Ještěd
| Ještěd | |
|---|---|
| Jeschken | |
 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,012 m (3,320 ft) |
| Coordinates | 50°43′56″N 14°59′07″E / 50.73222°N 14.98528°ECoordinates: 50°43′56″N 14°59′07″E / 50.73222°N 14.98528°E |
| Geography | |
| Location | Czech Republic |
Ještěd (Czech pronunciation: [ˈjɛʃcɛt]; German: Jeschken) is the highest mountain peak (1,012 m) of the Ještěd-Kozákov Ridge near Liberec in the north of the Czech Republic. From the summit there are views into Germany and Poland. The Horní Hanychov region of Liberec lies just below the mountain.
On the summit is the Ještěd Tower restaurant, hotel and television tower, designed by Karel Hubáček,[1] accessible by road or cable car (Ještěd Cable car). The mountain also has a ski resort.
History
The origin of the mountain's name is uncertain, it is probably from the term Ash mountain, a once dominant tree species in the area. The Czech name for the mountain was first recorded in 1545 as Jesstied (pod horou Jesstiedem). The German form of the name, Jeschke, was first mentioned in 1565.
As far back as 1838 the summit hosted a crude stone that serves as a landmark to this day. The first hut on the summit was erected as early as 1844.
In the 1860s, the mountain ridge was Station No. 4 of the first order of the Royal Saxon triangulation. For this reason a measuring station was built on the summit.
In 1906, the Mountain Club, a mountain hotel, was built. The Jeschke Horní Hanychov cable car to the summit was opened in 1933.
On 23 August 1940, at midnight, a Heinkel He 111 from the Second (Lion) Squadron (German: Löwengeschwader) from Lüneburg crashed into the mountain near the summit and tore a long swathe in the woods. This accident killed the four crew.
The old mountain hotel burned down in 1963.
Between 1966 and 1973, a futuristic hotel, with a 100-metre-high television tower, was built that was designed by the architect, Karel Hubacek. For the construction of the TV tower, Hubacek was awarded the Auguste Perret Prize. The modern building acts as a lookout tower, transmission tower, hotel and restaurant.
In 2009, an element of the Nordic World Ski Championships took place on Ještěd.
Ještěd TV tower/Hotel
Views of Liberec from the mountain
The ski jumping hills
In Jested there are two ski jumping hills, The World Championships 2009 were hosted there. The K-134 and the K-90. Roman Koudelka has the hill record in the K-134, with 143 metres. Anssi Koivuranta jumped 106,5 metres in the K-90, which is the hill record on this hill.
References
- ↑ "Czech architect Hubacek, author of famous Jested hotel, dies". Czech News Agency. ČeskéNoviny.cz. 2011-11-25. Retrieved 2011-11-27.