrzyskie Mountains
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Highest point | |
Peak | Łysica |
Elevation | 612 m (2,008 ft) |
Coordinates | 50°54′N 20°54′E / 50.900°N 20.900°ECoordinates: 50°54′N 20°54′E / 50.900°N 20.900°E |
Geography | |
Country | Poland |
The Świętokrzyskie Mountains (Polish: Góry Świętokrzyskie, IPA: [ˈɡurɨ ɕvjɛntɔˈkʂɨskʲɛ], Holy Cross Mountains) are a mountain range in central Poland, near the city of Kielce. The Świętokrzyskie Mountains are some of the oldest mountains in Europe, and the highest between the Sudetes and the Ural Mountains.
The mountain range comprises several lesser ranges, the highest of which is Łysogóry (literally "Bald Mountains").
The two highest peaks are Łysica, 612 m (2008 ft), and Łysa Góra, 593 m (1946 ft).
Together with the , the mountains form a region called the Lesser-Poland Upland (Wyżyna Małopolska).
They cover an area of 1684 km² (650 mi²).
The approximate location is 50°53′N 20°55′E / 50.883°N 20.917°E.
The Świętokrzyskie Mountains are one of the oldest mountain ranges in Europe. They were formed during the Caledonian orogeny of the Silurian period and then rejuvenated in the Hercynian orogeny of the Upper Carboniferous period.
The region was once on the southern coast of the ancient supercontinent of Laurasia. The oldest known evidence of tetrapods comes from 395-million-year old fossil footprints found in Zachełmie. The rocks were formed from a marine tidal flat or lagoon.