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2016 | Buch

Landscapes and Landforms of the Czech Republic

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The book aims to present the unique geomorphological landscapes of the Czech Republic. The geomorphic uniqueness of this country benefits from the proximity to two distinct European geological domains: the old cratonized Bohemian Massif and the relatively young Tertiary fold and thrust belt of the Western Carpathians.

Landscapes and Landforms of the Czech Republic introduces general physiographical characteristics of the landscape and presents the main driving factors leading to the evolution of the present landscape. The book contains twenty two chapters describing the most interesting geomorphic landscapes of the Czech Republic. The selection of individual landscapes was based on visual exceptionality (e.g. sandstone landscapes of the Northern Bohemia), scientific importance (e.g. patterned grounds in the Sudetic Mountains) and historical relevance (e.g. mining of the Nízký and Hrubý Jeseník Mountains). The final chapters of the book discuss the protection of geomorphic heritage in the Czech Republic.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter
Chapter 1. Introduction

Although the territory of the Czech Republic lacks numerous attractive types of landscapes which are common in the neighbouring European countries (e.g. rugged alpine mountains, floodplains of large rivers or scenic coastlines), it is a country of exceptionally diverse landforms.

Tomáš Pánek, Jan Hradecký

Physical Environment

Frontmatter
Chapter 2. GeologyGeology and Tectonic DevelopmentTectonic development of the Czech Republic

Even if the Czech Republic occupies a small area in Central Europe, it is unique by the very interesting and varied geological and tectonic development that is recorded in the structure of the present-day Earth’s crust, especially in the case of the Bohemian Massif. The Bohemian Massif can be interpreted as a heterogeneous unit composed of four separate regional domains. Each of them is defined especially by a specific stratigraphic content, tectomagmatic development and tectonic limitation in relation to its surroundings. The history of its development involves a long time period from the Paleoproterozoic to the recent period, i.e. about 2.1 × 109 years. Basic features of the Earth’s crust structure, reflecting in geological maps, were however impressed on the area of the country only by relatively younger phases of Variscan orogeny and, to a lesser extent, Alpine orogeny that affected the eastern part of the country—the Western Carpathians. At the beginning of the Westphalian, the Bohemian Massif became part of the stabilised Variscan crust of the West European Platform, which in consequence meant that it began to act as a single unit, in which any mutual lateral displacement of units, metamorphosis and associated ductile deformation took place no longer. The Western Carpathians are one of partial branches of the vast orogenic belt of the Alpides created from the former Tethys Ocean. The development of the Western Carpathians already begins shortly after terminating the Variscan orogeny. At present, the Carpathians are divided from south to north into the Inner, Central and Outer Western Carpathians. The Central as well as the Inner Carpathians do not occur in the territory of the Czech Republic. The younger accretionary complex in the area of Moravia and Silesia is composed of the Pouzdřany, Ždánice, Subsilesian, Silesian and Fore-Magura Units.

Radomír Grygar
Chapter 3. ClimateClimate in the Past and Present in the Czech Lands in the Central European Context

Central Europe and Czech Lands (recent Czech Republic) itself have recently represented an area with a transitional type between the oceanic and continental types of temperate climate. The climate changed during geological history and various climates played an important role in the evolution of landforms due to changes in type and intensity of weathering and earth surface processes. This chapter describes general trends in climate oscillations during the Tertiary and the Quaternary within the Czech Lands and Central Europe. Climatological and hydrological extremes and fluctuations during the last centuries are along with human activity fundamental drivers of recent changes in the landscape evolution.

Jan Hradecký, Rudolf Brázdil
Chapter 4. Long-Term Geomorphological History of the Czech Republic

Consisting of two distinct geotectonic domains (Bohemian Massif and Western Carpathians), the territory of the Czech Republic reveals exceptionally high diversity of landforms. Major geomorphological features of the Czech Republic are the result of Late Paleozoic Variscan orogenetic processes, Late Cretaceous marine transgressionLate Cretaceous marine transgression, Alpine tectonics since the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic neovolcanic processesNeovolcanic processes. Geomorphological history of the Bohemian Massif can be traced back to the late Permian (~260 Ma) but its major landforms (e.g. basic planation surfacesPlanation surfaces and river valleys) emerged after the exhumation of Cretaceous deposits during the Paleogene and Neogene. Gross land surface of the Western Carpathians is much younger and its subaerial evolution spans the last ~15 Ma since the Miocene. Quaternary landscape evolution of the country was dictated by to this day continuing upliftUplift of the majority of its area and changing climatic pattern resulting in the evolution of a staircase of river terracesRiver terraces, continental and mountain glaciation, loessLoess accumulation and the development of various periglacial landformsPeriglacial landforms. Holocene landscape evolution is under the dominance of fluvial and slope processes, which have been strongly modified by human activity since the Atlantic chronozone and especially the Bronze AgeBronze Age.

Tomáš Pánek, Veronika Kapustová

Landscapes and Landforms

Frontmatter
Chapter 5. The Geomorphological Evolution and Environmental Hazards of the PraguePrague Area

Landform evolution of the Prague area in the central part of the Bohemian Massif was controlled by the coupled occurrence of episodic tectonic upliftTectonic uplift and variable climato-morphogenetic processes during the Cenozoic. Much older geological history of the region commenced in the Precambrian times and was very diverse in terms of transformations of the natural environment. Present-day landform patterns of the Prague area are determined by epigeneticEpigenetic and antecedent deepeningAntecedent deepening of canyon-like valleysCanyon-like valleys of the Vltava RiverVltava River and its tributaries to large planation surfaces during the Quaternary. These dynamic processes have led to the origin of river accumulation terraces as well as erosion and denudation slopes with weathered mantle of deposits. The extraordinary geodiversity and biodiversity of the landscape in the Prague area is associated with geomorphic hazardsGeomorphic hazards, including devastating floodsFloods and landslidesLandslides. Prague is also faced to severe impact of modern urban development and related human activities on the architectural heritageArchitectural heritage.

Jan Kalvoda, Břetislav Balatka
Chapter 6. The Bohemian Karst: A Condensed Record of Landscape and Living Nature Evolution

Rich in historical heritage and natural beauties and located close to PraguePrague, the Bohemian Karst has attracted visitors and scholars for centuries. Lower Paleozoic strata, folded and faulted during the Variscan OrogenyVariscan Orogeny, have yielded thousands of fossil speciesFossil species. Well-exposed sedimentary rocks enabled definition of five international stratotypeInternational stratotype and/or parastratotype sections of geological boundaries. Most of the karst forms are inactive and largely sediment-filled (paleokarstpalaeokarst). The area is poor in karrenKarren fields, dolineDolines and underground active streams, but rich in complex maze cavesMaze caves, locally with small but deep cave lakes. Morphological evolution of the present-day landscape was initiated after CretaceousCretaceous and Paleogene planation, when the area started to be entrenched by low-gradient OligoceneOligocene and Miocene rivers. In the Middle and Late Pleistocene, the entrenchment of river valleys was accelerated, forming steep-walled rocky canyonsCanyons combined with a system of river terraces. Following earlier thermal water karstificationThermal water karstification, river floodwater injection was the main speleogenetic process during the NeogeneNeogene and Quaternary. Archaeological finds and human bones up to ca. 150,000 years old have been discovered in the area. Historical sites, like the former Slavic fortified settlement at Tetín, majestic Gothic Karlštejn Castle, the Baroque monastery and church at Svatý Jan pod Skalou, and the hiking and educational trails annually attract approximately half a million visitors.

Karel Žák, Pavel Bosák, Jiří Bruthans
Chapter 7. Brdy Highland: A Landscape Shaped in the Periglacial Zone of Quaternary Glacials

Brdy Highland represents the highest upland in the central part of the Czech Republic outside the mountain ranges distributed in the peripheral parts and along the borders of the country. Because of the existence of a military training groundMilitary training ground in its highest part, Brdy Highland is the least known of all the Czech mountains and highlands. Termination of military use of the area by January 2016 opened the area to the public. Quartz-dominated Cambrian conglomerates and sandstones form the highest parts of the highland. The specific lithology of these sedimentary rocks produced extremely infertile, low pH soils. Because of the low fertility, the area was always almost unpopulated, forested and served as source of timber, charcoal and water for mining and ore processing activities in areas at the foot of the highland. Compared to higher mountains distributed along the borders of the Czech Republic, Brdy Highland receives less precipitation and fluvial processes have had a less pronounced effect on its morphology. The relics of pre-Quaternary planated surface forming the summit of the highland were dissected into structural-erosional ridges mainly by processes operating in the periglacial zonePeriglacial zone of Quaternary glacialsGlacials. SolifluctionSolifluction on the gentle slopes and frost disintegration of the rock faces were the main processes forming abundant periglacial landforms. Fossil cryoplanation terraces and solifluction lobesSolifluction lobes, rocks of the tor type, frost-riven cliffs, block fields and block streamsBlock streams are abundant. The possible existence of other fossil features such as patterned groundPatterned ground, nivation hollowsNivation hollows or possible rock glaciers requires further study.

Karel Žák
Chapter 8. Bohemian ForestBohemian Forest : Landscape and People on the Frontier

The direct expression of variable rock resistanceRock resistance and fault lines of different ages is characteristic for the deeply denuded relief of the Bohemian Forest. Three types of relief are typical. First, an extensive plateau covered with peat bogsPeat bogs spreading out in the central part of the area. Second, canyonCanyon valleys incised in the edge of the plateaus with torrential flows in rocky and stony riverbeds and finally, a rugged glacial reliefGlacial relief with glacial cirquesGlacial cirques and a few relicts of periglacial processesPeriglacial processes in the vicinity of the highest summits. Geomorphological mapping supported by 10Be and radiocarbon datingRadiocarbon dating showed that the culmination of the last glaciationLast glaciation in the Šumava range occurred during the Last Glacial MaximumLast Glacial Maximum, when valley glaciersValley glaciers appeared in some places. The cirque glaciers developed separately approximately 16,000 and 14,000 years ago. The recent findings suggest the presence of humans in the Šumava region since the MesolithicMesolithic period. The area was a source of raw material from the Middle Ages (gold and wood) for nearby populated regions and it was also a region of glass production. The most important recent change was connected with the end of the World War IIWorld War II when the predominant German population was expelled. The protection of natural heritage within the whole area is coordinated by the Šumava National ParkŠumava National Park, established in 1991.

Pavel Mentlík
Chapter 9. Morphology of the Youngest Little VolcanoesVolcanoes in Western Bohemian Massif

The two little volcanoes, Komorní hůrkaKomorní hůrka and Železná hůrkaŽelezná hůrka, are the youngest volcanoes in the western part of the Bohemian Massif, the principal regional geological unit of the Central Europe. The two volcanoes do not impress by their height, or complex petrological composition, but rather by their age uniqueness, as the dating results vary between 100,000 and 450,000 years. There are numerous other Cenozoic volcanoes in the western part of the Bohemian Massif, but they range between 31 and 8 million years. From this perspective, the two youngest ones prove that after certain break in volcanic activityVolcanic activity since 8 million years ago, a new phase of “recent” volcanism has occured. Nowadays, we can still observe some ongoing signs of magmatic activity, e.g. many sites with intensive CO2 degassing, mofettesMofettes, hot and cold mineral waterMineral water springs including a small hot geysirHot geysir, and relatively significant earthquake swarmsEarthquake swarms with frequent repetition and magnitudes up to M4.5 in the nearby region of the Cheb Basin and surroundings. The little volcanoes were, anyway, a subject of investigation for centuries. The most famous is the research performed by J.W. GoetheJ.W. Goethe, a worldwide known poet and scientist. We have, moreover, recently discovered the only Quaternary maarMaar in the Bohemian Massif by geophysical surveying in the near vicinity of Železná hůrka.

Jan Mrlina
Chapter 10. The Krušné HoryKrušné Hory Mts.—The Longest Mountain Range of the Czech Republic

Located in the borderland between the NW part of the Czech Republic and Saxony, the Krušné hory Mts. (highest peak Klínovec, 1244 m a.s.l.) represents the longest mountain range in the Czech Republic. Its current geomorphologic character with a steep SE fault scarp and extensive planation surfaces at the top has been influenced by long-term tectonic activity, which has uplifted the original denudational surface underlain by Paleozoic magmatic and metamorphic rocks. The neotectonic upliftNeotectonic uplift has taken place since the Neogene and has resulted in vertical exaggeration of the mountain range above the neighbouring basins reaching more than 500 m. It is mainly the SE fault scarp of the mountain range with its extreme gradient, which is frequently affected by flash floodsFlash floods and different kinds of mass movementMass movement. The natural environment has been fundamentally reshaped during hundreds of years of human activity. First, this activity was focused on miningMining of rich mineral deposits (silver, tin, lead, copper and other ores). Subsequently, the inhabitants of the mountain range changed their focus to manufacturing and agriculture, which is illustrated by technical monuments and agricultural landforms. The extraordinary interrelations between natural conditions and cultural heritage are currently the main argument behind the proposal to enlist the Krušné hory Mts. among the World Heritage sites.

Vít Vilímek, Pavel Raška
Chapter 11. Elbe Sandstones

The Elbe SandstonesElbe Sandstones is a sandstone area of the Czech Republic constituting the north-western part of the Bohemian Cretaceous BasinBohemian Cretaceous Basin. Characteristic landscape with plateaus, deep canyonsCanyons, rock citiesRock cities and a wide range of small landforms developed on massive quartzose sandstoneQuartzose sandstone deposits mostly of Middle Turonian age. The region has special status compared to other similar areas by its large areal extent, its vertical diversity causing the high-energy relief, the presence of volcanic bodies forming significant elevations and relative wilderness of inaccessible rock massifs and extensive forests. The dominant feature and also the connecting element is the huge Elbe River CanyonElbe River Canyon, meanderingMeandering through sandstones between Děčín and Pirna in Saxony. The most famous object of the whole area is the Pravčická brána ArchPravčická brána Arch—the largest sandstone archSandstone arch in Europe. The table mountain of Vysoký Sněžník Hill and the typical rock city called the Tiské Stěny CliffsTiské Stěny Cliffs belong to other interesting places here. The landscape is unique not only because of its geomorphic diversity but also because of the close relationship between the living and inanimate nature and the presence of relicts after ancient settlement. A higher occurrence of natural geohazardsGeohazards, especially the threat of rockfall tRockfall together with the degradation of sandstone cliffsSandstone cliffs due to weathering processes belong among the most pressing challenges of present time.

Zuzana Vařilová
Chapter 12. Neovolcanic Terrain of the České Středohoří Mountains

The České středohoříČeské středohoří Mts. represent the largest volcanic terrainVolcanic terrain in the Czech Republic. Volcanic evolution dates from 37 to 9 Ma ago, but the largest volumes of volcanic rocks were produced in the early phases of volcanic activityVolcanic activity. Current geomorphological characteristics of the area are the result of long-lasting erosional history, being predominantly influenced by the Labe/Elbe River and its tributaries in the central part of the mountain range. The original surface has been locally eroded by hundreds of metres, preserving peculiar conic hills, domes and rock faces. The geomorphological diversity is also enhanced by effects of mass wasting processes from the youngest era of its geological history and by anthropogenic transformations that started in prehistoric times, together forming a landscape that is protected for its geodiversity and biological significance and that helped the world community to understand certain basic volcanic processes and phenomena.

Pavel Raška, Vladimír Cajz
Chapter 13. The Kokořín Area: Sandstone Landforms Controlled by Hydrothermal Ferruginization

The area between the Jizera and Elbe rivers in north-central Bohemia features a southerly dipping package of sedimentary rocks of CretaceousCretaceous age, subjected to modest upliftUplift throughout the Quaternary. The Kokořín sandstone (Middle to Upper Turonian) comprises five superimposed bodies with generally high permeability and low-to-medium resistance to weathering. Most valleys are dry, shaped by occasional flash floodsFlash floods and gravitational processes. Disintegration of vertical cliffCliff faces is dominated by salt weatheringSalt weathering. Specific landforms develop on sandstones cemented by iron oxyhydroxides of hydrothermal origin. These form thin (centimetres to metres), sheet-like bodies, either subvertical or bedding-parallel, and give rise to structural plateausStructural plateaus and mesas, steep erosional ridges and mushroom rocksMushroom rocks. The variety of small-scale relief forms on ferruginous sandstoneFerruginous sandstone is unique at a global scale. The highest elevations in the landscape are formed by exhumed subvolcanic bodiesSubvolcanic bodies. The Kokořín AreaKokořín Area is a perfect example of a sandstone-dominated erosional landscape whose high relief complexity is largely due to the contrasting resistance of rocks to weatheringWeathering.

Jiří Adamovič
Chapter 14. Jizerské Hory—an Interplay of Rock Control, Faulting and Inland Glaciation in the Evolution of a Granite Terrain

The graniteGranite massif of Jizerské horyJizerské hory in the northern part of the Czech Republic is an excellent area to examine different controls on the geomorphic evolution, acting over a long time scale. A protracted period of denudation in the early Cenozoic was followed by upliftUplift and tilting of the plateau to the south in the Neogene. In consequence, the subdued upland topography is truncated by a steep, fault-generated escarpmentEscarpment from the north, incised by valleys with bedrock and boulder-filled channels. Characteristic medium-size landforms include torsTors and cragsCrags of multiple shapes, boulder blankets, waterfallsWaterfalls, whereas weathering pitsWeathering pits and other forms of microrelief typify many exposed granite surfaces. In the Pleistocene the Scandinavian ice sheetScandinavian ice sheet reached the footslopes of the mountains and remodelled bedrock elevations into roches moutonnéesRoches moutonnées. Very small glaciersGlaciers may have existed on lee-slopes of upland elevations, fed by snow blown-in by westerly winds. Torrential floodsFloods and occasional debris slidesDebris slides and flows are main geomorphic processes acting nowadays.

Piotr Migoń
Chapter 15. Krkonoše Mountains: A Case Study of Polygenetic Relief

The KrkonošeKrkonoše Mts—the most elevated terrain in the Czech Republic—have been studied by German, Czech and Polish geomorphologists since the second half of the nineteenth century and in terms of geomorphology belong to the best investigated mountain ranges in Europe. The studies have focused on glacialGlacial and periglacial landformsPeriglacial landforms and brought new findings, also in connection with the representation of landforms so far known only from subarctic locations. However, the main features of the range are genetically connected with protracted planation, neotectonic upliftNeotectonic uplift and structural controlStructural control exerted on the course of weathering, erosion and slope development. Therefore, the most characteristic landforms are extensive water divide planation surfacesPlanation surfaces, granite torsTors, deeply incised valleys, pointed ridges and peaks built of resistant hornfels of contact zone. The history of relief development goes back to at least the Late CretaceousLate Cretaceous, with neotectonic uplift affecting the area in the Neogene and Quaternary. During the PleistocenePleistocene more than 10 glaciers existed in the summit parts, up to 5 km in length. Geomorphic legacy of glaciationGlaciation includes cirques, U-shaped valleys, U-shaped valleys, lateral and frontal morainesMoraines. Steep slopes of cirquesCirques and valleys are frequently modelled by debris flowsDebris flows, triggered by heavy rainfallHeavy rainfall. In the most recent times multiple human activities, mainly mining and agriculture, have modified geomorphology of the area.

Vlastimil Pilous
Chapter 16. Bohemian Paradise: Sandstone Landscape in the Foreland of a Major Fault

The region of Bohemian Paradise in NE Bohemia is the most varied sandstoneSandstone landscape in the Bohemian Cretaceous BasinBohemian Cretaceous Basin. This is caused by the complex stratigraphy of CretaceousCretaceous (Upper Turonian to Coniacian) sediments, abrupt lateral changes in the development of sandstone bodies, intrusions of volcanic rocks and, most of all, by the different response to stresses mediated by the Lusatian FaultLusatian Fault in the NE. The effects of thrusting along the Lusatian Fault include rotation of blocks in its foreland, faulting and brecciation of Cretaceous sandstones, grain cataclasis and silica cementation, and deformation banding. Farther from the Lusatian Fault, stress resulted in the formation of an orthogonal system of vertical joints—a necessary prerequisite for the development of ruiniform relief within the so-called sandstonerock citiesRock cities. A dozen of sandstone districts can be distinguished, representing patches of rugged wilderness in an agriculturally utilized land. They became attractive for vacationers and tourists as early as in the mid nineteenth century, and for climbers from the early twentieth century. The Bohemian Paradise was proclaimed a Protected Landscape Area in 1955 and entered the network of European GeoparksEuropean Geoparks of UNESCO in 2005.

Jan Mertlík, Jiří Adamovič
Chapter 17. Adršpach-Teplice Rocks and Broumov Cliffs—Large Sandstone Rock Cities in the Central Europe

Structural plateausStructural plateaus and cuestasCuestas underlain by sedimentary formations of Late CretaceousLate Cretaceous age are a part of Intra-Sudetic BasinIntra-Sudetic Basin in the northeastern Bohemia. Processes of erosion, weathering, and gravity-driven slope movements created important rock citiesRock cities which originated in differently resistant and tectonically jointed sandstonesSandstones. Rock cities are systems of rock towersRock towers, pillarsPillars, ridges, and cliffsCliffs separated by deep canyonsCanyons, narrow gorgesGorges, and crevicesCrevices. Some of these rock formations are as much as 100 m high. Mesoforms and microforms of weathering and denudation, especially rock perforationsPerforations (rock archesRock arches, windowsWindows), various types of pseudokarst cavesPseudokarst caves, tors,Tors,mushroom rocksMushroom rocks, rock hollows, rock basinsRock basins, and karrenKarren are common. The largest and the most visited rock cities are the Adršpach-Teplice RocksAdršpach–Teplice Rocks (Adršpašsko-teplické skály) and the Broumov CliffsBroumov Cliffs (Broumovské stěny) which belong to Broumovsko Protected Landscape AreaBroumovsko Protected Landscape Area.

Jan Vítek
Chapter 18. Žďárské Vrchy Highland—Geomorphological Landscape in the Top Part of the Bohemian-Moravian Highland with the Unique Crystalline Rocks Forms

Žďárské vrchyŽďárské Vrchy Highland is built by metamorphic rocks and is situated in the upper part of Bohemian-Moravian Highland. A typical feature of Žďárské vrchy is the occurrence of isolated groups of rocks or rock formations (walls, towers, small rock citiesRock cities), which dominate on flat upland ridges. These ridges are separated by open valleys with flat headwaters. Rock formations are limited by vertical walls and often significantly protrude above the surrounding landscape, occasionally reaching heights well above 30 m, although 15 m is the typical height value. The Žďárské vrchy Highland is a part of the Žďárské vrchy Protected Landscape Area and many rock formations were declared as natural monuments. Landforms of the Žďárské vrchy Highland have originated through polygenetic development since the CretaceousCretaceous and are in many ways unique within the highlands in the Variscan Europe.

Karel Kirchner
Chapter 19. The Dyje Canyon-like Valley: Geomorphological Landscape of Deep Valley at the Eastern Part of the Marginal Slope of Bohemian Massif

Southeastern margin of the Bohemian-Moravian HighlandBohemian-Moravian Highland is cut by deep river valleys with incised meandersIncised meanders. The Canyon-like ValleyCanyon-like Valley of the DyjeDyje River belongs to the most important and attractive of them. The valley is embedded into the Paleogene regional planation surfacePlanation surface (etchplainEtchplain) within the hilly land relief, creating sharp morphological contrasts, unique in the Bohemian Highland and in the adjacent part of Austria. The deep valley of Dyje River has become a strategic river since the Middle AgesMiddle Ages, because the valley traditionally formed the border between Austrian countries and the Kingdom of Bohemia. In the period of the Cold War, the area was closed to the public for more than 40 years as it was a part of the “iron curtainIron curtain”. After political changes in the Czech Republic Europe in 1989, the border area was open to the public. Due to rare landscape phenomenon (including landforms), the Dyje valley with its surroundings was declared a national park in 1991 (Podyjí National ParkPodyjí National Park). On the Austrian side of the Dyje River valley, the national park Thayatal was declared in 2000. Three basic relief types have been defined in the study area: (i) Polygenetic regional planation surface, (ii) Fluvial canyon-like valley of the Dyje River and its tributaries and (iii) Polygenetic marginal slope of Bohemian Highland. Within these relief types, a few unique sites are located, related to fluvial erosion, periglacial remodelling of rock slopesRock slopes, selective weathering and denudation. Special attention is devoted to site with Ice cavesIce caves within the largest rock slide in the area, which conditioned the origin of the longest pseudokarst cave system in crystalline rocks in the Czech Republic.

Karel Kirchner
Chapter 20. The Moravian Karst: An Interconnection Between Surface and Subsurface Natural Sceneries

The Moravian KarstMoravian Karst belongs to the famous and frequently visited area with characteristic karst morphology and the largest cave systemsCave Systems in the Czech Republic. The karstKarst evolution history covers a time span between Early CretaceousCretaceous and present. In particular, the Cenozoic processes, driven by climatic oscillations, and tectonic activity at the close contact between the Bohemian Massif and Carpathian orogenic range, have controlled the geomorphological processes and the present morphology of the area. Shallow valleys, and the first horizontal cave passagesCave Passages were formed by streams following a N-S drainage pattern during the latest Oligocene. The Carpathian nappe thrusting over the Bohemian Massif eastern margin occurred during the Early Miocene increased the stream gradients and accelerated fluvial erosion in the whole territory. The Moravian Karst limestoneLimestone belt was dissected by deep canyon-like valley which was subsequently filled with marine clayey deposits during the Mid Miocene transgressionTransgression. The present karst valleys and canyons were cut after the sea retreat. The large cave systems, formed by subsurface streamsSubsurface Streams, were developed in relation to the valley and canyonCanyon incision.

Jaroslav Kadlec, Petr Neruda
Chapter 21. Region of the Rychlebské Hory Mountains—Tectonically Controlled Landforms and Unique Landscape of Granite Inselbergs (Sudetic Mountains)

The Rychlebské horyRychlebské hory Mountains are situated in the north-eastern part of the Bohemian Massif. They are part of Sudetic MountainsSudetic Mountains, which are divided from Sudetic Foreland by the Sudetic Marginal FaultSudetic Marginal Fault. Controlling the mountain front for a length of 130 km, the fault is one of the morphologically most striking features in the Bohemian Massif and has been studied by numerous geologists, geomorphologists, and geophysicists for several last decades. Its Pleistocene seismicitySeismicity was proved by paleoseismological surveyPaleoseismological survey and its recent potential seismic threat is shown by minor historical earthquakesEarthquakes. In contrast to the mountainous relief, the adjacent Žulovská pahorkatinaŽulovská pahorkatina (Hilly Land) forms a unique graniteGranite landscape of gently undulated basal weathering surfaceBasal weathering surface of etchplainEtchplain with numerous low exfoliation domesExfoliation domes, isolated inselbergsInselbergs and rock landforms. Middle Pleistocene continental ice-sheetIce-sheet, which reached the area twice—in ElsterianElsterian 1 and Elsterian 2, influenced the development of rock forms and caves, the latter ones being shaped by its meltwater into characteristic “heart-like” profile Post-glacial (post-SaalianSaalian 1) upliftUplift of the area, which was most probably related to glacioisostatic reboundGlacioisostatic rebound, resulted in removal of glacial deposits and valley deepening. Striking geomorpho-diversity and its scientific value of the entire area remain attractive for nature-lovers regardless their profession.

Petra Štěpančíková, Jakub Stemberk
Chapter 22. Periglacial Landforms of the Hrubý Jeseník Mountains

This chapter deals with the occurrence, morphology and activity of periglacial landformsPeriglacial landforms in the Hrubý JeseníkHrubý Jeseník Mts. Redistribution of snow during the Last Glacial periodLast Glacial period, cold climate and the presence of extensive planation surfacesPlanation surfaces at high elevations have created favourable conditions for the formation and evolution of periglacial landforms, some of which are preserved to this day. Most of these landforms are relict (torsTors, frost-riven cliffsFrost-riven cliffs, cryoplanation terracesCryoplanation terraces, blockfieldsBlockfields, sorted polygonsSorted polygons and nets, and large solifluction stepsSolifluction steps), and only a small part of climatically less demanding periglacial landforms are active (ploughing blocksPloughing blocks, earth hummocksEarth hummocks, small sorted circlesSorted circles, nivation hollowsNivation hollows and small solifluction lobesSolifluction lobes). Special attention is paid to patterned groundPatterned ground, which provides information about current and past freeze-thaw effectiveness. Earth hummocks, found at wind-swept sites, on frost-susceptible, fine-grained regoliths, are the most interesting type of patterned ground. Evidence of present-day activity of earth hummocks are distorted soil horizons, vertical and horizontal displacement of clasts, cryoexpulsion features and cracks on crests of earth hummocks, frequent freeze-thaw cyclesFreeze-thaw cycles and long-term freezing. The origin of earth hummocks has been identified as being at the break of the SubborealSubboreal/SubatlantiSubatlantic. The occurrence and activity of earth hummocks, sorted circles and ploughing blocks at several sites above the alpine timberline of the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. allows us to regard these areas as parts of the mountain periglacial zonePeriglacial zone.

Marek Křížek
Chapter 23. Litovelské Pomoraví—Landscape Around Anastomosing River Pattern of Morava

The MoravaMorava River, rising on the slopes of the Králický SněžníkKrálický Sněžník Mts. at the border with Poland, enters the vast tectonic depression of Hornomoravský úvalHornomoravský úval after ca. 80 km of its course. Here it begins to deposit much of the sediments that were eroded in the mountainous part of the catchment. On the flat bottom of the Hornomoravský úval Basin, the Morava is branching to numerous wide as well as narrow channels creating the dense network of “arteries” similar to branches of a river in delta at the seashore. Modern fluvial geomorphology recognises this unusual river style to be an anastomosed channel patternAnastomosed channel pattern. The present-day channel network consists of the dominant Morava channel, from which numerous side channels are branching fed with water raised in the main channel by weirs. This basic pattern of channels is supplemented by a dense network of smaller, ephemeral channels that are filled with water only during the floodsFloods. Anastomosed channels, in many cases intensively meanderingMeandering, are surrounded by large areas of natural floodplain forestsFloodplain forests. The landscape interwoven with numerous river arms and covered with fertile soils was ideal for construction of mills and establishing permanent settlements. Medieval economical activities stand at the beginning of change of the natural anastomosed fluvial system to the present-day harmonic cultural riverscape.

Zdeněk Máčka
Chapter 24. The Nízký Jeseník—Highland with Abandoned Deep Mines

The Nízký Jeseník is a large flat upland area situated in the north-eastern part of the Bohemian Massif. Despite being rather uniform geologically, its geomorphic diversity is very specific as it includes structural, depositional, erosional, volcanic, periglacial and man-made landforms. The Nízký Jeseník consists chiefly of Lower CarboniferousCarboniferous sedimentary flyschFlysch rocks: greywackesGreywackes (sandstones and conglomerates) alternating with slateSlate or siltstonesSiltstones, which were folded and thrusted during the Variscan orogeny. During the successive long-term evolution the whole massif was shaped by various processes with a long-standing geomorphic impact, including protracted denudation that led to the formation of a vast planation surface. Gradual tertiary tectonic upliftTectonic uplift caused deep incision of rivers. Neogene–Pleistocene volcanic eruptionsVolcanic eruptions formed conical volcanoesVolcanoes, lava flowsLava flows and a lava-dammed lakeLava-dammed lake. Pleistocene evolution under the conditions of periglacial climate shaped asymmetric valleys–dells, whereas gullies and alluvial fans were formed in the Holocene. Finally, the area has been recently affected by human impact, as testified by diverse surface and underground miningUnderground mining and military landformsMilitary landforms.

Jan Lenart
Chapter 25. Black Land: The Mining Landscape of the Ostrava-Karviná Region

The Ostrava-Karviná Mining DistrictOstrava-Karviná mining district is the most significant black coalBlack coalminingMining area in the Czech Republic. The beginnings of coal extraction date back to the end of the eighteenth century while an intensive excavation took place here in the second half of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century. Black coalBlack coal excavation is taking place in the Karviná part of the region to date. Underground black coal mining significantly affected the physical landscape in the whole region. Waste heapsWaste heaps, submerged ground subsidence areasGround subsidence areas and tailings pondsTailings ponds have become the main anthropogenic landformsAnthropogenic landforms. Different geological conditions in the Ostrava and KarvináKarviná parts of the area led to different manifestations of mining activity in the landscape. In the OstravaOstrava part of the district, where the thickness of coal seamsCoal seams was less, more extensive mining-related surface change did not occur to such an extent as it happened in the Karviná area. The Ostrava area can be described as a landscape affected by mining and industry but with maintained residential purpose. In the mining landscape of the Karviná area, original housing estates disappeared in many places to be replaced with mostly semi-natural areas of trees, scrub and/or herbaceous vegetation associations.

Monika Mulková, Petr Popelka, Renata Popelková
Chapter 26. Poodří—Landscape of Ponds and a Preserved Meander Belt of the Odra River

The OdraOdra River is one of the important rivers of Central Europe. Within the Czech Republic it flows through the territory of the Moravian GateMoravian Gate that was glaciated by the continental ice sheetIce sheet several times in the past (ElsterianElsterian and SaalianSaalian glaciations). The territory of the Moravian Gate makes a part of Subcarpathia and is characterised by graben-like morphostructure with DevonianDevonian and CarboniferousCarboniferous, Tertiary and Quaternary sediments. The relief was largely formed during the Quaternary when the terraced system of the Odra River originated. FloodFloodriver branchesRiver branches and ancient river branches were subsequently used by people to build water supply canals for fish pondPond systems. From the point of view of paleogeography, it is a significant territory as it enables understanding of the Quaternary evolution of Central European landscape. The PoodříPoodří Region is a territory of precious natural values that have been created by fluvial processes and also by humans who started to participate in landscape development in the Middle AgesMiddle Ages. Since the medieval times several fish pond systems have constituted a fundamental characteristic feature of the local landscape, which is nowadays appreciated for numerous wetland ecosystems preserved, thanks to the conservation of the meanderingMeandering stream with a natural floodFlood regime. The Poodří landscape has mainly changed when the area of the floodplain forestFloodplain forest was reduced and substituted by meadows. Unstabilised banks and ongoing fluvial processes led to faster retreat of banks and formation of the meander belt. At present the PoodříPoodří landscape is protected and it has also been included in the list of wetland ecosystems of the Ramsar Convention of WetlandsRamsar Convention of Wetlands.

Jan Hradecký, Radek Dušek, Marián Velešík, Monika Chudaničová, Václav Škarpich, Radim Jarošek, Jan Lipina
Chapter 27. Landslide Landscape of the Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mountains and Their Surroundings

Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mts represent the highest part of the Western Carpathians in the Czech Republic and could serve as an archetype of elevated flysch landscape that originated within the Alpine thrust-and-fold beltThrust-and-fold belt. Major landforms of the area originated as a consequence of MioceneMiocenethrustingThrusting, rock controlRock control (alternation of sandstoneSandstone and shaleShale layers of different rock strength), fluvial processesFluvial processes and mass movementsMass movements. Of major importance are ancient and active landslides that play a crucial role in increasing geodiversity of the mountain slopes. The Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mts together with surrounding flysch highlands host the most frequent and developed crevice-type cavesCrevice-type caves in the Czech Republic, which makes this area unique in Central European context. However, increasing tourism together with intensive forest management and other human activities pose a major threat to the landscape underlain by fragile flyschFlysch rocks.

Tomáš Pánek, Jan Lenart
Chapter 28. Strážnické Pomoraví—Holocene Evolution of a Unique Floodplain and Aeolian Landforms

The MoravaMorava River drainage basin is the largest fluvial system of the eastern part of the Czech Republic. The Morava enters the Dolnomoravský úval BasinDolnomoravský úval Basin (northern tip of the Vienna Basin) at its lower course, where a 3.5 km wide floodplainFloodplain is developed. The most interesting section of floodplain may be found between the towns Veselí nad Moravou and Hodonín, where PleistocenePleistocene and HoloceneHolocene sediments of the Morava River are accompanied by the unique complex of lacustrine sediments remodelled by the wind action to the shape of up to 10 m high sand dunesSand dunes. The Morava river was branching into many large as well as small arms in its floodplain, creating an anastomosed channel patternAnastomosed channel pattern. Diverse mosaic of aquatic and (semi)terrestrial habitats were present as it is displayed on old maps of the floodplain. The majority of small anastomosed channels vanished due to the river regulation works started in the nineteenth century and most of the river flow was concentrated into one dominant channel. This channel was affected by substantial deepening, widening and lateral migration in the second half of the twentieth century triggered by river regulation in 1930s. The aerial extent of floodplain inundation was reduced to approximately one-fourth of its original extent due to the construction of floodFlood defence dykes. The Strážnické PomoravíStrážnické Pomoraví region is one of last remaining examples of a lowland meanderingMeandering river with more or less preserved natural dynamics of fluvial processes in the Czech Republic.

Zdeněk Máčka, Jaroslav Kadlec
Chapter 29. Limestone Klippen of the Pavlov Hills

The Pavlov HillsPavlov Hills represent a distinct geomorphological landscape of the Outer Western CarpathiansOuter Western Carpathians in the South Moravia. They comprise a string of limestone klippenLimestone klippen which originated as an interplay of Lower MioceneMiocenenappeNappe tectonics and later selective erosionSelective erosion that removed weak Tertiary flyschFlysch and morphologically enhanced limestoneLimestone blocks. Major morphological features are attributed to the lithology and thrust-and-fold tectonics of Late Jurassic-Late Cretaceous limestones which form the core of individual klippen structures. Monoclinal structuresMonoclinal structures with west-facing escarpmentsEscarpments and rather gentle eastward-oriented dip slopes have been sculptured chiefly by mass movementMass movement and karstificationKarstification. However, besides structural landforms and karst features related to bedrock geology, immediate surroundings of the Pavlov Hills offer some of the famous Late Quaternary localities in Europe involving worldwide known Upper Paleolithic (GravettianGravettian) excavations. More than 25 ka of human inhabitation established a highly valuable cultural landscape with specific habitats of limestone hills resembling Mediterranean landscape, ruins of medieval castles and vineyardsVineyards and picturesque villages in the piedmont of limestone hills.

Tomáš Pánek, Jan Miklín, Karel Kirchner

Geoheritage and Geotourism

Frontmatter
Chapter 30. Geomorphological Heritage and Geoconservation in the Czech Republic

The high lithological and morphological diversity of the Czech Republic presents a basis for geoconservationGeoconservation activities. The conservation of geomorphological heritageGeomorphological heritage has usually been included in general nature conservationNature conservation, so it should be analysed within its context. Nature conservation and protection have a long tradition here; since the Middle AgesMiddle Ages, the forests have been protected, primarily for the hunting reasons, and then for the aesthetic reasons. During the first half of the nineteenth century, first efforts of legal protection appeared (Velký a Malý Bezděz, established around 1833, Žofín forestŽofín forest, established in 1838), and during the second half of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century, conservation of abiotic features of the landscape became more important, but still unsystematic. The first law on the nature protection was adopted in 1956—at that time it was considered progressive legislative tool, but it allowed a lot of exceptions in the interest of miningMining or the construction of transport infrastructure. Today, nature conservation is covered by the Act 114/1992 Coll. that enables landscapes, karstKarst features, mineralsMinerals and fossilsFossils to be protected as well as the establishment of protected areasProtected areas. In addition, there are many other geoconservation activities: the database of geositesGeosites, the database of karst forms or the network of national geoparksGeoparks. Thanks to these activities, the development of geotourismGeotourism and cooperation between scientists, authorities and local people, and the geomorphological heritage in the Czech Republic become more and more important and appreciated by the public.

Lucie Kubalíková
Chapter 31. Promoting Geomorphological Heritage: Bringing Geomorphology to People

Landscapes and landforms have always attracted people’s attention, so visiting geositesGeosites and geomorphositesGeomorphosites is nothing new. In the last years, the number of visitors to the sites has been growing. Of course, the demand of supporting services is also rising. As a result, projects and products focused on promotion of geoheritageGeoheritage began to be more and more important and geotourism as an emerging form of sustainable tourism is gaining more significance. In the Czech Republic, geological and geomorphological heritage is promoted especially within the National GeoparksNational Geoparks and protected areas, and there is also a considerable number of smaller projects (geological gardensGeological gardens or open-air expositions and museums, geo-trailsGeo-trails, etc.). Institutions such as the Czech Geological SurveyCzech Geological Survey, the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech RepublicNature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic or the Cave Administration of the Czech RepublicCave Administration of the Czech Republic also focus on promoting geomorphological heritage; their financing is based mainly on public resources. In the future, sustainability of the support of geomorphological heritage and its conservation and promotion will probably become more and more dependent on the cooperation between various stakeholders—both public and private, both professional and amateur.

Lucie Kubalíková
Backmatter
Metadaten
Titel
Landscapes and Landforms of the Czech Republic
herausgegeben von
Tomáš Pánek
Jan Hradecký
Copyright-Jahr
2016
Electronic ISBN
978-3-319-27537-6
Print ISBN
978-3-319-27536-9
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27537-6