Śnieżnik

Śnieżnik, with an altitude of 1425 meters above sea level, is the highest peak of the Śnieżnik Massif and the 17th highest in the Sudetes. Its tourism history dates back to the late 18th century, with intensive development in the 19th century when it became a popular destination, especially after Princess Marianne of the Netherlands acquired the surrounding area in 1838. In 1871, a mountain hut was built on the Halę pod Śnieżnikiem (Snow Meadow), and between 1895 and 1899, an impressive 33.5-meter observation tower was constructed on the initiative of the Kłodzko Mountain Society. Śnieżnik also had the Prince of Liechtenstein's mountain hut, which opened in 1912. After World War II, however, the tourist infrastructure began to decline; the famous observation tower was demolished in 1973. On the Czech side, a stone elephant sculpture became a symbol of the region. In 2022, a new observation tower was opened. In terms of border crossings, the Śnieżnik – Vrchol Kralického Snežníku tourist border crossing operated until 2007. Śnieżnik is also part of the Crown of Polish Mountains and forms the European watershed between the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea. The geological structure of Śnieżnik consists of metamorphic rocks, and in the lower parts, there are exploratory uranium adits. The region is known for its rich biosphere, with vegetation and fauna of Alpine, Carpathian, and Mediterranean significance. A distinct vertical zonation of vegetation includes agricultural land, lower and upper montane zones, up to mountain meadows with rare species. The area also features nature reserves, including the Śnieżnik Landscape Park established in 1981. An interesting fact is that from Śnieżnik, it is possible to observe Alpine peaks in Austria at a distance of about 281–292 km, which was scientifically confirmed in 2020 and 2021.