Geomorphologic evolution and landforms

Structural landforms or rock relief is linked to the solid rocks disrupted by faults or fissures.

The system of fissures (direction) predetermines the character and shape of the landforms. This type of landforms could be connected with many rock types (e.g. granite, sandstones or volcanic rocks).

The rock formations in sandstones are the most significant in the Czech Republic. The areas where the dense cumulation of sandstone forms is present are called "rock cities". It is a complex ("labyrinth") of solitary rock towers and cliffs which are separated by narrow gorges, cracks, or crevasses one from another. These sandstone rock cities are primarily linked to the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin.

Also the Terciary volcanic relief is very impressive. Most of the volcanic features is concentrated in the NW Bohemia along the principal tectonic structure - the Ohře/Eger Rift. The postvolcanic activity (e.g. thermal and mineral springs in Karlovy Vary, "mud volcanoes" in Soos protected area) is also present here.

Fig. 1. Adršpach-Teplice sandstone rock city (www.travelking.cz).

Fig. 2. Sandstone rock towers "Starosta a Paní starostová" (Mayor and Mrs. Mayor) in Adršpach rock city (https://www.kudyznudy.cz/aktivity/skalni-mesto-u-adrspachu).

Fig. 3. The biggest granite boulder in the Czech Republic called Bába (Old woman), situated northward of Pilsen near town Žihle. Residual granite rock forms can be found in many places of the Czech territory. They have been exposed by million of years long period of weathering.

Fig. 4. Granite rock forms along the "Medvědí stezka" trail in the Šumava Mts., (https://www.turistika.cz/vylety/medvedi-stezkou/detail).

Fig. 5. Ostrá hůrka, lydite rock formation between Pilsen and Starý Plzenec. Lydite is very resistant Proterozoic silicite.

Fig. 6. Map of neovolcanic areas (http://www.gweb.cz/clanky/clanek-61/).

Fig. 7. Panorama of the České Středohoří Mts., volcanic area in NW Bohemia. The hills are not the volcanoes but the remnants of sub-volcanic bodies  (autor: Záhorec Pavel, https://itras.cz/ceske-stredohori/galerie/1784/#foto).

Fig. 8. So called "mud volcanoes" in Soos protected area near the town Františkovy Lázně are the landforms created by the eruption of mud , watter and gases.