| Bohemian Forest | |
|---|---|
 Großer Arber (Velký Javor) | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Großer Arber |
| Elevation | 1,456 m (4,777 ft) |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 100 km (62 mi) |
| Naming | |
| Native name | |
| Geography | |
 Topography of the Bohemian Forest | |
| Countries | |
| Range coordinates | 49°0′N13°23′E / 49.000°N 13.383°E /49.000; 13.383 |
TheBohemian Forest (known inCzech asŠumava (pronounced[ˈʃumava]ⓘ) and inGerman asBöhmerwald) is a lowmountain range in theCzech Republic,Germany andAustria. The mountains extend from thePlzeň andSouth Bohemian regions intoUpper Austria andBavaria, and form the highesttruncated uplands of theBohemian Massif, up to 50 kilometres (31 mi) wide.[1] They create anatural border between the Czech Republic on one side and Austria and Germany on the other.
For historical reasons, the Czech and German counterparts have different names in their respective language. InCzech, their side of the forest is calledŠumava and the Bavarian side isZadní Bavorský les ('Bavarian Back Forest'). InGerman, their end of the forest isBayerischer Wald ('Bavarian Forest') and the Czech side isBöhmerwald ('Bohemian Forest').[2] Czech speakers sometimes useŠumava as a name for the entire forest stretching between Bohemia and Germany.[citation needed]
The designationŠumava has been recorded in the late 15th century inAntonio Bonfini's workRerum unganicarum decades.Folk etymology connects the name's origin to the Czech wordsšum,šumění (literally 'hum, humming'), denoting the sound of wind in trees. Linguistic consensus definesŠumava as a derivative of a hypotheticalProto-Slavic word*šuma 'dense forest', cf.Serbianšuma as it adjoins regions populated bySorbs of Lusatia and surrounds (North Eastern Bavaria and Saxony).[2] There are corresponding toponyms in modern-day Serbia, i.e.,Šumadija 'land of dense forests'. Modern Serbian maintains the use of the wordšuma 'forest' and the toponymŠumava equates to 'forested lands'.[citation needed]
InPtolemy's ancient maps, the mountain chain is calledGabreta.[citation needed] Greek geographerStrabo calls itSudeta in his maps.[citation needed] Both names come from Celtic.[citation needed]
The Bohemian Forest consists of densely forested mountains with an average elevation of 800–1,400 metres (2,600–4,600 ft). On the Bavarian side, the highest peak isGroßer Arber at 1,456 metres (4,777 ft). On the Bohemian and Austrian side, the highest peak is thePlöckenstein or Plechý in Czech at 1,378 metres (4,521 ft). The most eastern peak is theSternstein at 1,125 metres (3,691 ft). The range is one of the oldest in Europe, and its mountains have eroded into round forms with few rocky parts. Typical for the Bohemian Forest are plateaus of about 1,000–1,200 metres (3,300–3,900 ft) elevation with fairly harsh climatic condictions and numerouspeat bogs.[citation needed]
The Bohemian Forest is thedividing range between the watersheds of theBlack Sea and theNorth Sea, where water collected by theVltava,Otava, andÚhlava rivers flows. These rivers all spring from the Bohemian Forest. Owing to heavy precipitation (mostly snow), the peat bogs and theLipno Reservoir, the Šumava region is an important waterreservoir forCentral Europe. More important for their aesthetic value than for holding water are severallakes of glacial origin.[citation needed]
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As a border region, the Bohemian Forest has had a complicated history. In the 20th century, it was part of theIron Curtain, and large areas were stripped of human settlement. Even before that, settlement was sparse, and for centuries, forests dominated over human dwellings and pathways. These unique circumstances led to the preservation of unspoilt nature and forestecosystems relatively unaffected by human activity. On the other hand, manyhabitats dependent on farming activity are slowly turning into forests.
In theCzech Republic, the most valuable area is preserved in theŠumava National Park and Protected Landscape and theUNESCOBiosphere Reserve. Part of the German section is preserved as theBavarian Forest National Park. The Bohemian Forest is a popular holiday destination because it is excellenthiking country. Most interesting natural and cultural sights are connected with more than 500 kilometres (310 mi) of summer marked trails and many bike trails. However, park administration is not always successful in its task, and many believe the rapid growth of tourist accommodation and services is destroying the former calm of the Šumava region. Šumava National Park is also suffering from problems connected withbark beetles, and there is a heated debate about how to deal with them.
According to archaeological findings, the Bohemian Forest was not significantly populated during the Paleolithic era or the Stone Age, dating as far back as 9000 BC. Initial settlements of a more permanent character first appeared in southwest Bohemia during the Bronze Age between 3,000 and 1,000 years BC. In the 1st century AD, the northern part of the forest was inhabited by Gallo-Romans and by Germanic tribes.[3]
TheCelts were gradually forced out by Germanic tribes (theMarcomanni), and Celtic settlements fell in disrepair. With the subsequent departure of the Marcomanni, the Bohemian Forest continued to evolve without human influence. The forests only changed their character after the arrival of theSlavs in the region in the 6th century, who sought refuge there. A gradual, haphazard, and subtle type of colonization continued until the late 11th century. Slavic settlements gradually expanded to the south, but didn't reach the upperVltava valley. These settlements carried the names of Christian Saints, indicating that they formed after theChristianization of Bohemia. Some toponyms suggest that Slavic settlers came in contact with remaining Germanic population.[4]
Under the rule of KingOttokar I, the Bohemian Forest saw sustained and organized colonization by German-speaking settlers. Bavarians, in particular, having prevailed in conflicts[citation needed] with Serbs (modern-day Serbs or Sorbs) for dominance over the area, cleared the forests and founded new settlements in the hitherto uninhabited region, which became culturally close toBavaria. Since that time, the Bohemian Forest has been heavily influenced by human activity. Virgin forests receded, making way for fields and pastures, and by the 13th century, the colonization of the border region between Bohemia and Bavaria was well underway.[3]
There are currently 136 villages with German names relating to forest clearing (Rodungsnamen) in the area. Additionally, there are clusters of villages of German origin. One such cluster is located betweenSonnberg, which was first mentioned in 1279, and aroundDeutsch Reichenau, dating back to 1261. Another cluster can be found aroundZettwing, dating to 1356. Also south ofOttau, German villages form a line along the road fromLinz throughHohenfurth toKrummau. Another old settlement dating to 1376 was between Untermoldau (Dolní Vltavice) andObermoldau, which dates to 1359.[4]
Between 1945 and 1946, the region'sGerman-speaking population wasexpelled. The originally Sorbian population moved to adjoining places, which to this day testify to their origins in places throughout North Bohemia, i.e, Srbská Kamenice.[citation needed]
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