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 is very important for understanding the Earth's history.

The Bohemian Massif is made up of special kinds of rocks called crystalline rocks. These rocks are very old, older than the Permian period, which means 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, especially the Giant Mountains, have very interesting features. These mountains have different levels of height, small round valleys formed by ice, and other special shapes. They rise above the normal tree line, making them stand out from other areas.

Geomorphological divisions

See also: Geomorphological division of the Czech Republic

The Bohemian Massif is a 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 landscapes in the Bohemian Massif are mostly rolling hills. North of the river Danube, the area has 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 in this area is made of acid gneiss and granite, which has turned into brown soil. In flat areas and valleys, water plays a bigger role in shaping the soil, and special types of soil called gley soils can be found there.

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 in the Bohemian Massif are very old, older than the Permian period, which means they are more than 300 million years old.

The area is divided into three main parts based on how its rocks were changed and moved. 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 and history 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.