Western Ore Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Western Ore Mountains is a natural region
that forms the westernmost part of the Ore Mountains
in the German federal state of Saxony. It is also part of the major landscape unit known as the Saxon Highlands and Uplands
. It extends eastwards to include the valley of the Schwarzwasser
, and, below its mouth, that of the Zwickauer Mulde
, and incorporates the western parts of the former major units known as the Lower and Upper Western Ore Mountains (Unteres und Oberes Westerzgebirge), no. 423, as well as the Southern Slopes of the Ore Mountains (Südabdachung des Erzgebirges), no. 420.
In the current classification system of natural regions, the Western Ore Mountains only covers the western part of the region that bore the same name in the preceding system, whilst the eastern part of that region is now part of the Central Ore Mountains
.
The higher regions of the Western Ore Mountains are part of the Ore Mountains/Vogtland Nature Park
.
region and even includes several of its villages, whilst the official boundary with the natural region of Vogtland, which has to be sharply defined, largely follows the watershed between the Ore Mountain rivers of the Zwickauer Mulde
and, in the extreme south, the Zwota, with the Vogtland river of the White Elster, the central and southern part of this boundary lying somewhat to the east, so that the source regions of the eastern Elster tributaries are still counted as being in the Ore Mountains. The Vysoký kámen
(Hoher Stein) near Erlbach is the southernmost mountain of the Ore Mountain range.
To the north the Western Ore Mountains descend to the gently rolling Ore Mountain Basin
and the town of Zwickau
, whilst the mountain range continues to the south on the far side of the border with Czechia. The state border largely follows the ridgeline of the mountains, which continues southwest on both sides of the border into the Elstergebirge
and the natural region of Vogtland. The 805 m high Hoher Brand
, which is generally accepted as being in the Elstergebirge range, because it is located southwest of the Zwota, officially belongs to the natural region of the Western Ore Mountains.
In the south is the highest point on Saxon soil, the Auersberg
(1019 m NN), northwest of Johanngeorgenstadt
. It is overlooked by the 1043 m high Blatenský vrch
(Plattenberg) southeast of the town and on the other side of the international border.
, are marked with an asterisk (*).
Following the redrawing of the boundaries by the Saxon State Office, parts of Zwickau and Wilkau-Haßlau also lie within the Western Ore Mountains.
Natural region
A Natural region is one which is distinguished by its natural features of geography and usually more important, geology. The natural ecology of the region is likely to be significant but one of these factors tends to influence the others....
that forms the westernmost part of the Ore Mountains
Ore Mountains
The Ore Mountains in Central Europe have formed a natural border between Saxony and Bohemia for many centuries. Today, the border between Germany and the Czech Republic runs just north of the main crest of the mountain range...
in the German federal state of Saxony. It is also part of the major landscape unit known as the Saxon Highlands and Uplands
Saxon Highlands and Uplands
The Saxon Highlands and Uplands refer to a natural region mainly in the south of Saxony with small elements also in southeast Thuringia and northeast Bavaria...
. It extends eastwards to include the valley of the Schwarzwasser
Schwarzwasser (Mulde)
The Schwarzwasser is a right tributary of the Zwickauer Mulde in the German state of Saxony and the Czech Republic.The Schwarzwasser is a right tributary of the Zwickauer Mulde in the German state of Saxony and the Czech Republic....
, and, below its mouth, that of the Zwickauer Mulde
Zwickauer Mulde
The Zwickauer Mulde is a river in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is the left tributary of the Mulde and 166 km in length.The source of the river is in the Ore Mountains, near Schöneck, in the Vogtlandkreis. It runs northeast to Aue, then northwest to Zwickau , and further north through...
, and incorporates the western parts of the former major units known as the Lower and Upper Western Ore Mountains (Unteres und Oberes Westerzgebirge), no. 423, as well as the Southern Slopes of the Ore Mountains (Südabdachung des Erzgebirges), no. 420.
In the current classification system of natural regions, the Western Ore Mountains only covers the western part of the region that bore the same name in the preceding system, whilst the eastern part of that region is now part of the Central Ore Mountains
Central Ore Mountains
The Central or Middle Ore Mountains is a natural region that forms the central-western part of the Ore Mountains in the German federal state of Saxony. It is part of the overarching unit, the Saxon Highlands and Uplands...
.
The higher regions of the Western Ore Mountains are part of the Ore Mountains/Vogtland Nature Park
Ore Mountains/Vogtland Nature Park
The Ore Mountains/Vogtland Nature Park extends across the upper slopes of the Vogtland and Ore Mountains in southeastern Germany along its international border with Czech Republic. It is the longest nature park in Germany with a total length of 120 km. Its management organisation is the...
.
Geography
The Western Ore Mountains transition gradually towards the (south)west into the "historic" VogtlandVogtland
The term Vogtland refers to a region reaching across the German free states of Bavaria, Saxony and Thuringia and into the Czech Republic . The name of the region contains a reference to the former leadership by the Vögte of Weida, Gera and Plauen, which translates approximately to advocates or lord...
region and even includes several of its villages, whilst the official boundary with the natural region of Vogtland, which has to be sharply defined, largely follows the watershed between the Ore Mountain rivers of the Zwickauer Mulde
Zwickauer Mulde
The Zwickauer Mulde is a river in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is the left tributary of the Mulde and 166 km in length.The source of the river is in the Ore Mountains, near Schöneck, in the Vogtlandkreis. It runs northeast to Aue, then northwest to Zwickau , and further north through...
and, in the extreme south, the Zwota, with the Vogtland river of the White Elster, the central and southern part of this boundary lying somewhat to the east, so that the source regions of the eastern Elster tributaries are still counted as being in the Ore Mountains. The Vysoký kámen
Vysoký kámen
The stony summit Vysoký kámen lies 8 km west of Kraslice in okres Sokolov and 1 km from the German border in the Elstergebirge, part of the Erzgebirge....
(Hoher Stein) near Erlbach is the southernmost mountain of the Ore Mountain range.
To the north the Western Ore Mountains descend to the gently rolling Ore Mountain Basin
Ore Mountain Basin
The Ore Mountain Basin or Erzgebirge Basin is a a natural region in the German federal state of Saxony, that is part of the Saxon Lowland...
and the town of Zwickau
Zwickau
Zwickau in Germany, former seat of the government of the south-western region of the Free State of Saxony, belongs to an industrial and economical core region. Nowadays it is the capital city of the district of Zwickau...
, whilst the mountain range continues to the south on the far side of the border with Czechia. The state border largely follows the ridgeline of the mountains, which continues southwest on both sides of the border into the Elstergebirge
Elstergebirge
The Elstergebirge is a small range of hills, in Saxony and the Czech Republic, on the west of the Ore Mountains. They lie in a region known as Vogtland, and take their name from the River Elster, or more precisely the White Elster which has its source in these hills, near the Czech town of Aš.The...
and the natural region of Vogtland. The 805 m high Hoher Brand
Hoher Brand
Hoher Brand is a mountain of Saxony, southeastern Germany....
, which is generally accepted as being in the Elstergebirge range, because it is located southwest of the Zwota, officially belongs to the natural region of the Western Ore Mountains.
In the south is the highest point on Saxon soil, the Auersberg
Auersberg
Auersberg is a mountain of Saxony, southeastern Germany.- See also :*List of mountains in the Ore Mountains...
(1019 m NN), northwest of Johanngeorgenstadt
Johanngeorgenstadt
Johanngeorgenstadt is a mining town in Saxony’s Ore Mountains, 17 km south of Aue, and 27 km northwest of Karlovy Vary. It lies in the district of Erzgebirgskreis, and right on the border with the Czech Republic, is a state-recognized health resort , and calls itself Stadt des...
. It is overlooked by the 1043 m high Blatenský vrch
Blatenský vrch
The Blatenský vrch is one of the mountains over 1,000 metres high in the Ore Mountains of Central Europe in the immediate vicinity of Horní Blatná .- History :The mountain massif consists mainly of granite...
(Plattenberg) southeast of the town and on the other side of the international border.
Settlements
The following list includes all the towns and municipalities that lie wholly or partly within the Western Ore Mountains. Places that belong to the historic VogtlandVogtland
The term Vogtland refers to a region reaching across the German free states of Bavaria, Saxony and Thuringia and into the Czech Republic . The name of the region contains a reference to the former leadership by the Vögte of Weida, Gera and Plauen, which translates approximately to advocates or lord...
, are marked with an asterisk (*).
|
Markneukirchen Markneukirchen is a town in the Vogtlandkreis district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It lies in between the Erzgebirge and the Fichtelgebirge in the Elstergebirge, southeast of Plauen, and northeast of Asch .... * (only the unsettled, extreme northeast tip) Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz is a village and a former municipality in the Vogtlandkreis district, in Saxony, Germany. Since 1 October 2009, it is part of the municipality Muldenhammer.... Rodewisch Rodewisch is a town in the Vogtlandkreis district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is situated 3 km north of Auerbach , and 20 km east of Plauen.-Famous people born in Rodewisch:... * (only the unsettled southeast) Schönheide Schönheide is a community in Saxony’s district of Erzgebirgskreis that lies in the western Ore Mountains, and was founded as an industrial village.- Geography :... Stützengrün - Location :Stützengrün lies in the Ore Mountains right on the boundary with the Vogtland. In Stützengrün is found the Weißbach , which empties directly into the Eibenstock Reservoir.- Geology :... Tannenbergsthal Tannenbergsthal is a village and a former municipality in the Vogtlandkreis district, in Saxony, Germany. Since 1 October 2009, it is part of the municipality Muldenhammer.-Description:... * Wildenfels Wildenfels is a municipality in Germany, Landkreis Zwickau in the administrative region of Chemnitz, the Free State of Saxony. It is situated 9 km southeast of Zwickau.... (apart from the north) Wilkau-Haßlau Wilkau-Haßlau is a town in the Zwickau district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Zwickauer Mulde, about 6 km south of Zwickau.... (only the extreme south) Zschorlau - Location :Zschorlau lies nestled in the gentle hills in the western Ore Mountains some 5 km from Aue and is overhung in the south by the Steinberg... Zwickau Zwickau in Germany, former seat of the government of the south-western region of the Free State of Saxony, belongs to an industrial and economical core region. Nowadays it is the capital city of the district of Zwickau... (only the extreme south) |
Following the redrawing of the boundaries by the Saxon State Office, parts of Zwickau and Wilkau-Haßlau also lie within the Western Ore Mountains.
See also
- Central Ore MountainsCentral Ore MountainsThe Central or Middle Ore Mountains is a natural region that forms the central-western part of the Ore Mountains in the German federal state of Saxony. It is part of the overarching unit, the Saxon Highlands and Uplands...
- Eastern Ore MountainsEastern Ore MountainsThe Eastern Ore Mountains form a natural region that covers the eastern part of the Saxon Ore Mountains. It is part of the major landscape unit, the Saxon Highlands and Uplands...
- List of mountains in Saxony