Lusatian Mountains
The Lusatian Mountains are a small border mountain range, located roughly in the middle between Děčín and Liberec in northern Bohemia). A small part of the mountains in Germany is called the Zittau Mountains (Zittauer Gebirge).
Geology
Geologically, the Lusatian Mountains are built mainly of Upper Cretaceous sandstones, through which hot magma penetrated to the surface in numerous places in the Tertiary, which solidified in the form of bell-shaped and basalt rocks. Because these volcanic rocks are more resistant than the surrounding sandstones, they were prepared by subsequent erosion, creating a characteristic relief of the Lusatian Mountains, formed by elongated ridges and distinctive conical or cumulus hills. At the northern edge of the mountains, the Cretaceous sandstones are tectonic bounded against the granitoids of the Lusatian massif by the so-called Lusatian fault, after which the older 
granite over younger sandstone. Around Doubice at the same time, small shrubs of Jurassic limestone were brought to the surface. In the Quaternary, erosion activity prevailed, during which large rubble fields often formed on the slopes of volcanic hills. AT Jitrava on the eastern edge of the mountains are preserved gravel sands, deposited by a continental glacier, which penetrated here from the north. In the past, low-quality iron ore was mined on a small scale in numerous places in the mountains and in the surrounding area Jiřetín under Jedlovou small veins of copper, lead and zinc sulphides with a mixture of silver were mined.
Mountains and waters
Although the Lusatian Mountains are not very high, they form an important climatic boundary, separating the northern flat regions from the interior of Bohemia. The highest mountain is Luž (793 m above sea level), located on the state border with Germany, other important peaks are, for example Jedlová (774 m), Key (760 m), Hvozd (750 m) a Studenec (736 m). Due to heavy rainfall, the Lusatian Mountains are rich in water. The river Kamenice with its main tributary Chřibská Kamenice and numerous tributaries Ploučnice, such as Sporka, Svitavka or Heřmanický potok, originate here. The northern slopes of the mountains are drained by the Lužnička stream. A significant European watershed between the North and Baltic Seas runs along the ridge of the mountains.
Forests
More than half of the Lusatian Mountains are still covered by forests. Until intensive colonization in the 13th and 14th centuries, the Lusatian Mountains were overgrown with an impenetrable border forest, dominated by beech, often accompanied by fir. At the time of the great expansion of glassmaking after the 15th century, however, the original forests were almost destroyed and gradually replaced by spruce or pine monocultures. Remains of beeches have been preserved only in isolated islands in remote places and mountain peaks. Today, in addition to spruces and pines, we can see beech, maple or milk, ash and sometimes linden or elm. In some places, winter and summer oaks also grow, and there are abundant alders around the streams.
In the 80s, forests were severely damaged by industrial fumes, and although air quality has improved in recent years, forests in higher altitudes are still endangered and less resistant to insect pests and adverse weather conditions.
Vegetation
A number of typical plant species grow in the Lusatian Mountains, some of which are endangered species in our country. Botanically interesting environments are mainly flowering beeches, in the undergrowth of which there is spiked self-grown, onion-bearing and nine-leaved hip, fragrant marsh, perennial pheasant, golden-headed lily or perennial moonflower. Even quite often we can also meet the poison ivy. In the spring we can see the raised primrose in some meadows, the humid places are inhabited by spring snowdrops, the dioecious and medical goat, the three-leaved sea urchin, the wetland louse, the bulrush bulrush and various
types of sedges. In some places, the so-called orchid meadows with an abundant May and leafy ringlet have survived, which are rarely accompanied by the ovate nipple, the two-leaved buttercup, the male orchid and the marsh warbler. In sparse forests and pastures, the conspicuous red foxglove, which spreads here from the west, is abundant. The occurrence of glacial relics of alpine aster and rock fern is interesting, but its occurrence has not been confirmed in recent years. Occasionally, the marsh warbler and the round-leaved sundew also occur.
Fauna
Common forest species predominate in the animal of the Lusatian Mountains. Herds of deer and roe deer live here, black game is common and mouflons also occur. A special feature is the occurrence of chamois, which were imported from the Alps at the beginning of the 20th century and artificially planted near Jetřichovice in the Děčín region, from where they spread to the Lusatian Mountains and acclimatized very well there. The mountain fauna is relatively poor due to the low altitude of the mountains. Its representatives are the spotted hazelnut, the smallest wagtail, the spotted salamander, the viviparous lizard and the alpine shrew. Trout, crayfish, newts and various species of frogs live in the streams. From predators we can see buzzards and buzzards, buzzards rarely nest here, even the great eagle owl. In recent years, ravens, rattlesnakes and black storks have been found. Among the rarer butterflies, we can see the fennel swallowtail, the poplar whitethroat or the rainbow toddler. Various species of bats winter in caves and old galleries.
Conservation
Since 1976, the Lusatian Mountains have been a protected landscape area and the most valuable localities are part of sixteen small protected areas. Natural forest communities are protected in reserves Badger hill,Cold Hill, Justice a Key, the reservation is also valuable Vápenka in Jurassic limestones at Doubice.Marschnerova meadow a Meadow near Brodské they are characterized by an abundant occurrence of invertebrates, but there are also other endangered species. The unusually large undergrowth of the perennial moonfish is also protected Hazel, rich locality of saffron in Kytlice, wetlands u NoldenteichuAt Brazilian a peat bog in Mařeničky. Interesting plants can also be found on Desert castle or Golden HillWhich are known primarily as a nice examples 
columnar jointing volcanic rocks. Geologically, are also remarkable sandstone White stones or Ice Cave na Dry hill. Just beyond the boundaries of the protected landscape area are four other protected areas: the bird sanctuarySkylight a Big Pond u Rybniště, flowery meadow in Pekelském Mine, romantic Pavlínino valley and geologically interesting natural monuments Lord's Rock a Hollow Stone. There are several memorial trees in the Lusatian Mountains, the most famous of which are yew trees Krompach. There are several nature trails for instruction. The first of them leads along a morphologically marked line of the Lusatian disorder at Jitrava, the second introduces the restoration of the man - made peat bog on Brazilian, while the third v Valley Milířky is focused on the history of mining. A small school nature trail was also set up under LEMBERK u Jablonné in Podještědí.
Things
A characteristic element of the Lusatian Mountains is the diverse folk architecture. The original type is a timbered house with a pedestal and small divided windows, with a gabled roof; we can only meet the half-timbering on the floor. The gables of houses are often inlaid with multicolored slate. The ruins of several castles have been preserved in the mountains, the most famous of which is Tolstejn. In the ruins Stone castle is a built-in lookout tower, from castles Milštejn, Fredevald a Old Falkenburk leaving only the poor remains of walls. Notable are also some rock formations (White stones, Desolate castle, Golden Hill, Dutý stone a Lord's Rock, Well known as the "Organ") or Ice Cave u Hope. From the numerous peaks there are wonderful distant views, especially from Keys, Luže,Hochwald a Fir. Interesting monuments can also be found in the foothill towns, especially in Jablonném in Podještědí (Baroque church of St. Lawrence by J. L. Hildebrandt and nearby castle Lemberk) to Czech Kamenice (Church of St. James and the pilgrimage chapel of the Virgin Mary). Mining is also interesting Jiřetín under Jedlovou s Cross Mountain or Chřibská with the oldest still operating glassworks in Europe.
