ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA   CZECH REPUBLIC	|	POLSKA   POLAND
Královéhradecký kraj   Hradec Králové region	|	Dolnośląskie   Lower Silesia

← map CZ Krkonoše

|

map PL → Karkonosze

• en: Giant Mountains • sl: Krkonoši • lt: Krkonošiai • hsb: Kyrkonoše • es: Montañas de los Gigantes • pt: Montanhas dos Gigantes • it: Monti dei Giganti • fr: Monts des Géants • ro: Munții Karkonosze • hu: Óriás-hegység • nl: Reuzengebergte • de: Riesengebirge
• el: Κρκόνοσε
• uk: Карконоші • be: Крконашы • mk, ru, sr: Крконоше • be: Крконошэ • bg: Кърконоше

The Giant Mountains (in Czeck: Krkonoše; in Polish: Karkonosze) are a mountain range located in the north of the Czech Republic and the south-west of Poland, part of the Sudetes mountain system (part of the Bohemian Massif). The Czech–Polish border, which divides the historic regions of Bohemia and Silesia, runs along the main ridge. The highest peak, Sněžka (Polish: Śnieżka), is the Czech Republic's highest natural point with an elevation of 1,603 metres. On both sides of the border, large areas of the mountains are designated national parks (Krkonoše National Park in the Czech Republic and Karkonosze National Park in Poland), and these together comprise the Krkonoše/Karkonosze Transboundary Biosphere Reserve under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. The range has a number of major ski resorts, and is a popular destination for tourists engaging in downhill and cross-country skiing, hiking, cycling and other activities.

The range has been called the Giant Mountains in English literature since at least 1719. The Czech name Krkonoše is first mentioned (in the singular, as Krkonoš) in a 1492 record. The first map occurrence of the name dates back to 1518, when it is referred to the mountains as Krkonoss. The German name of the mountains, Riesengebirge, first appears in the chonicles of Trautenau (Trutnov) as Hrisenpergisches Gebirge, Hrisengepirge, Hrisengebirge, or Risengepirge. However, throughout the centuries also other names were used. The modern names of Krkonoše (Czech), Riesengebirge (German) and Karkonosze (Polish) became widely accepted only in the 19th century.

The Giant Mountains are the legendary home of Rübezahl (Czech: Krakonoš; Polish: Liczyrzepa, Duch Gór, Karkonosz, Rzepiór or Rzepolicz) [left, no. 4541], a half-mischievous, half-friendly goblin of German, Czech and Polish folklore.

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Mountains, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krkonoše; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%BCbezahl]