Karkonosze
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Karkonosze (Polish; pronounced kár-ko-no-she) or Krkonoše (Czech) is a mountain range in the Sudetes in Central Europe. The range is also sometimes known as the Giant Mountains (German: Riesengebirge). 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
[edit] See also
[edit] 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)
- Pictures of Giant Mountains, informations (Polish)
- Polish Karkonosze website and virtual map (Polish)
- Polen Riesengebirge (German)
- Photo of Karkonosze
- Karkonosze - information, history (Polish)
- Accommodation Giant Mountains (English)
- Szklarska Poręba (Polish)
- Karkonosze (Polish)
- Giant mountains tourist informations (English)
cs:Krkonoše de:Riesengebirge eo:Gigantmontaro fr: Karkonosze nl:Reuzengebergte pl:Karkonosze ru:Крконоше
