Sudeten

The Sudeten (soo-day-tan, SAMPA: [su"deIt@n]), also called Sudety (["sudetI] (according to Czech) or [su"detI] (Polish)), is a mountain range in Central Europe. It stretches from eastern Germany to Poland and Czech Republic. The highest mountain is Snezka in Krkonose Mountains on the Czech-Polish border. It reaches up to 1602m. Sudeten Mountains are divided into

1. Western Sudeten with Lusatian Mountains (Germany and Czech Republic) and Karkonosze/Krkonoše (Poland and Czech Republic)
2. Central Sudeten
3. Eastern Sudeten

Especially Krkonose Mountains are facing growing tourism for winter sports during the past ten years. Its skiing resorts are becoming a serious alternative to the Alps.

Famous towns in this area are:

• Zittau (Germany)
• Karpacz (Poland)
• Szklarska Poreba (Poland)
• Špindlerův Mlýn (Czech Republic)
• Harrachov (Czech Republic)

Before World War II there was a large German minority in this area. Sudetenland was the term to describe its settling area.