Jizerské Hory

Location
Jizerské Mountains are located behind the zone of foothill towns. The southern border of the area is ranged by the towns of Liberec, Jablonec nad Nisou and Tanvald. The northern side, a vertical fall of rocky massifs of the Frýdlant gallery into the plain landscape of the Frýdlant Bulge and gradual ascent up to the highest dominant of Smrk in the east. The state border, mainly following the stream of the Jizera River, splits Jizerské Mountains into two parts. The larger part is located in Bohemia, but the highest peak is situated on the High Hill in Poland.

Area
366 km2

History
 Jizerké hory was proclaimed protected landscape area in 1968 and belongs to the oldest extensive protected areas in the Czech republic. Recently there is visible the influence of emissions on the extensive forest areas of the mountains. On one hand we can see emission flat grounds here, on the other hand there are exceptionally valuable territories with natural woods, mainly the continuous beech forests on the northern slopes and the unique eco-systems of peat-bogs with rare flora and fauna. A significant part of the protected area is the territory of meadows, pastures and preserved traditional folk architecture.

The highest point
Smrk 1124 m above sea level, Wysoka Kopa 1127 m above sea level.

Nature
Dominant position has the growth of the hair grass. Around 160 km2 cover mainly monocultures of spruces in various stages of damage. Genetically extremely important fragments of the original climax clusters of spruces show a critical stage of disintegration. Meadows of the Ještěd Ridge are richer in species with occurrence of the crane’s bill, or gnat-flower species. Among other significant floral species are the Baltic gentian and the moon wort. In the woods of the Ještěd Ridge dominate clusters of spruces and at some exposed places also clusters of beeches. The flora of the Frýdlantsko area differs from the floral species of Jizerské hory. Vegetation of woods is mainly flowery with thermophile species of plants. Occurrence of lake floral species is also significant. Cultural meadows cover a great deal of the territory. The mountains abound in beautiful peat-bogs with a variety of rare species of plants.
Recently the protected landscape area of Jizerské hory is one of the most contrast ones in the Czech Republic.

Nature interests
Jizerka Village, peat-bog in Smědava, water dams Souš and Bedřichov, Frýdlant Chateau, Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady in Hejnice, Obří Sud (Giant Barrel), Lázně Libverda (Spa Libverda), Štolpišské vodopády (Štolpišské waterfalls, rock formations Frýdlantské cimbuří, Ještěd.