Snieznik Mountains

Snieznik Mountains in the geomorphological system of Poland

The Snieznik Mountains is a mesoregion of the Eastern Sudetes within the Sudetes in the Bohemian Massif. All the highest mountains are located close to the Czech-Polish border or on the Czech side. The largest mountains are:

• Králický Sněžník, 1,423 m (4,669 ft)
• Mały Śnieżnik, 1,327 m (4,354 ft)
• Sušina, 1,321 m (4,334 ft)
• Hraniční skály, 1,320 m (4,330 ft)
• Podbělka, 1,308 m (4,291 ft)
• Černá kupa, 1,295 m (4,249 ft)
• Stříbrnická, 1,251 m (4,104 ft)
• Babuše, 1,246 m (4,088 ft)
• Uhlisko, 1,241 m (4,072 ft)
• Slamník, 1,232 m (4,042 ft)

The territory has an area of 276 square kilometres (107 sq mi), of which 200 km² (77 sq mi) in Poland and 76 km² (29 sq mi) in the Czech Republic.[1]

Three main European watersheds pass through the Snieznik Mountains and they meet at Klepáč mountain (1145 m). Králický Sněžník forms an important hydrographic node, its territory belongs to three seas – the Black, North and Baltic Seas. The Morava River, which originates below the peak of Králický Sněžník, drains its waters into the Black Sea. The Lipkovský stream with its tributaries flows into the North Sea. The waters of the Eastern Neisse and its tributaries flow into the Baltic Sea.[1]

Due to the terrain, there are no significant settlements here.

The territory of the massif is mainly formed by metamorphosed rocks – gneiss and schist.[1]

On the Polish side the mountain range is largely covered by the protected area called Śnieżnik Landscape Park. On the Czech side, an area of 17.08 km² (6.59 sq mi) is protected as a national nature reserve.[2]