Šumava National Park
Encyclopedia
Šumava National Park is a National Park in the Plzeň
and South Bohemian
Regions of the Czech Republic
along the border with Germany
(where a smaller Bayerischer National Park lies) and Austria
. They protect a little-inhabited area of the mountain range of the same name, the Šumava.
The Šumava Range is covered by the most extensive forest in Central Europe, whose natural composition was, however, changed and today spruce
plantations prevail in most of the area. In many places non-native spruce varieties were planted. These are not well adapted to the harsh local climate and are therefore susceptible to a range of elements, such as strong winds (e.g. in the 1980s or recently at the beginning of 2007) and bark beetle
(Ips typographus). Numerous large plateaux with raised peat bogs, glacial lakes and remnants of primeval forests (e.g. Boubín) complete a mosaic of habitats which are little disturbed by human settlements as most of the predominantly German speaking inhabitants were expelled after the World War II
and the area became a part of the deserted zone along the Eastern block border. Since the 1970s there has existed a stable population of lynx
es.
Originally, a large Landscape Protected Area was declared on 27 December 1963 covering most of the Šumava Range. On 20 March 1991 the most valuable part of the area was declared a National Park with the rest of the Landscape Protected Area serving as its buffer zone.
Plzen Region
Plzeň Region is an administrative unit in the western part of Bohemia in the Czech Republic. It is named after its capital Plzeň .- Communes :...
and South Bohemian
South Bohemian Region
South Bohemian Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located mostly in the southern part of its historical land of Bohemia, with a small part in southwestern Moravia...
Regions of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
along the border with Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(where a smaller Bayerischer National Park lies) and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. They protect a little-inhabited area of the mountain range of the same name, the Šumava.
The Šumava Range is covered by the most extensive forest in Central Europe, whose natural composition was, however, changed and today spruce
Norway Spruce
Norway Spruce is a species of spruce native to Europe. It is also commonly referred to as the European Spruce.- Description :...
plantations prevail in most of the area. In many places non-native spruce varieties were planted. These are not well adapted to the harsh local climate and are therefore susceptible to a range of elements, such as strong winds (e.g. in the 1980s or recently at the beginning of 2007) and bark beetle
Bark beetle
A bark beetle is one of approximately 220 genera with 6,000 species of beetles in the subfamily Scolytinae. Traditionally, this was considered a distinct family Scolytidae, but now it is understood that bark beetles are in fact very specialized members of the "true weevil" family...
(Ips typographus). Numerous large plateaux with raised peat bogs, glacial lakes and remnants of primeval forests (e.g. Boubín) complete a mosaic of habitats which are little disturbed by human settlements as most of the predominantly German speaking inhabitants were expelled after the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the area became a part of the deserted zone along the Eastern block border. Since the 1970s there has existed a stable population of lynx
Eurasian Lynx
The Eurasian lynx is a medium-sized cat native to European and Siberian forests, South Asia and East Asia. It is also known as the European lynx, common lynx, the northern lynx, and the Siberian or Russian lynx...
es.
Originally, a large Landscape Protected Area was declared on 27 December 1963 covering most of the Šumava Range. On 20 March 1991 the most valuable part of the area was declared a National Park with the rest of the Landscape Protected Area serving as its buffer zone.