Mining Activites in the České Středohoří Mountains Protected Landscape Area

Abstract

The České Středohoří Mountains Protected Landscape Area (hereinafter the ČSM PLA) is no doubt exclusive because of its volcanic relief, living nature and, of course, human activities – especially quarrying ones. There are two kinds of quarries here, according to their status, i.e. both abandoned (a huge majority) and still active ones, Concerning the brand of stone, we can find three substantial types – volcanic (crystalline) rocks, the Cretaceous sediments and even the Tertiary coal. Most of mining activities, especially related to building medieval towns and villages, were abandoned really long ago but some of modern quarries are still active as the source of superior construction and crushed stone which is utilized for building and maintaining roads and railways. Being in private hands, these quarries considerably harm the countryside and even endanger close environs, damaging buildings and public transportation ways. This situation leads to installing safety barriers, especially over railway lines and roads. On the other hand, the PLA suffer from transportation. Before the D8 highway was finished (and repaired after the 1914 landslide) almost the whole international transit had been concentrated along the river Labe. From the environmental point of view, it had been “in order”, but the highway led through the least valuable part of PLA has initiated persisting animosities.