Sněžka’s Natural Beauty Under Protection: Nets and Rangers Ensure Safety This Year
Strong protective nets have been put up at both locations this year, just like in previous years. These nets are located at the very top of Sněžka and also in the saddle area near the old Obří bouda (by Slezský dům). In earlier times, a space roughly half the size of a football pitch was designated for visitors to freely roam at the summit. Sadly, many people do not follow this guideline and venture onto the delicate alpine grasslands or climb the rocks instead. Therefore, the management of both Krkonoš National Parks has installed a red protective net to clearly separate the fragile natural area from the visitors. This protective net is about one meter high and serves to bolster existing chain barriers, which many people were crossing frequently despite the warnings. The net is easily noticeable and truly stands out at the peak of the mountain. Once again this summer, there will be guards present throughout the entire season to enforce laws regarding Sněžka during daytime hours. Additionally, this security and information service will be backed up by coordinated efforts with the Police of the Czech Republic.
Information signs have been placed at the summit to showcase the rare types of plants and animals that can be found here, which might be harmed if visitors wander off the marked trails. There are also wooden benches available for people to take a break. Tourists can find additional fascinating information in the KRNAP Administration leaflet titled ‘Will nature on Sněžka survive us?’, which discusses the significance and vulnerability of our nation’s highest mountain.
Extreme and symbolic – these two words perfectly capture the essence of Sněžka. As the highest mountain in the Czech Republic, it represents a crucial symbol for all Czechs. The annual average temperature is just 0.2 °C, along with high amounts of rain and snow, making Sněžka’s summit one of the most extreme environments in the country. The number of visitors to the summit is also exceptionally high. During the summer months, the daily count of hikers ranges from 8,000 to 9,000 people. This number doesn’t even take into account those transported by the Pec pod Sněžkou–Sněžka cable car, which can handle up to 2,400 passengers daily. Thus, the summit of Sněžka ranks as the most visited natural location in the country.
The structures built by the ‘mužiks’ are causing irreversible damage to the scree slopes and their habitat
The unique pyramidal shape of Sněžka, which stands 1,603 m tall, was formed during the Ice Ages. The freezing and windy climate led to the development of frost-sorted soils in this area. Notable remnants of this natural process include stone polygons, furrows, slope terraces, and extensive scree slopes. In the past, especially on Sněžka’s eastern slopes along the Giant Ridge, builders of stone pyramids, known as ‘mužiks’, often targeted these areas. Unfortunately, this construction often halted a natural process that had been taking place for tens of thousands of years.
Alongside its remarkable inanimate natural features, Sněžka also hosts numerous species that are typical of the northern tundra and alpine grasslands, including some that are found nowhere else on Earth. Among these species are the mountain speedwell, the Krkonoše dandelion, the northern hawkweed, the spiked bika, the slender bluegrass, and the three-toothed sedge. Ground-nesting birds like the subalpine accentor and the alpine accentor can be found among the rocks. The rocky scree is also home to lichens from the genera Puccinia and Cladonia. From a natural history viewpoint, Sněžka’s environment is irreplaceable, and it is absolutely unacceptable for it to be threatened and damaged by the vast number of unruly visitors.
