Erzgebirge
| Erzgebirge - Krušné hory | |
| Ore Mountains | |
| Range | |
 Water reservoir near Myslivny
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| Countries |  Czech Republic,  Germany |
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| Regions | Karlovy Vary Region (Czech Rep.), Ústí n. L. Region (Czech Rep.), Saxony (Germany) |
| Highest point | Klínovec |
| - elevation | 1,244 m (4,081 ft) |
| - coordinates | |
| Geology | sedimentary, metamorphic and magmatic rocks |
| Orogeny | Variscan |
| Period | Paleozoic |
 Location in Germany
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 Location in the Czech Republic
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 Physical map
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The Erzgebirge or Krušné hory (in German and Czech, the Ore Mountains in English) is a mountain range, which has formed a natural border between Saxony in Germany and Bohemia in the Czech Republic for many centuries. The highest peak, Klínovec, rises to 1,244 metres (4,081 ft) above sea level.
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Geography
The western part of the Erzgebirge is home to the two highest peaks of the range: Klínovec, located in the Czech part, with an altitude of 1,244 metres (4,081 ft) and Fichtelberg, the highest mountain of Saxony, at 1,214 metres (3,983 ft). The Erzgebirge is part of a larger mountain system and adjoins the Fichtelgebirge to the west and the Elbe Sandstone Mountains to the east. Past the River Elbe, the mountain chain continues as the Lusatian Mountains. While the mountains slope gently away in the northern (German) part, the southern (Czech) slopes are rather steep.
History and Mining
Up to the Middle Ages, the Erzgebirge was virtually unsettled and covered with dense forests. However, when silver and tin ore deposits were discovered in the region in the 15th century, people started inhabiting the mountains and founding new cities. Because of its rich mineral resources including fluorspar, iron, copper, cobalt and uranium, as well as silver and tin, the German-speaking population has called the range Erzgebirge, which literally means "ore mountain range". Silver found in Joachimsthal was used to mint coins known as (Joachims)Thaler, from which the word "dollar" is derived.
The mountains were rich not only in silver, but also in uranium, as was discovered in the 19th century. After World War II, Soviet experts searched for remnants of the German nuclear energy project to support the Soviet atomic bomb project. A mining company called SDAG Wismut (named after bismuth) operated until the fall of communism, causing environmental damage.
As the ore deposits and the related business often declined, former miners had to look for new ways to feed their families. In addition to lace making and weaving, the inhabitants went into wood carving, producing toys and religious figures. Thus, the Erzgebirge region became famous for many Christmas traditions. Nutcrackers, "Räuchermänner", "Christmas pyramids" (carousels with figures of the Christmas story or from mining) and Schwibbogen (wooden arcs with candles in the windows, representing a mine entrance) are some of many Christmas goods made in the Ore Mountains. Seiffen in the East Ore Mountains is a centre of the wooden toy industry.
Nature and Environmental Issues
Cities
Tourism
Today the mountains are also a popular winter sports resort.
Gallery
 Winter scene |
 Miners procession |
 Stürmer |
 Old adit near Johanngeorgenstadt |
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See also
- Erzgebirgisch, the local German dialect
- Hans Carl von Carlowitz (1645 - 1714), expert for mining and forestry
Literature
- Harald Häckel, Joachim Kunze: Unser schönes Erzgebirge. 4. Auflage, Häckel 2001, ISBN 3980368009
- Peter Rölke (Hrsg.): Wander- & Naturführer Osterzgebirge, Berg- & Naturverlag Rölke, Dresden 2007, ISBN 9783934514201
- Müller, Ralph u.a.: Wander- & Naturführer Westerzgebirge, Berg- & Naturverlag Rölke, Dresden 2002, ISBN 3934514111
- NN: Kompass Karten: Erzgebirge West, Mitte, Ost. Wander- und Radwanderkarte 1:50.000, GPS kompatibel. Kompass Verlag, 2002, ISBN 3854919549
- NN: Erzgebirge, Vogtland, Chemnitz. HB Bildatlas, Heft Nr. 171. 2., akt. Aufl. 2001, ISBN 3616062713
- Peter Rochhaus: Berühmte Erzgebirger in Daten und Geschichten. Sutton Verlag, Erfurt 2006, ISBN 978-3-86680-020-5
- Siegfried Roßberg: Die Entwicklung des Verkehrswesens im Erzgebirge - Der Kraftverkehr. Bildverlag Böttger, Witzschdorf 2005, ISBN 3-9808250-9-4
- Bernd Wurlitzer: Erzgebirge, Vogtland. Marco Polo Reiseführer. 5., akt. Aufl. Mairs Geographischer Verlag, 2001, ISBN 3829700059
External links
- Animation
- Projekt UNESCO Welterbe „Montanregion Erzgebirge“
- http://www.montanregion-erzgebirge.de/
- Hotel st.Anna - accommodation in the Ore Mountains
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