22. The Northern Franconian Alb and the Fichtel Mountains—Two Contrasting Landscapes in Upper Franconia

Upper Franconia (Oberfranken) in northern Bavaria, Germany, is well known from its two contrasting landscapes, the Northern Franconian Alb (Nördliche Frankenalb) and the Fichtel Mountains (Fichtelgebirge). These two major units are separated by a transition zone, called the Northeast-Bavarian Block-Faulted Zone. The whole region offers a rich diversity of landscapes shaped by the interplay of geological and geomorphological processes. The lithology of Upper Franconia is characterized by the presence of diverse rock types, including sandstones, limestones, granites, and volcanic rocks. This distinct diversity reflects the regional tectonic history, which has largely been controlled by the Franconian Lineament, one of the most prominent intraplate fault structures in Central Europe. Based on its diverse geological setting, the morphology of Upper Franconia reveals a great variety of landforms, including mountain ranges, plateau areas, deeply incised river systems, dry valleys and other features typical of karst, and granite landforms. The chapter will describe the tectonic forces and geomorphological processes of weathering, erosion, and fluvial dynamics that have shaped these landforms and will finally address an increasing role of human activities in modifying natural landscapes.