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Czech versionEnglish Orography

Orlické hory are an integral part of a highland barrier creating natural border of the Czech fold. Belonging to Sudetic system, protrude by protracted ridge of more than 50 km/30 miles length on the north-east edge of the Czech state reaching 1000m/600 miles height. The highest point Velká Deštná runs to 1115 m.

 

Geomorphologicaly it is divided into three parts :

 

U Pěticestí near Kunštátská kaple Deštenská highland is the highest and largest northwest part, with a ridge shaped by Vrchmezí (1084 m), Šerlich (1025 m), Malá Deštná (1090 m), Velká Deštná (1115 m), Jelenka (1097 m), Koruna ( Orel 1099 m), Homole (1001 m), Tetřevec (1043 m), Kunštátská kaple (1035 m) and Anenský vrch (995 m). Its northeast steep slope is formed by a tectonic shift. Southwest slopes project by gentle branches Zakletý (991 m).

 

Mladkovská highland is the smallest and lowest part, except Adam (765 m) and Studený (720 m) does not exceed 700 m. Lowered ridge is transect by Divoká and Tichá Orlice.

 

Bukovohorská highland is the last cape to the east, divided by Červenovodské saddle (815 m ) onto northern Suchý vrch (995 m) and southern Buková hora (958 m) part.

 


Geologic evolution

Orlické Mountains are composed by moldanubic, ie. series of rocks generated during sedimentation in precambric sea and wrinkled later into mountain chains and composed of slates, agglomerates, sandstones. All the highest parts have been later took down by water erosion, only the deeply embedded parts which due to high temperatures underwent principal changes remained. These metamorphosed rocks (called crystallic slates - gneiss, mica schist, limestone and quartzite) together with deep-mined igneous rocks (granite) create the Orlické MountainsShortly before mesozoic, in the perm period, in water basins red stones sedimented (mostly claystones and fine-grained arkose sandstones) creating a formation known as the saxon . That is mostly extended on foothills in the Náchod environs.

During tertiary, earthen floes lifted up along shifts and so the main ridge was created - by an crank of a plain followed by an elevation to the northeast.

 


Hydrogeography

Orlické Mountains create Labe-Odra water divide, dewatered by Divoká and Tichá (Silent) Orlice (Rash and Silent Eagle River), both supplied by numerous creeks and brooks running off slopes, mainly western ones.


Zemská brána (Land Gate)Divoká Orlice (Rash Eagle River) springs in moorlands Topielisko and Czarne Bagno in Poland and up to Zemská Brána (Land Gate) it shapes the country border. Through a wild rocky valley than enters to the country, supplying the Pastviny dam built here during 1932-1938.


Tichá Orlice (Silent Eagle River) rises in a fold of Jeřáb (Rowan) hang (1000m) near Králíky. Up to Mladkov it flows west, than turns south.

 


Hydrogeography

Almost all mountain ridges trend approximately northeast-southeast and influence considerably climatic progression. Winds of the western direction prevail, in the winter time tough wind from Klodsko called Polák (Polish guy) winds.

The highest precipitations are falling down at the ridge top, reaching 1200 mm per year. The coldest area is Velká Deštná (Rainy Hill) with the average temperature 4,2°C/year.

 

 

INTERESTING PLACES

Anenský vrch

Bartošovice v O.h.

Bukačka

Czarne bagno

Černý důl

Čertův důl

Čihák

Deštné

Dobrošov

Hadinec

Hanička

Komáří vrch

Kunštátská kaple

Kunvald

Luisino Údolí

Neratov

Olešnice v O.h.

Orlice - Divoká, Tichá

Orlické Záhoří

Pastviny

Rokytnice v O.h.

Říčky

Sedloňov

Sedloňovský černý kříž

Suchý vrch

Šerlich

Šerlišský mlýn

Velká Deštná

Vrchmezí

Vrchní Orlice

Zdobnice

Zemská brána

Orlické hory - © 2001 - 2002, Roman Zakopal        translation: V. Mátlová

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