Ore Mountains Attractions Erzgebirge
The Erzgebirge range lies on the German-Czech border, extending for some 130km/80mi from southwest to northeast between the Elstergebirge and the Elbsandsteingebirge (Elbe Sandstone Hills), with a breadth of 40km/25mi. The hills, mainly built up from granites, gneisses, mica schists and porphyries, rise out of the Middle Saxon Uplands, gradually increasing in height towards the southeast from 350-450 m/1,150-1,475ft to 800-900 m/2,600-2,950ft and beyond the crest - which marks the frontier between Germany and the Czech Republic as well as the centuries-old boundary between Saxony and Bohemia - falling steeply down to the Ohre (Eger) rift valley.
The highest peak in the Erzgebirge, Klínovec or Keilberg (1,244 m/4,082ft) lies within Czech Republic; the highest peak on German territory is its neighbor, the Fichtelberg (1214m/3,983ft). The second highest peak in the Saxon Erzgebirge is the Auersberg (1019m/3,343ft), near Johanngeorgenstadt.
Among other prominent peaks are a number of isolated table-like hills in the central Erzgebirge, like the Bärenstein (898 m/2,946ft), the Pöhlberg (832 m/2,730ft) and the Scheibenberg (805 m/2,641ft), in which the gneiss and mica schist have been protected from erosion by covering layers of basalt.
The highest peak in the Erzgebirge, Klínovec or Keilberg (1,244 m/4,082ft) lies within Czech Republic; the highest peak on German territory is its neighbor, the Fichtelberg (1214m/3,983ft). The second highest peak in the Saxon Erzgebirge is the Auersberg (1019m/3,343ft), near Johanngeorgenstadt.
Among other prominent peaks are a number of isolated table-like hills in the central Erzgebirge, like the Bärenstein (898 m/2,946ft), the Pöhlberg (832 m/2,730ft) and the Scheibenberg (805 m/2,641ft), in which the gneiss and mica schist have been protected from erosion by covering layers of basalt.
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