Bohemian Paradise Geopark

Bohemian Paradise Geopark, which was admitted to the prestigious list of European Geoparks Network in October 2005, represents a real geological textbook. An area of nearly 700 km2 it includes a wide range of geological phenomena, paleontological, mineralogical and archaeological sites and historical monuments.

The Geopark has areas that are interesting and important not only from the geological point of view, but also from the aesthetic and cultural. Activities in the area are focused on the knowledge of nature and education of various groups of visitors and individuals. It should combine the promotion, regional development, business support, environmental activities and especially conservation and protection of monuments.
www.geoparkceskyraj.cz

The Bohemian Paradise is an area with harmoniously shaped landscape, characterised by a relief modeled from rectangular sendstones, penetrated formations of non-volcanic origin and morphologically structured by flowing water. By the action of inorganic and organic processes the balanced landscape with various mosaic of natural forest, rock, meadow and wetland ecosystems was created here. The  Bohemian Paradise is situated in a moderately warm climate area of mezofytika and is a unique territory geographically localized between the initial rock-towns on the southern edge of the cretaceous basin and mature sandstone areas in the north of Bohemia.

The rock-towns of the Bohemian Paradise are the most complete and diverse set of characteristic elements and forms of the sandstone phenomenon of a temperate zone. Slope movements, avalanches, salt weathering, selective carrying of weathered sandstone rocks, plateing rock surfaces with opal, strengthening crusts we can find in every rock-town of the Bohemian paradise to various degrees and stages of preservation. The sandstone phenomenon of the Bohemian Paradise is the result of the interaction of a broad set of geological, biological and anthropogenic phenomena and processes. The wealth of different geomorphologic shapes and valuable biotic components give to the Bohemian Paradise a very high aesthetic but also scientific valuation. Numerous caves, alcoves, overhangs, cavities, rock-gates, tunnels, rock-windows, pseudoškrapy, rock-mushrooms, rocking, incrustation and honeycombs represent classical mezoforms and microforms of sandstone rock-towns.