Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

Landscapes

A range of climatic and geological conditions

has forged an impressive variety of landscapes in

Eastern and Central Europe. Despite the impact of

human activity, there are many areas of wilderness

that remain intact. From the bogs of North

Eastern Europe and the wetlands of the Danube

delta to striking mountain ranges such as the

Carpathians, stretching from the Czech Republic

to Romania, the region’s diverse land scapes offer

endless opportunities for exploration.

22 EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPE AT A GLANCE

Montenegro

The granite massif of Mount

Durmitor offers some of the wildest

landscapes in the western Balkans.

The most dramatic fea ture is the Tara

Gorge, hemmed in by jagged cliffs.

Croatia

Croatia’s heavily indented Adriatic coast

boasts stunning maritime scen ery, with

stark mountains over looking tur quoise

seas. Charming stone-built vil lages and

Mediterranean flora characterize the

string of islands along its length.

Slovenia

Much of western Slovenia is made up of karst – dry

limestone plateau dotted with caves. Show caverns at

Postojna (see pp426–7) and Škocjan (see p428) con-

tain a spectacular array of stalagmites and stalactites.

Slovakia

Running along Slovakia’s border

with Poland, the Tatra Mountains

(see pp316–17) feature

towering peaks and deep

blue lakes. At 2,655 m

(8,711 ft), Gerlachovský

štít is the range’s

highest point.

Stained–glass window at the St Vitus Cathedral, Prague, Czech Republic

BALTIC

SEA

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POLAND
CZECH
REPUBLIC
SLOVAKIA
BOSNIA AND
HERZEGOVINA
HUNGARY
SERBIA
Vienna
CROATIA
AUSTRIA
SLOVENIA
MONTENEGRO