The Krkonoše – the Eldorado of Botanists

Author: Lucie Strnadová

Ilustrations: Kristýna Adámek Mlynaříková

Audio/Voice: Gabriel Andrews

The Krkonoše is our highest mountain range. As the height changes, so does the climate, meaning that the local flora is amazingly diverse. This is why the Krkonoše have always attracted collectors, botanists and all lovers of plants and flowers. This trail takes us through Obří důl – the deepest valley in the Czech Republic, which is a kind of microcosm of Krkonoše flora – and as we ascend from the spruces in the valley to the alpine tundra we learn about some of the prominent figures in botanical history whose names are inseparably linked to these mountains. The time needed to walk the trail is around 3 hours (although this does not include the return journey, for which there are a number of options).to cover longer distances).

0. Introduction | audio for play | audio for play | audio for play
1. The doyen of Giant Mountains flora – stopping in front of Josef Šourek's cottage: 50.7078078, 15.7311842 show in Live Map | show in Mapy.cz | audio for play
2. Pioneers of field botany – excursion to the 16th century on the banks of the Úpa River: 50.7165600, 15.7241889 show in Live Map | show in Mapy.cz | audio for play
3. KRNAP – Love beyond the grave – commemorative plaque of Karel Kavina: 50.7194761, 15.7248700 show in Live Map | show in Mapy.cz | audio for play
4. In search of the causes of botanical diversity – Jeník's theory of anemoorographic systems: 50.7260536, 15.7309011 show in Live Map | show in Mapy.cz | audio for play
5. Organised botany – 19th century botany and a view of the Well Mountain: 50.7278231, 15.7314147 show in Live Map | show in Mapy.cz | audio for play
6. The passion for collecting – about Josefina Kablíková at the waterfalls of the Rudný brook: 50.7328469, 15.7333353 show in Live Map | show in Mapy.cz | audio for play
7. The first scientific expedition – remembrance of Tadeáš Haenke in Giant's Saddle: 50.7389925, 15.7290342 show in Live Map | show in Mapy.cz | audio for play
8. Giant Mountains in the botanical garden – collections of J. G. Mikan for the University of Prague: 50.7389014, 15.7190175 show in Live Map | show in Mapy.cz | audio for play
9. History written in mud – talk about palynology on the Úpa peat bog: 50.7362642, 15.7049736 show in Live Map | show in Mapy.cz | audio for play
10. International excursion – from the history of phytogeography at Luční bouda: 50.7343764, 15.6959183 show in Live Map | show in Mapy.cz | audio for play

Sources and literature: see the original Czech version

Acknowledgements: Jiří Hadinec, Jan Štursa, Ota Šída, Jiří Danihelka, Lukáš Strnad

Review: Karolína Pauknerová

English version: Lucie Nováková, Magdalena Pehalová, Alex Aylward

Project: Ministry of Culture Czech Republic, NAKI II DG18P02OVV065

Researcher: Faculty of Science, Charles University / Live Map

Production: Science IN, s.r.o.

Sound: Bystrouška Studio of Sound