The High Fichtel Mountains ( German : Hohes Fichtelgebirge ), or High Fichtel , form a mountainous and heavily forested range consisting of several mountain chains in the shape of a horseshoe, the Fichtel Mountain Horseshoe ( Fichtelgebirgs-Hufeisen ), that rings the Selb-Wunsiedel Plateau .
6-710: As a natural region the High Fichtel Mountains are major unit 394 within the major unit group of the Thuringian-Franconian Highlands (39), that run from the Thuringian Forest to the Fichtel Mountains . Since September 2010 there is a new system for classifying the natural regions of northeast Bavaria, whereby the natural region of the High Fichtel only covers the central mountain region of
12-480: Is a basic geographic unit. Usually, it is a region which is distinguished by its common natural features of geography , geology , and climate . From the ecological point of view, the naturally occurring flora and fauna of the region are likely to be influenced by its geographical and geological factors, such as soil and water availability , in a significant manner. Thus most natural regions are homogeneous ecosystems . Human impact can be an important factor in
18-675: The Kohlwald in the southeast. In the geomorphological division of the neighbouring Czech Republic, the Aš Hills ( German : Ascher Hügelland ; Czech : Ašská vrchovina ), the Hazlov Hills ( Haslauer Hügelland or Hazlovská pahorkatina ) and the Cheb Hills ( Egerer Hügelland or Chebská pahorkatina ) are counted as part of the (High) Fichtel range. Geologically the mountain range consists mainly of granite . The history of its orogeny begins in
24-453: The Pre-Cambrian about 750–800 million years ago – covering almost 20% of the earth's history , something which only applies to a few of the surviving ranges of the truncated Central Uplands of Germany today. The mountains of the High Fichtel include the following, sorted by their elevation in metres (m) above sea level (NN) : Natural region A natural region (landscape unit)
30-833: The Scheeberg, Ochsenkopf and Kösseine, whilst the Waldstein ridge, the Steinwald and lower parts of the horseshoe represent special subordinate natural regions of the Fichtel Mountains. The High Fichtel Mountains begin in the northeast at the Kornberg , continue via the Waldstein , Schneeberg , Ochsenkopf and Königsheide in the southwest to the Kösseine , then over the Steinwald and Reichsforst to
36-405: The shaping and destiny of a particular natural region. The concept "natural region" is a large basic geographical unit, like the vast boreal forest region. The term may also be used generically, like in alpine tundra , or specifically to refer to a particular place. The term is particularly useful where there is no corresponding or coterminous official region. The Fens of eastern England ,
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