Bohemian Massif

The Bohemian Massif (Czech: Česká vysočina or Český masiv; German: Böhmische Masse or Böhmisches Massiv) is a large natural area in Central Europe. It stretches over most of the Czech Republic, eastern Germany, southern Poland and northern Austria. This area helps us learn about the Earth's past.

The Bohemian Massif is made of special rocks called crystalline rocks. These rocks are very old, older than the Permian period. They are more than 300 million years old. They were shaped long ago during a big event called the Variscan Orogeny.

Some parts of the Bohemian Massif, like the Giant Mountains, have interesting features. These mountains have different heights, small round valleys made by ice, and other special shapes. They rise above where trees normally grow, making them look different from other areas.

Geomorphological divisions

See also: Geomorphological division of the Czech Republic

The Bohemian Massif is part of a larger area called the Hercynian Forest. It is surrounded by four different areas: the Western Carpathians to the east, the Eastern Alps to the south, the North European Plain to the north, and the Central Uplands to the west.

The Bohemian Massif is divided into six smaller parts:

• Sudetes; this includes mountains such as the Lusatian Mountains, Jizera Mountains, Giant Mountains, Owl Mountains, Stołowe Mountains, and Hrubý Jeseník
• Ore Mountains; this includes the Ore Mountains, Elbe Sandstone Mountains, and Central Bohemian Upland
• Bohemian Forest; this includes the Bohemian Forest, Bavarian Forest, Upper Palatine Forest, Gratzen Mountains, and the Granite and Gneiss Plateau
• Bohemian-Moravian; this includes the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands and Brno Highlands
• Poberoun; this includes the Brdy mountains and the Prague Plateau
• Bohemian Table; this includes the lowlands around the Elbe River

Geography

The Bohemian Massif has mostly rolling hills. North of the river Danube, you will find gentle valleys and wide, flat ridges and hilltops. The highest points near the border of the Czech Republic and Austria are Plöckenstein and Sternstein.

The ground here is made of acid gneiss and granite, which turns into brown soil. In flat areas and valleys, water helps shape the soil, and you can find special soils called gley soils.

Geology

The Bohemian Massif's rocks were shaped long ago during a time called the Variscan Orogeny. This was when two big land masses, Gondwana and Laurussia, pushed together and formed new mountains. The rocks here are very old, older than the Permian period, which means they are more than 300 million years old.

The area has three main parts based on how its rocks were changed. The Saxothuringian Zone is in the north, the Moldanubian Zone is in the center, and the Moravian-Silesian Zone is in the southeast. Each part has its own special features from when the mountains were formed.

Resources

The Bohemian Massif does not have many valuable metals, unlike some other areas in Central Europe. However, it has many places where special types of rock, such as granite, granodiorite, and diorite, are taken from the ground to be used in building and decoration.