Krkonose Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 1992, in Czechia. Krkonoše/Karkonosze is a transboundary biosphere reserve in north-western Czechia and south-western Poland. The Krkonoše/Karkonosze Mountains form part of the Sudetes in north-eastern Bohemia, a mountain system shared by Czechia, Germany and Poland. The reserve represents a unique pocket of arctic nature in Central Europe and an extraordinary crossroads where arctic, alpine, lowland and mountain elements mingle within a relatively small territory. The area is known for high biodiversity across four altitudinal vegetation belts. Human activities have shaped nature and the landscape throughout the Krkonoše Mountains over the last four centuries. Today, it is a popular tourist destination for hikers and skiers, especially on the Czech side.