Jizera Mountains
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Jizera or Izera Mountains (Czech: Jizerské hory; German: Isergebirge; Polish: Góry Izerskie) are part of the Western Sudetes on the border between the Czech Republic and Poland. The major part is formed from granite, with some areas formed from basalt. The mountains got their name from the Jizera River, which rises at the southern base of Smrk Mountain (German: Tafelfichte).
The Tabulový kámen (German: Tafelstein), 1072 m) on the northern edge of the Smrk Mountain marked the border between the properties of the Counts of Gallas in Friedland, Bohemia, the von Gersdorff family from Meffersdorf, Upper Lusatia, and the Counts of Schaffgotsch from Schreiberhau, Silesia.
The highest peak is Wysoka Kopa (Hinterberg, 1,127 m, 3,698 feet) in Poland. Other higher peaks include Smrk (1124 m, 3,688 feet), with a recently rebuilt look-out tower, Jizera (1,122 m, 3,681 feet) and Stóg Izerski (Heufuder, 1,107 m, 3,632).
The weather conditions are characterized by above-average annual precipitation. On 30 July 1897, the measuring station at Nová Louka recorded a daily precipitation amounting to 345.1 mm (13.6 inches), still an unbroken European record.
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[edit] Peaks
- Wysoka Kopa (Hinterberg), 1,127 m; highest peak of the Jizera Mountains
- Smrk (Tafelfichte), 1,124 m; highest peak of the Bohemian Jizera Mountains
- Jizera (Siechhübel), 1,122 m
- Stóg Izerski (Heufuder), 1,107 m
- Smědavská hora (Wittigberg), 1,084 m
- Bukovec (Buchberg), 1,005 m; one of the highest basalt peaks in Europe
- Hvězda (Stefanshöhe), 959 m
- Černá Studnice (Schwarzbrunnberg), 869 m
- Tanvaldský Špičák (Tannwalder Spitzberg), 831 m; skiing region near Tanvald
- Oldřichovský Špičák (Buschullersdorfer Spitzberg), 724 m
[edit] History
The first settlements in the area date back to prehistory. Later on, Celts, German tribes and Lusatian Sorbs resided in the valleys. In the 14th century, German-speaking colonists came and started clearing of the dense primeval forests. Permanent settlements were established. In the 16th century, several glass works were founded. Glassmaking had a profound effect on the ecosystem. The primeval forest was gradually replaced by fast-growing spruce monoculture. Other important industries included tin-mining, metallurgy and textile. The originally Sudeten German population of the area was expelled in 1945.
In the second half of the 20 century, the ecosystem was badly hit by emissions, produced by lignite fired power stations located in the Zittau basin. Weakened spruce forest, less resistant against various types of parasites, were on the verge of extinction. The situation improved after the fall of communism in 1989. Open-pit coal mines in the former East Germany were closed, as well as several major power plants. Emission filters were installed at the immense Turów power station in Bogatynia on the Polish side of Lusatian Neisse.
[edit] Tourism
The Jizera Mountains are an attractive location for winter sports, cycling and hiking. The centre for both downhill skiing and ski run is Bedřichov. The international cross-country races Jizerská 50 and Bieg Piastów (in Polana Jakuszycka) take place there. Its summer MTB counterpart is also gaining popularity.
The towns surrounding the mountains include Liberec, Frýdlant v Čechách, Nové Město pod Smrkem, Świeradów Zdrój, Szklarska Poręba, Desná, Tanvald and Jablonec nad Nisou.
[edit] Literature
- (Czech) (German) (English) Weiss, Siegfried (2000) Moje Jizerky - Jizerské hory v proměnách času, Mein Isergebirge - Das Isergebirge im Wandel der Zeit, My Jizera Hills - The Jizera Mountains through a changing of time, Buk (16 sample photos on website of the publisher)
- (Czech) Nevrlý, Miroslav (1996) Kniha o Jizerských horách, 3rd edition, Civitas
