The Nature of the Ore Mountains
The Ore Mountains have three
faces. Into the flat northern descent cut long, narrow valleys, which are
the habitat for many protected species of animals and plants due to their
cool, damp climate, inaccessible scarps, rocks and boulders. Further
mountain meadows rich in species developed in higher locations because of
the extensive cultivation for centuries.
At the 150 km long main ridge
huge mosses developed in thousands of years. Now many species found here
their last retreats in Middle Europe. The signs of the forest decline that
has happened in the 80ies are nowadays hardly apperent. Instead of the
former monocultures of spruces we mostly find colourful mixed forests of
birch, larch and spruce today.
Into the Bohemian Basin the
Ore Mountains break with steep, rocky walls, which appear localley almost
alpine. On the sun-exposed slopes prevail beeches and mixed deciduous
forests, whereas on the shadowy north-exposed slopes dominate birches,
spruces, larches and mountains ashes, the charakter tree of the Ore
Mountains.
Further information:
Landscape:
www.wildes-erzgebirge.de
Nature protection: www.erzgebirgsnatur.de
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Mountains ash
Beech forest at southern slopes |
