Sudetes, Mountain range between Czech Republic and Poland.
The Sudetes are a mountain range between the Czech Republic and Poland, running from the Elbe Valley to the Moravian Gate. Most peaks reach 800 to 1,200 meters in elevation, though some mountains in the eastern section rise above 1,600 meters.
Mining and metalworking shaped the region since medieval times, with silver and tin attracting settlers from across Europe. Border shifts after 1945 led to the expulsion of German inhabitants and resettlement by Polish and Czech families.
In towns like Jelenia Góra, spa houses from the 19th century still welcome visitors today. Many villages on the mountain slopes maintain wood carving and local crafts visible in small workshops throughout the area.
Several marked trails connect villages and ridges on both sides of the border, often with short climbs through forested slopes. In winter, higher peaks may have icy paths, while lower valleys remain easier to reach year-round.
In some valleys, rare alpine plants grow at lower elevations because cold air currents from glacial times still flow through narrow gorges. Fossilized coral reefs from an ancient sea lie exposed in quarries near Stramberk, showing marine life from hundreds of millions of years ago.
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