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Labské pískovce >> Introduction Labské pískovce

Introduction Labské pískovce

Address and contacts: Správa CHKO Labské pískovce (Administration of Labské pískovce PLA) Teplická 424/69 405 02 Děčín Phone: +420 412 518 287, +420 412 518 929 Fax: +420 412 518 202 Email: labpis@ + suffix nature.cz www.labskepiskovce.nature.cz

Landscape attribute:

Mesozoic chalk sediments dominate the area. Later igneous activity shattered the 1 km-wide sandstone plate. For further millions of years, various erosion forces formed the landscape. The typical features of this area are gorges and canyons surrounded by sandstone towers and near "rock towns" in some parts. The Labe canyon between Děčín and Hřensko represents a unique natural formation. The Kamenice and Křinice streams are its important water sources. Visitors can pass through the Kamenice stream gorges. The plant species are conditioned by the slightly atrophied sandstone bedrock, extreme temperature changes and lack of moisture. On the Tertiary basalt and phonolite igneous rocks, herbaceous-rich beech forests occur, with undergrowth of Dentaria enneaphyllos, (pepperwort), Daphne mezereum or Galium odoratum, for example. Cryophilous flora is represented by Huperzia selago (fir clubmoss), Viola biflora and Blechnum spicant. Ravines and humid rock walls are covered by rare and significant Ledum palustre (Labrador-tea) and by a whole range of mosses and Hepaticae (liverworts). There are some interesting moss species here.

Due to the variety of the area, a wide range of animals live here in relatively little territory. There are numerous game species, especially Cervus Elaphus (deer), Capreolus capreolus (roebuck) and sus scrofa (wild boar). Martes martes (marten) and canis lupus (fox) are also common here, as well as sorex (shrew) on the rocks. Lynx lynx (lynx) has reappeared here, which, as an indigenous forest animal in the forests of the Czech Republic, deserves broad protection. Near to the streams are Alcedo atthis (kingfisher), Motacilla cinerea (gray wagtail) and Cinclus cinclus (white-breasted dippers). The seven species of owl here include Bubo bubo (eagle owl), Glaucidium passerinum (pygmy owl) and Aegolius funereus (Tengmalm’s owl). It is still a breeding ground for two or three pairs of Ciconia nigra (black stork), while other bird species live in the rocks.

Traces of human activity from the stone-age up to the present day have been found here. A number of villages and settlements were established and the main roads were protected by the castles on the rocks. Labské pískovce has attracted tourists, climbers and countryside-lovers since the 18^th century.

Basic data: Area: 250 km2 Location: 50°46´ - 50°59´ N, 13°59´ - 14°29´ E Altitude: 115 m (Labe river at Hřensko) - 723 m (Děčínský Sněžník) Designation: Ministry of Culture order (No. 4946/1972) Small-scale protected areas in the PLA:     - 10 Nature reserves     - 5 Nature monuments Božídarské rašeliniště, Jezerka, Novodomské rašeliniště a Úhošť national nature reserves (lying outside the PLA) are also administred by the Administration of Labské pískovce PLA.

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