Owl Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Owl Mountains is a mountain range
in the Central Sudetes in south-west Poland
. It runs between the historic Lower Silesia
n region and Kłodzko Land
. The range includes a protected area
called Owl Mountains Landscape Park
.
In the Owl Mountains, apart from the main ridge, the subdivisions of Garb Dzikowca and Wzgórza Wyrębińskie can be distinguished. The Owl Mountains cover an area of about 200 square kilometers and stretch over 26 kilometers. They are situated between the Wałbrzyskie Mountains (from the west) and the Bardzkie Mountains
(from the east). Their east border is marked out by Przełęcz Srebrna (a mountain pass), and the line of west border is set by the Bystrzyca river. In the north, the border is on Kotlina Dzierżoniowska and in the south on Obniżenie Noworudzkie and Włodzickie Hills. The Owl Mountains constitute the oldest part of the Sudetes. At their foot are well-known tourist places, like: Rzeczka
, Walim
, Sokolec
, Jugów
, Sierpnica
, and Zagórze Śląskie
.
The Owl Mountains are very diversified in terms of height. The highest peaks are Wielka Sowa
("Great Owl"; 1015 metres in altitude) and Kalenica
(964 m) with its viewing tower. The remaining peaks reach the height from 600 to 980 metres above sea level. Except for the summit clearings and the mountain passes, the Owl Mountains represent the spruce-clad type of mountains. There may be also observed a rare occurrence of the beech and the yew.
The Owl Mountains are covered by a network of touist trails. The most attractive of these the red trail leading through all the highest peaks. The favourite tourist destinations of the Owl Mountains include: the Stone Tower on Wielka Sowa, the viewing tower on Kalenica, Grodno Castle in Zagórze Śląskie, the adit complexes of Project Riese
near Walim, and the Mining Museum in Nowa Ruda.
Major towns of the Owl Mountains include:
Between the Owl Mountains and the Kamienne Mountains:
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
in the Central Sudetes in south-west Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. It runs between the historic Lower Silesia
Lower Silesia
Lower Silesia ; is the northwestern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia; Upper Silesia is to the southeast.Throughout its history Lower Silesia has been under the control of the medieval Kingdom of Poland, the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy from 1526...
n region and Kłodzko Land
Kłodzko Land
Kłodzko Land is a historical region in southwestern Poland. Geographically speaking Kłodzko Land consists of the Kłodzko Valley and the surrounding Sudetes mountains. It is named after its capital city, Kłodzko....
. The range includes a protected area
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
called Owl Mountains Landscape Park
Owl Mountains Landscape Park
Owl Mountains Landscape Park is a protected area in the Owl Mountains in south-western Poland, established in 1991, covering an area of ....
.
In the Owl Mountains, apart from the main ridge, the subdivisions of Garb Dzikowca and Wzgórza Wyrębińskie can be distinguished. The Owl Mountains cover an area of about 200 square kilometers and stretch over 26 kilometers. They are situated between the Wałbrzyskie Mountains (from the west) and the Bardzkie Mountains
Bardzkie Mountains
The Bardzkie Mountains is a mountain range in Central Sudetes in Poland.Major towns:* Bardo* Ząbkowice Śląskie* Kamieniec Ząbkowicki* Srebrna Góra* Kłodzko...
(from the east). Their east border is marked out by Przełęcz Srebrna (a mountain pass), and the line of west border is set by the Bystrzyca river. In the north, the border is on Kotlina Dzierżoniowska and in the south on Obniżenie Noworudzkie and Włodzickie Hills. The Owl Mountains constitute the oldest part of the Sudetes. At their foot are well-known tourist places, like: Rzeczka
Rzeczka
Rzeczka is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Walim, within Wałbrzych County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany....
, Walim
Walim, Lower Silesian Voivodeship
Walim is a village in Wałbrzych County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Walim. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany....
, Sokolec
Sokolec, Lower Silesian Voivodeship
Sokolec is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Nowa Ruda, within Kłodzko County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany....
, Jugów
Jugów
Jugów is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Nowa Ruda, within Kłodzko County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany....
, Sierpnica
Sierpnica
Sierpnica is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Głuszyca, within Wałbrzych County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland, close to the Czech border...
, and Zagórze Śląskie
Zagórze Slaskie
Zagórze Śląskie is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Walim, within Wałbrzych County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland....
.
Wielka Sowa
Wielka Sowa is the highest mountain in the Owl Mountains, part of Central Sudetes. Its height is 1014,8 meters. It lies in Owl Mountains Landscape Park.The mountain located in Dzierżoniów County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland....
("Great Owl"; 1015 metres in altitude) and Kalenica
Kalenica
Kalenica is a mountain in the Owl Mountains, part of Central Sudetes. Its height is 964 meters. It lies in Owl Mountains Landscape Park.The mountain located in Dzierżoniów County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland.-External links:*...
(964 m) with its viewing tower. The remaining peaks reach the height from 600 to 980 metres above sea level. Except for the summit clearings and the mountain passes, the Owl Mountains represent the spruce-clad type of mountains. There may be also observed a rare occurrence of the beech and the yew.
The Owl Mountains are covered by a network of touist trails. The most attractive of these the red trail leading through all the highest peaks. The favourite tourist destinations of the Owl Mountains include: the Stone Tower on Wielka Sowa, the viewing tower on Kalenica, Grodno Castle in Zagórze Śląskie, the adit complexes of Project Riese
Project Riese
File:Project Riese - map.PNG|thumb|right|495px|Project Riese. Click on the locations to see details.rect 81 48 88 55 rect 171 248 178 255 rect 241 219 248 226 rect 235 235 242 242 rect 204 247 211 254 rect 260 241 267 248 rect 234 271 241 278...
near Walim, and the Mining Museum in Nowa Ruda.
Major towns of the Owl Mountains include:
- BielawaBielawaBielawa is a town in south-western Poland with 31,988 inhabitants . It is situated in Dzierżoniów County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship ; previously it has been a part of the Wałbrzych Voivodeship ....
- DzierżoniówDzierzoniówDzierżoniów is a town in southwestern Poland. It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship...
- Nowa RudaNowa RudaNowa Ruda is a town in south-western Poland near the Czech border, lying on the Włodzica river in the central Sudetes mountains. As of 2007 it has 25,240 inhabitants. The town is located in Kłodzko County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship...
- PieszycePieszycePieszyce is a town in Dzierżoniów County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany.It lies approximately east of Dzierżoniów, and south-west of the regional capital Wrocław....
Between the Owl Mountains and the Kamienne Mountains:
- Głuszyca
- Jedlina-ZdrójJedlina-ZdrójJedlina-Zdrój is a town in Wałbrzych County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany....