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Bohemian Forest
The Bohemian Forest (known in Czech as Šumava (pronounced [ˈʃumava] ⓘ) and in German as Böhmerwald) is a low mountain range in the Czech Republic, Germany and Austria. The mountains extend from the Plzeň and South Bohemian regions into Upper Austria and Bavaria, and form the highest truncated uplands of the Bohemian Massif, up to 50 kilometres (31 mi) wide. They create a natural border between the Czech Republic on one side and Austria and Germany on the other.
For historical reasons, the Czech and German counterparts have different names in their respective language. In Czech, their side of the forest is called Šumava and the Bavarian side is Zadní Bavorský les ('Bavarian Back Forest'). In German, their end of the forest is Bayerischer Wald ('Bavarian Forest') and the Czech side is Böhmerwald ('Bohemian Forest'). Czech speakers sometimes use Šumava as a name for the entire forest stretching between Bohemia and Germany.[citation needed]
The designation Šumava has been recorded in the late 15th century in Antonio Bonfini's work Rerum unganicarum decades. Folk etymology connects the name's origin to the Czech words šum, šumění (literally 'hum, humming'), denoting the sound of wind in trees. Linguistic consensus defines Šumava as a derivative of a hypothetical Proto-Slavic word *šuma 'dense forest', cf. Serbian šuma as it adjoins regions populated by Sorbs of Lusatia and surrounds (North Eastern Bavaria and Saxony). There are corresponding toponyms in modern-day Serbia, i.e., Šumadija 'land of dense forests'. Modern Serbian maintains the use of the word šuma 'forest' and the toponym Šumava equates to 'forested lands'. [citation needed]
In Ptolemy's ancient maps, the mountain chain is called Gabreta.[citation needed] Greek geographer Strabo calls it Sudeta in his maps.[citation needed] Both names come from Celtic.[citation needed]
The Bohemian Forest consists of densely forested mountains with an average elevation of 800–1,400 metres (2,600–4,600 ft). On the Bavarian side, the highest peak is Großer Arber at 1,456 metres (4,777 ft). On the Bohemian and Austrian side, the highest peak is the Plöckenstein or Plechý in Czech at 1,378 metres (4,521 ft). The most eastern peak is the Sternstein at 1,125 metres (3,691 ft). The range is one of the oldest in Europe, and its mountains have eroded into round forms with few rocky parts. Typical for the Bohemian Forest are plateaus of about 1,000–1,200 metres (3,300–3,900 ft) elevation with fairly harsh climatic condictions and numerous peat bogs.[citation needed]
The Bohemian Forest is the dividing range between the watersheds of the Black Sea and the North Sea, where water collected by the Vltava, Otava, and Úhlava rivers flows. These rivers all spring from the Bohemian Forest. Owing to heavy precipitation (mostly snow), the peat bogs and the Lipno Reservoir, the Šumava region is an important water reservoir for Central Europe. More important for their aesthetic value than for holding water are several lakes of glacial origin.[citation needed]
As a border region, the Bohemian Forest has had a complicated history. In the 20th century, it was part of the Iron Curtain, and large areas were stripped of human settlement. Even before that, settlement was sparse, and for centuries, forests dominated over human dwellings and pathways. These unique circumstances led to the preservation of unspoilt nature and forest ecosystems relatively unaffected by human activity. On the other hand, many habitats dependent on farming activity are slowly turning into forests.
In the Czech Republic, the most valuable area is preserved in the Šumava National Park and Protected Landscape and the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Part of the German section is preserved as the Bavarian Forest National Park. The Bohemian Forest is a popular holiday destination because it is excellent hiking country. Most interesting natural and cultural sights are connected with more than 500 kilometres (310 mi) of summer marked trails and many bike trails. However, park administration is not always successful in its task, and many believe the rapid growth of tourist accommodation and services is destroying the former calm of the Šumava region. Šumava National Park is also suffering from problems connected with bark beetles, and there is a heated debate about how to deal with them.
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Bohemian Forest
The Bohemian Forest (known in Czech as Šumava (pronounced [ˈʃumava] ⓘ) and in German as Böhmerwald) is a low mountain range in the Czech Republic, Germany and Austria. The mountains extend from the Plzeň and South Bohemian regions into Upper Austria and Bavaria, and form the highest truncated uplands of the Bohemian Massif, up to 50 kilometres (31 mi) wide. They create a natural border between the Czech Republic on one side and Austria and Germany on the other.
For historical reasons, the Czech and German counterparts have different names in their respective language. In Czech, their side of the forest is called Šumava and the Bavarian side is Zadní Bavorský les ('Bavarian Back Forest'). In German, their end of the forest is Bayerischer Wald ('Bavarian Forest') and the Czech side is Böhmerwald ('Bohemian Forest'). Czech speakers sometimes use Šumava as a name for the entire forest stretching between Bohemia and Germany.[citation needed]
The designation Šumava has been recorded in the late 15th century in Antonio Bonfini's work Rerum unganicarum decades. Folk etymology connects the name's origin to the Czech words šum, šumění (literally 'hum, humming'), denoting the sound of wind in trees. Linguistic consensus defines Šumava as a derivative of a hypothetical Proto-Slavic word *šuma 'dense forest', cf. Serbian šuma as it adjoins regions populated by Sorbs of Lusatia and surrounds (North Eastern Bavaria and Saxony). There are corresponding toponyms in modern-day Serbia, i.e., Šumadija 'land of dense forests'. Modern Serbian maintains the use of the word šuma 'forest' and the toponym Šumava equates to 'forested lands'. [citation needed]
In Ptolemy's ancient maps, the mountain chain is called Gabreta.[citation needed] Greek geographer Strabo calls it Sudeta in his maps.[citation needed] Both names come from Celtic.[citation needed]
The Bohemian Forest consists of densely forested mountains with an average elevation of 800–1,400 metres (2,600–4,600 ft). On the Bavarian side, the highest peak is Großer Arber at 1,456 metres (4,777 ft). On the Bohemian and Austrian side, the highest peak is the Plöckenstein or Plechý in Czech at 1,378 metres (4,521 ft). The most eastern peak is the Sternstein at 1,125 metres (3,691 ft). The range is one of the oldest in Europe, and its mountains have eroded into round forms with few rocky parts. Typical for the Bohemian Forest are plateaus of about 1,000–1,200 metres (3,300–3,900 ft) elevation with fairly harsh climatic condictions and numerous peat bogs.[citation needed]
The Bohemian Forest is the dividing range between the watersheds of the Black Sea and the North Sea, where water collected by the Vltava, Otava, and Úhlava rivers flows. These rivers all spring from the Bohemian Forest. Owing to heavy precipitation (mostly snow), the peat bogs and the Lipno Reservoir, the Šumava region is an important water reservoir for Central Europe. More important for their aesthetic value than for holding water are several lakes of glacial origin.[citation needed]
As a border region, the Bohemian Forest has had a complicated history. In the 20th century, it was part of the Iron Curtain, and large areas were stripped of human settlement. Even before that, settlement was sparse, and for centuries, forests dominated over human dwellings and pathways. These unique circumstances led to the preservation of unspoilt nature and forest ecosystems relatively unaffected by human activity. On the other hand, many habitats dependent on farming activity are slowly turning into forests.
In the Czech Republic, the most valuable area is preserved in the Šumava National Park and Protected Landscape and the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Part of the German section is preserved as the Bavarian Forest National Park. The Bohemian Forest is a popular holiday destination because it is excellent hiking country. Most interesting natural and cultural sights are connected with more than 500 kilometres (310 mi) of summer marked trails and many bike trails. However, park administration is not always successful in its task, and many believe the rapid growth of tourist accommodation and services is destroying the former calm of the Šumava region. Šumava National Park is also suffering from problems connected with bark beetles, and there is a heated debate about how to deal with them.
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