Since the first settlement wave in the Middle Ages, the Erzgebirgian nature has been intensively shaped by human interventions and has given rise to a diverse cultural landscape. In particular, the mining industry with dumps, dams, ditches and pines shaped the landscape and the habitats of plants and animals directly in many places. The Erzgebirge is a popular hiking area and in the highlands are winter sports areas available. The higher altitudes from about 500 m above sea level. NN on the German side belong the natural park Erzgebirge / Vogtland - the 120 km longest stretch of its kind in Germany. The eastern Erzgebirge stands as landscape protection area Osterzgebirge under landscape protection. Other smaller areas on the German and Czech side are protected as nature reserves and natural phenomena under state protection. In the crests, there are also several large marshes, fed only by rainwater. Photo © HomeArtPictures
