Karkonosze
Encyclopedia : K : KA : KAR : Karkonosze
Karkonosze Mountains (pronounced kár-ko-no-she) in Polish or [Krkonoše] in Czech (known as Giant Mountains in English, or Riesengebirge in German) is a mountain range, part of the Sudetes in Central Europe. The name is fairly ancient, appearing in the name of a people listed in Ptolemy as the Corconti. It may be Pre-Indo-European. The meaning was preserved, appearing in mediaeval Latin Gigantei montes.
The mountains stretch from north-west to south-east and form the border between Poland and the Czech Republic. The highest mountain is "Śnieżka" (in Polish)/ "Sněžka" (in Czech), 1602 metres above sea level. Situated on the Czech-Polish border it is also the highest mountain peak in Czech Republic. Large areas of Karkonosze Mountains are preserved as a national park by both countries. The mountains are famous for its skiing resorts and are growing in importance as a less expensive and, in some cases, nearer alternative to the Alps for tourism.
Important towns in Karkonosze Mountains are:
- Karpacz ski resort in Poland
- Szklarska Poręba ski resort in Poland
- Špindlerův Mlýn mountain resort in the Czech Republic
- Harrachov in the Czech Republic
- Pec pod Sněžkou mountain resort in the Czech Republic
- Przesieka in Poland
- Kowary in Poland
See also
External links
- [Official Krkonošský národní park website] (Czech)
- [Official Karkonoski Park Narodowy website] (Polish)
- [Wide information about Karkonosze] (Polish)
- [Portal for Krkonose / Giant Mountains region] (Czech, German, English, Polish)
- [Polish Karkonosze website and virtual map] (Polish)
- [Polen Riesengebirge] (German)
- [Photo of Karkonosze]
- [Karkonosze - information, history] (Polish)
- [Accommodation Giant Mountains] (English)
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