The Skalná Seismological Exposition is located in the centre of the most seismically active area of Bohemia. Here you will learn about the history of monitoring earthquake activity and see the measuring instruments. The exhibition explains the problems of earthquake swarms and the tour also includes a visit to the measuring station in the nearby tunnel under the Vildštejn Castle. The exhibition was created in connection with the current research on earthquake swarms of the Institute of Geophysics of the CAS in 2014.

The history of scientific monitoring of earthquakes in the Cheb region dates back to the end of the 19th century, when permanent observers were appointed for seismically active areas of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Thanks to this, we also have relatively accurate records of the most significant earthquake events of 1903 and 1908 so far. From this time also dates the use of the first measuring instruments, whose construction we will learn about in the exposition. Even before, in 1875, Carl Hermann Credner, a professor at the University of Leipzig, described activity in western Bohemia and Germany and used the term earthquake swarm for the local type of earthquake. This term is still used today and means a series of earthquakes without a mainshock.

The museum has a comprehensive presentation on earthquakes. The principles of measuring and recording activity are shown directly on measuring instruments, from ancient to contemporary. As a curiosity, a smaller replica of the ancient Chinese seismograph built in the 2nd century AD by the imperial astronomer Zhang Heng is presented, the sensitivity of which still amazes. 

The exhibition also includes information about current research in the Cheb region dating back to the last major earthquake activity in 1986/87. Since then, a network of measuring stations has been built in the Cheb region to locate the centre of seismic activity and to monitor other accompanying phenomena. The measuring station in Skalná below Vildštejn Castle is historically the oldest and is located in the stable bedrock of the tunnel that served as the castle icehouse.

Geofyzikální ústav AVČR, URL: https://www.ig.cas.cz/pro-verejnost/muzea#utm_source=mapy.cz&utm_medium=ppd&utm_campaign=firmy.cz-732173 [26. 1. 2021].

Engelhardt Egerische Chronik; Pankraz (Pangratz) Engelhard (Engelhart, Engelhardt) von Haselbach sign. VI F 43; Knihovna Národního muzea v Praze;  Sdružený obrazový repozitář NK ČR.

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