Krusne Mountains

Krušné hory rise steeply at the area above Karlovy Vary, as an impervious wall, created by the tertiary shear thrust in the flat not very noticeable mountains. The original mountains was created in Palaeozoic and consisted of mica schist, flysch and gneisses etc. Krušné Mountains are pervaded by volcanic rocks. In past there was rich occurrence of metal ores, nowadays they are mostly exhausted. Krušné Mountains lie in the length of 130 km from north-east to south-west and create the nature border between Germany and Bohemia where the mountains gradually slope from ever before. The most important complex in Krušné Mountains is Klínovecká highlands with the highest mountain of Krušné Mountains, Klínovec (1244 m above the sea). This complex is created by mica schist and orthogenesis with slightly arched or flat peak. Except the peak it is wooded by spruce monocultures, which are damaged very much by sulphurous oxide emissions, similarly to the whole area. Another peak is remarkable Špičák (of Boží Dar, 1115 m above the sea), the rest of lava displaced mass with evident basaltic jointing, the steep slopes of which are covered by the stone rivers. Volcanic dome Plešivec (1028 m above the sea) lies 2 km easterly from Abertam and German Fichtelberg (1214 m above the sea) is situated to the north from Klínovec. There have been preserved peatbogs till nowadays in the highest parts of Krušné Mountains which are the reservoirs of drinking water and observe the ancient face of the landscape. Sokolovská basin was created by block decline and it is made from phyllites, gneisses and granites. There were created sediments in Tertiary here with coal beds and kaolin coats. Ohře River flows through this area, which the mountain rivers Rolava, Svatava and Bystřice flow into.

Mountain curative springs of Krušné Mountains, the relic of volcanic activity caused the origin of Karlovy Vary, which still belong to the touristic most frequent and sought-after places in the Czech Republic. Mountain areas offer excellent conditions for winter sports lovers. The centres of winter sports are Klínovec, Boží Dar, Jáchymov, Kovářská, Kraslice, Pernink and Abertamy. They offer the ideal conditions for skiing and snowboarding. Although Krušné Mountains and its original forest stand are nowadays heavily damaged by improvident activity of people, they have still preserved its face and a lot of beautiful places.

Photographs Krusne Mountains