Altitudinal zones of vegetation in Krkonoše

On the slopes of the mountains, wildlife exists in altitudinal zones of vegetation. These zones reflect the collective actions of many natural conditions – latitude, altitude of the mountains, geological bedrock, direction and pitch of the slopes, wind flow, temperature, volume of precipitation, snow cover and avalanche activity. One or several types of herbs and woody plants prevail within defined ranges of altitude, determining the general character of such places. In Krkonoše, four of the otherwise six usual zones of vegetation have formed: submontane, montane, sub-alpine and alpine zones, the latter being one into which the Krkonoše Mountains extensively extend but is unique in this respect in relation to surrounding Hercynian regions.

Submontane zone

Montane zone

Alpine (upper) tree line

Lower alpine (subalpine) zone

High alpine zone