| Giant Mountains | |
|---|---|
| Krkonoše / Karkonosze | |
 Sněžka – the highest peak of the Giant Mountains | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Sněžka / Śnieżka |
| Elevation | 1,603 m (5,259 ft) |
| Coordinates | 50°44′10″N 15°44′25″E / 50.73611°N 15.74028°E |
| Naming | |
| Etymology | "Giant"+"Mountains" (see Names) |
| Geography | |
 | |
| Countries | Czech Republic and Poland |
| Regions, Voivodeship | Liberec, Hradec Králové and Lower Silesian |
| Subdivisions | Western Giant Mountains, Eastern Giant Mountains, Wielki Staw and Mały Staw |
| Rivers | Elbe, Jizera, Úpa, Mumlava, Bóbr and Kamienna |
| Range coordinates | 50°46′N 15°37′E / 50.767°N 15.617°E |
| Borders on | Jizera Mountains and Rudawy Janowickie |
| Geology | |
| Orogenies |
|
| Rock age(s) | Neoproterozoic and Paleozoic |
| Rock types |
|
The Giant Mountains, Krkonoše, or Karkonosze (Czech: [ˈkr̩konoʃɛ] , Polish pronunciation: [karkɔˈnɔʂɛ] , German: Riesengebirge pronounced [ˈʁiːzn̩ɡəˌbɪʁɡə] ), are a mountain range located in the north of the Czech Republic and the south-west of Poland, part of the Sudetes mountain system (part of the Bohemian Massif). The Czech–Polish border, which divides the historic regions of Bohemia and Silesia, runs along the main ridge. The highest peak, Sněžka (Polish: Śnieżka), is the Czech Republic's highest natural point with an elevation of 1,603 metres (5,259 ft).
On both sides of the border, large areas of the mountains are designated national parks (Krkonoše National Park in the Czech Republic and Karkonosze National Park in Poland),[1] and these together comprise the Krkonoše/Karkonosze Transboundary Biosphere Reserve under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme.[2] The source of the River Elbe is within the Giant Mountains. The range has a number of major ski resorts, and is a popular destination for tourists engaging in downhill and cross-country skiing, hiking, cycling and other activities.
- ^ "Karkonoski National Park". National Parks. University of Adam Mickiewicz. 2008. Archived from the original on June 14, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
- ^ UNESCO (2011). "The Krkonoše / Karkonosze Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (BRKK)" (PDF). UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on the Czech-Polish boundary. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Culture Organization. p. 36. Archived from the original (PDF file, direct download 2.00 MB) on May 1, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2013.