Swietokrzyskie Mountains landscape Świętokrzyskie Mountains (sometimes also Holy Cross Mountains, Polish Góry Świętokrzyskie) are a mountain range in central Poland, surrounding the city of Kielce. In general they consist of several separate ranges, the highest of which is Łysogóry (lit. bald mountains). The highest peaks are Łysica at 612 metres (2008 ft) and Łysa Góra at 593 metres (1946 ft). Together with the Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska they form a region called the Lesser Poland Uplands (Wyżyna Małopolska). Their area is 1684 km2 (650 mi2).
Swietokrzyskie Mountains are one of the oldest mountains in Europe. They were formed during the Caledonian orogeny of the Silurian period. From early middle ages the mountains were a place of extensive copper and iron mining. Later they were also heavily developed with limestone and red sandstone mines.
The etymology of the name is not clear. Probably the Holy Cross Mountains take their name from a Benedictine abbey on Łysa Góra.
See also:
|
