Saxon Switzerland National Park

Infobox_protected_area | name = Saxon Switzerland National Park
("German": Nationalpark Sächsische Schweiz)
iucn_category = II

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caption = View from the Carolafelsen
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location = flagicon|Germany Saxony, Germany
nearest_city = Dresden
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area = 93.5 km²
established = 1990
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The Saxon Switzerland National Park is a National Park in the German Free State of Saxony next to the capital city of Dresden. It covers two areas of 93.5 km² (36.1 mi²) in the heart of the German part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains which is literally called the Saxon Switzerland.

The National Park is not far away from the Bohemian Switzerland National Park ("České Švýcarsko") in the Czech Republic.

Location

The National Park is the centre of a natural area of almost 710 km² (274 mi²). This region is called the Saxon Switzerland National Park Region and is cultivated by humans in many places. Some smaller towns and villages like Bad Schandau or Königstein in the district of Sächsische Schweiz are part of this region.

The core area of the National Park has a quiescent area of 40% and is covered almost completely by forest. The status of National Park, which grants the highest natural protection in Germany, was established in 1990.

Landscape

The Saxon Switzerland is an intensively fissured and rocky canyon landscape. The highest peak of the National Park is at 556 metres (1,814 feet) above sea level but only in short distance to the valley of the Elbe river at 110 to 120 metres (360 to 390 feet). It offers several different habitats and microclimate zones due to its strong vertical division. The National Park still hosts some forms of forest without human intervention, which is an exception in central Europe. The special forms of mountain forest and gorge forest are endangered in Europe generally. Because of the saboulus soil and the fissures many places in that area are dryer than normally in the temperate zone and offers rough conditions.

Tourism and recreation

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ee also

*Bohemian Switzerland

External links

* [http://www.nationalpark-saechsische-schweiz.de/red1/ Nationalpark Sächsische Schweiz]
* [http://www.nationalpark-saechsische-schweiz.de/red1/sachsens-nationalpark/kurzportrait/?set_lang_id=2 Short information in English language]