When asked where the Ore Mountains are located, there are several answers. The most famous mountain range of the same name on the border of Bohemia (Czech Republic) and Saxony (Germany). This region has been known since ancient times as a center for the extraction of copper, silver, tin, and iron. It is one of the origins of metallurgy in Europe. Slovakia has its own Ore Mountains, representing a part of the Western Carpathians. This name is also found in the toponymy of other countries.
Geology
The Rudnye Mountains belong to the Hercynian folding and are a “fragment” of the supercontinent Rodinia, which broke apart 750 million years ago. Their area is 18,000 km2. Later, in the Tertiary period, during the formation of the Alps, a fault occurred, and the southeastern part of the mountains rose high above the surrounding landscape.
In its history, the territory has been subjected to powerfultectonic impact, which is reflected in the layered structure of rocks: granites, gneisses, sandstone, iron, copper-tin ores and others. Through hundreds of millions of years of erosion, the once-pointed peaks have actually turned into gentle hills.
The southeastern block, facing the Czech Republic, rises in a steep ledge above the Bohemian basin with elevation changes up to 700 m. The northwestern block, facing Germany, descends smoothly, forming an extensive water network.
Where are the Ore Mountains
This massif is located in Central Europe, being a natural border between the Czech Republic and Germany. It is a continuous ridge with a length of more than 150 kilometers, oriented along the northeast - southwest line. Highest Peaks:
- Klinovets (1244 m).
- Fichtelberg (1214 m).
- Svalbard (1120 m).
- Auersberg (1022 m).
The picturesque area is very popular among tourists, there are dozens of large balneological, ski, climatic resorts. It is easily accessible from Dresden, Prague, Karlovy Vary.
Ore Mountains, Czech Republic
The state border divides the array into two unequal parts. The Czech part is called Krushne Gori and is bounded by the Ohře River. It is smaller than the German one (about 6000 km2), but much steeper.
Powerful uplift led to the formation of many deep transverse valleys on the southeastern slope. ATIn ancient times, there were several large lakes, which subsequently dried up. The rivers are short, fast, some of them have dams. Krushne Gori is famous for its healing springs: Teplice, Karlovy Vary, Bilina, Jachymov and others.
The climate in the region is unpredictable with rapid weather changes. It is distinguished by strong winds of the northern and western directions, hurricanes are not uncommon. High humidity (1000-1200 mm of precipitation) contributes to the formation of fogs (90-125 days a year).
Winters are cold and snowy. Frosts are possible even in June, and starting from September. Summers are cool and rainy, real heat sets in closer to August and lasts 2-3 weeks. The average temperature at altitudes of 900-1200 m is 4-2.5 °C. Thanks to the abundance of snow in winter, ski resorts operate here.
The Ore Mountains in the Czech Republic are rich in minerals and organic fossils. Known deposits of tungsten, iron, cob alt, nickel, tin, copper, lead, silver, coal. Uranium deposits were discovered in the 20th century.
Coal mining
The North Bohemian brown coal basin is located in the central part of the Ore Mountains. It was formed on the site of a rift valley that existed in the Miocene. According to geologists, over 20 million years, up to half a kilometer of sedimentary layer has accumulated here, including organic matter, sand, and clay.
Over time, the Rudnye mountains "compressed" the rift valley, forming a coal seam 25-45 meters thick. Intensive coal mining began in the 19th century. Uncontrolled economic activity has led to a significant change in the landscapeand ecological disaster. Large tracts of forests were cut down, toxic substances got into the soil. Reclamation projects of recent decades have partially restored the ecosystem, and lakes have formed on the site of a number of quarries, attracting tourists. At the moment, there are several mines, but their production is limited.
Erzgebirge
The German Ore Mountains (also called the Erzgebirge) are flatter, although there are also peaks over 1000 meters. They are very picturesque, overgrown with forest. In the Pirna region (near Dresden), due to the weathering of soft rocks, amazing geological formations were formed in the form of granite walls. This region is called "Saxon Switzerland". A wall of bas alt pillars rises near Scheibenberg.
The climate in this area is temperate. Mostly westerly winds bring moist air masses from the Atlantic, warmed up by the Gulf Stream in winter. At altitudes above 900 m, the average annual temperatures are 3-5 °C. The amount of precipitation is about 1100 mm. The ridges of the Ore Mountains are among the snowiest in Germany. According to historical data, winters were so severe that even cattle froze to death in barns, and in April there were snowfalls that completely swept houses. Now winters are milder, with frequent thaws.
The Ore Mountains in Saxony are also rich in natural resources, but their industrial potential is almost exhausted. According to excavations, copper was mined here at the dawn of the Bronze Age. Now the unique historical and cultural landscape is protected as part ofUNESCO World Heritage Site.
Erzgebirge has a high population density. Large cultural and historical centers are located along its perimeter: Dresden, Chemnitz, Plauen, Zwickau, Auz, Gera. The industry of the region is one of the most developed in Germany. More than 60% of employees are employed in the metallurgical, electrical and engineering industries.
The impact of the anthropogenic factor is certainly great. The development of mining required a significant amount of wood. In some areas, the forests were completely cut down. Ecosystems are being restored. There are several national parks in the Ore Mountains, but even outside the protected areas, a large area is devoted to green spaces.
Rudogorye
Slovak ore mountains are medium-high mountains located in the central-eastern part of the country. They are one of the ranges of the Western Carpathians. They stretch along the line "west - east" for 140 (according to other sources - 160) kilometers, the average width is 40 km, the area of the array is about 4000 km2.
The border of the northern Rudogorye runs along the Gron River, the southern - along the Ipel River. The landscape is reminiscent of the Czech-German Ore Mountains. The peaks are mostly gentle, sometimes with pointed remnants, the slopes smoothly turn into valleys. The highest are Mount Stolitsa (1476 m) and Mount Polyana (1468 m).
Nature
The mountains are composed of both strong crystalline and limestone rocks subject to karst formation. In the XIV-XIX centuries, the region was a major metallurgical center. Heremined antimony, copper, iron, gold. To date, most of the metal ore deposits have been depleted, but the extraction of non-metallic minerals continues: magnesites, talc and others.
Nature is typical of the mountainous regions of Central Europe. On the northern, colder slopes, coniferous forests grow. Deciduous species predominate in the southern ones: beech, ash, hornbeam, oak and others. There are three National Parks on the territory of the Slovak Ore Mountains:
- "Slovak Paradise".
- "Slovak Karst".
- "Murano Plateau".
Caucasus
The Caucasus Mountains are also sometimes called ore mountains. This is due to significant mineral reserves. A feature of the region is the deep occurrence of minerals concentrated in places where igneous rocks are concentrated.
The Caucasus Mountains are rich in ore minerals, because powerful tectonic processes have taken place (and are now taking place) since the Paleozoic. Manganese is mined in Georgia (the Chiatura deposit). Large deposits of iron have been found in Kabardino-Balkaria (Malkinskoye deposit), Azerbaijan (Dashkesanskoye), Armenia (Abovyanskoye, Razdanskoye). Tungsten, copper, mercury, zinc, cob alt, molybdenum, lead and other metals are also mined.
