Geology of the Czech Republic

The Carpathians are one part of the Alpine orogenic belt (vast orogenic belt extended from Spain to south-eastern Asia). They create an arc of Alpine mountains which extend from Austria to Serbia (subdivision of Carpathians).

The Western Carpathians can be found in the easternmost areas of Moravia and Silesia. The development of this orogenic belt began shortly after termination of Variscan orogeny during the Mesozoic. The Western Carpathians are divided in three parts - the Inner (south), Central and Outer (north). Only Outer Western Carpathians occur in the territory of the Czechia. It is represented by two flysch complexes (rhythmically bedded units of coarse- and fine-grained sedimentary rocks) and the Carpathian Foredeep (serie of basins between the Bohemian Massif and Carpathian Mountain belt represented by Hornomoravsky uval, Dolnomoravsky uval and Dyjskosvratecky uval).

The Czech part of the Outer Western Carpathians is build of Mesozoic till Neogene sedimentary rocks such as sandstones, claystones, siltstones, coarser-grained clastics and limestones.

The most significant orogeny units of the Czech Outer Western Carpathians are e.g.: Moravskoslezske Beskydy, Javorniky, Bile Karpaty.

Further reading:

Grygar, R. Geology and Tectonic Development of the Czech Republic. In Pánek, T. a Hradecký, J. (Eds.) Landscapes and Landforms of the Czech Republic. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2016, p. 7-18.