Sudety

Sudety or Sudeten, mountain system, central Europe. The system extends along the northern frontier of the Czech Republic from the valley of the Oder River, which separates the uplift from the north-western extremity of the Carpathians, to the water gap of the Elbe River, which separates it from the Erzgebirge. The length of the system is about 275 km (170 mi).

Of the various ranges composing the Sudety, the best defined and most elevated is the Krkonoe (German, Riesengebirge). Elevations in this range, which occupies the central portion, average about 1,280 m (4,200 ft). Its highest summit is Sněžka (1,603 m/5,259 ft). Among the lesser ranges of the system are the Lusatian and Jesenik mountains. The slopes, valleys, and foothills of the Sudety are rich in natural resources, including pine forests, pasturage, tracts of arable land, and deposits of coal and iron ore. The mountains are also known as the Sudetes.