Praděd

Infobox Mountain
Name = Praděd
Photo = Praded letecky pohled 01.jpg
Caption = Aerial view of Praděd
Elevation = convert|1492|m|ft|0|lk=on
Location = North Moravia - West Silesia, Czech Republic
Range = Hrubý Jeseník
Prominence =
Coordinates = coord|50|05|N|17|14|E|type:mountain
Topographic

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Praděd (IPA2|ˈpraɟɛt; _de. Altvater) (1,492 metres) is the highest mountain of Hrubý Jeseník mountains and Moravia and is fifth highest mountain of Czech Republic.The average annual temperature is about 1°C.A television transmitter is situated on the top, 162 m high. The upper platform is used as a watchtower.

History

First building on the mountain was a stone watchtower, 32 m high. It was built between 1903 and 1912 by the Sudeten German tourist association. After 1945, the tourist association no longer existed because all Germans were expelled. Due to its unmaintained condition in communist Czechoslovakia, with water freezing in cracks breaking it up, the watchtower collapsed May 2, 1959 shortly before it was supposed to get fixed.

The "Petrovy kameny" ("Peter’s stones") is gneiss stone formation in the Hrubý Jeseník mountain range of the Czech Republic, near the peak. In the Middle Ages, people feared the place, believing witches lived there. The area is home to many rare plants, so it is not open to the public. [ [http://www.ceskehory.cz/Jeseniky/mesta_gb.asp?content=document&ID=143 Rocks Petrovy kameny] . Accessed August 12, 2006.]

The transmitter was built between 1968 and 1983. A restaurant is located in the building and can be reached by a paved road. The High Tatras, Malá Fatra Mts. and Alps can be seen from the watchtower platform.

References