4. Protection of nature
The Czech Republic is a country which appreciates its
natural beauty and rarities, and therefore protects them.
Longtime care and protection have preserved the
authentic landscape of Central Europe, where many
endangered animal and plant species prosper.
5. Categories of protected areas
National Parks (NP) - the most important category. NP are large areas
that are unique both on a national and international scale. NP are territories
with preserved natural environments or ecosystems that have not been
greatly affected by human activity.
Protected Landscape Areas (PLA) - are large territories with
landscapes formed in harmony, with characteristically developed reliefs, a
significant portion of natural ecosystems of forest and continuing herbage,
rich representations of tree species and preserved monuments of historical
settlements.
National nature reserves and Nature reserves – are relatively
small areas that have extraordinary natural value.
National natural monument and Natural monument - signifies
a natural formation in fragments of ecosystems with regional ecological,
scientific or aesthetic significance, though formed by man through his
activities performed together with nature.
7. Protected Landscape Areas (PLA)
Protected landscape area is a Czech national
category intended to protect larger areas or entire
geographic areas with harmoniously formed
landscapes, characteristic reliefs and prevalence of
natural or, more precisely, half-natural ecosystems.
The high natural and landscape value of the
territory and its harmonious utilization are
recognized on an international scale.
There are 25 PLA in the Czech Republic
8. PLA in Eastern Bohemia
Broumovsko – 410 km²
Český ráj (The Bohemian Paradise) – 182 km²
Orlické hory (The Eagle Mountains) – 204 km²
Železné hory (The Iron Mountains) – 284 km²
Žďárské vrchy (The Zdarske Highlands) – 709 km²
9. Czech National Parks
Šumava National Park
Krkonoše National Park
Bohemian Switzerland National Park
Podyjí National Park
10. Šumava NP
Proclaimed: 1991
Location: An extensive part of
the Šumava mountain range
on the Czech Republic's
southwest borders with
Germany and Austria.
Area: 690 km²
Highest point: 1.378 m
(Plechý)
Lowest point: 600 m (Otava
valley by Rejštejn)
Šumava NP includes the
remains of primeval forest
mountainous growths,
glacial lakes and valley
moors.
11. Bohemian Switzerland NP
Proclaimed: 2000
Location: Located on the northwest
border with Germany. It links to
the Sächsische Schweiz (Saxonian
Switzerland) National Park on the
German side, which was
established 10 years prior (1990).
Area: 79 km²
Highest point: 619 m (Růžový vrch)
Lowest point: 116 m (Hřensko)
Bohemian Switzerland NP is a
part of the more extensive
geomorphological set of the
Elbe Sandstone rocks.
12. Podyjí NP
Proclaimed: 1991
Location: Halfway between the cities of
Znojmo and Vranov nad Dyjí, on
the border with Austria. The
Austrian National Park Thayatal is
located on the other side of the Dyje
River. Both parks make up a bilateral
area unique in Europe.
Area: 63 km² (the smallest one)
Highest point: 536 m above sea level
Lowest point: 207 m above sea level
This national park represents an
excellently preserved example of
river valley countryside in the
hilly level of Central Europe.
The area is also exceptional in its
diverse array of plant and animal
life.
13. Krkonoše NP (KRNAP)
Proclaimed: 1963
Location: It extends over the
northeast part of Bohemia
along the Polish border. The
territory belongs to the
Krkonoše-Jeseníky (Sudeten)
system in terms of the
Bohemian highlands.
Total area: 549 km²
Altitude above sea level: 400
to 1.602 m (Sněžka)
KRNAP is one of the most
important protected
landscape areas in the
Czech Republic and is also
one of the largest parks in
Europe.
14. KRNAP – more information
Krkonoše NP is among the worldwide biosphere reservations
within the Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme of
UNESCO.
Krkonoše NP and Karkonoski park narodowy, which lies on
the Polish side of a border, form Bilateral Biosphere
Reserve Krkonose/Karkonosze from 1992.
15. Average temperature: +6°C - 0°C
Rainfall: 800-1600 mm a year, snow 150-300 cm
( even 180 days a year)
Plants: over 1300 species
Vertebrates: 240 species (57 of mammals, 165 of birds)
Vegetation level:
o submontane: 480 - 800 meters above sea level;
leafy and mixed forests
o mountain: 800 – 1.200 meters above sea level;
pine forests and mountain meadows
o subalpine: 1.200 – 1.450 meters above sea level;
shrub growth, marshland and glacial cirques
o alpine: 1.450 – 1.602 meters above sea level;
lichen, grassy and stony tundra
