Keprník

Keprník is a mountain in the Hrubý Jeseník mountain range in the Czech Republic. It has an elevation of above sea level. It is located in the municipality of Ostružná, on the historical border between Silesia and Moravia.

Characteristics

Location

Keprník is located in the northwestern region of the entire Hrubý Jeseník range, lying almost centrally in the Hrubý Jeseník area, in a sub-region called the (). It sits on the main ridge that runs from pass to pass. The peak is easily recognizable due to its characteristic summit rock formation, situated on a deforested summit area among high-altitude vegetation. It appears to be the highest peak in this part of the Hrubý Jeseník range at first glance and is the main central peak of the Keprník Massif. It is very visible and recognizable from the road surrounding the summit area of Praděd mountain (visible to the right of the peak). Another notable viewpoint is from the road around the Dlouhé stráně peak, from where it is also very visible and recognizable, located to the right of the Vozka peak. Keprník is the fifth-highest peak in the Hrubý Jeseník range (following the peaks: Praděd, Vysoká hole, Vysoká hole–JZ, and Petrovy kameny).
The mountain is bounded by:

* to the north, the pass towards the Šerák mountain;
* to the northeast, the valleys of the Keprnický potok and Bystrý potok streams;
* to the east, a minor pass (the highest in the Keprník Massif) at an elevation of 1,344 m above sea level towards the peak
* to the southeast, the valley of the Rudohorský potok stream and the Sedlo pod Vřesovkou pass towards the Červená hora–S peak;
* to the south, the valley of the Hučivá Desná stream;
* to the southwest, the Sedlo Trojmezí pass towards the Vozka peak and the valley of the Jelení potok stream;
* to the northwest, the valley of the Klepáčský potok stream.

Surrounding peaks include:

* to the northeast, , Spálená stráň, Nad Výrovkou, and Domašovský kopec (located in the Opawskie Mountains range ());
* to the east, Žalostná;
* to the southeast, Bršť (also in the Opawskie Mountains range), , Červená hora–S, Červená hora, and ;
* to the south, Spálený vrch–SV;
* to the southwest, Vozka, , and Jelení stráň;
* to the west, Černava–JZ;
* to the northwest, Černava, , Šerák–JZ, and Šerák.

Slopes

Within Keprník, 7 main slopes can be distinguished:

* northern;
* northeastern, known as ''V Žalostné'';
* eastern, known as ''Vlčinec'';
* southern;
* southwestern, known as ''Trojmezí''
* western, known as ''Jelení stráň''

The slopes, roughly from an elevation of 1,260 to 1,390 m above sea level and downward, are predominantly forested with spruce. Above this range, in accordance with the altitudinal zonation, alpine tundra dominates, covered with grass and planted dwarf mountain pine. The slopes feature all types of forests: spruce forest, mixed forest, and deciduous forest. On the northeastern, eastern, and western slopes, besides the spruce forests, there are small areas of mixed forest as the elevation decreases, and even small patches of deciduous forest on the eastern slope. Almost all slopes are characterized by significant variability in forest cover, with substantial clearings and thinning, and even bare areas. On the northern slope, close to the summit area, there is a single larger rock formation, while on the northeastern, eastern, and western slopes there are numerous groups of rocks. Approximately 1.6 km southwest of the summit (on the western slope), at an elevation of around 1,060 m above sea level, near the flowing stream named Jelení potok, there is a rock group called ''Jelení stráň''. Additionally, on the western slope near the pass, there is an area covered with rock debris.

The slopes have relatively uneven and varied gradients. The average slope inclination ranges from 6° (eastern slope) to 17° (southeastern slope). The average inclination of all the mountain's slopes (weighted average of the slopes' gradients) is about 12°. The maximum average inclination of the eastern slope, at elevations around 1,150 m above sea level, does not exceed 40° over a 50-meter section. The slopes are covered with a network of roads and generally unmarked paths and tracks.

Approximately 995 m north of the summit, close to the red tourist trail (about 30 m away), at an elevation of 1,309 m above sea level, there is a monument with a stone commemorative plaque, erected on 26 September 1935. It features the image of the Silesian writer and mountain enthusiast Hermann Löns, along with the following inscription:

Main summit

There are no marked tourist trails leading directly to the main summit. The main ridge path crosses the summit area, along with a red tourist trail and a green educational path, which leads to the secondary peak Keprník–JV. Near this path is a tourist intersection named ''Keprník (vrchol)'' with an informational sign indicating an elevation of 1,423 m.

The summit of the mountain is on an exposed rocky outcrop about 20 m in length, which serves as a scenic viewpoint. From there, expansive views can be seen, including the peaks of Černava, Šerák, , Červená hora, and , as well as distant mountain ranges such as the Giant Mountains with Sněžka, the Králický Sněžník Mountains, the Beskids, the Malá Fatra, and even the Slovak Tatras. Additionally, a small conical monument called ''Kámen'' with a worn commemorative inscription is located on this rocky outcrop:

On top of this monument, lines with the names of visible peaks are marked. The summit area also features a triangulation station, marked on geodetic maps as number 22, with an elevation of 1,422.80 m above sea level and geographical coordinates , located about 10 m north of the summit. The State Geodetic and Cadastral Office lists the highest point of the mountain – the summit – at an elevation of 1,423.3 m above sea level and geographical coordinates .

Access to the summit is via the main path and the ''Keprník (vrchol)'' tourist intersection, from which a path about 30 m long with wooden railings on either side leads to the summit.

Secondary summits

Keprník is a mountain with three summits. Apart from the main summit, the mountain massif includes two lower secondary summits.

Geology

Geologically, the Keprník massif belongs to the unit known as the Keprník Dome and is composed of metamorphic rocks, mainly gneisses (biotite), orthogneisses, , mylonites, blasto-mylonites, migmatites, schists, and igneous rocks, primarily meta-granites. The geological structure also contains admixtures of gemstones such as staurolite, andalusite, garnet, and sillimanite. The summit features cryoplanation terraces and frost cliffs formed during the Pleistocene in a periglacial climate. It is likely that a small mountain glacier existed on the southeastern slope during this period, leaving behind the so-called ''Keprnický kar''.

Waters

Keprník lies on the European watershed boundary, with its northeastern, eastern, and southeastern slopes draining into the Baltic Sea basin (Oder river basin), and its southwestern and western slopes draining into the Black Sea basin (Danube river basin). Several streams originate from its slopes: Jelení potok from the southwestern slope, Klepáčský potok from the western slope, Keprnický potok from the northeastern slope, and Rudohorský potok from the southeastern slope. Small swampy areas can be found on the southwestern and southern slopes at elevations around 1,320 and 1,300 m above sea level.

Waterfalls

For landscape enthusiasts, the waterfalls scattered across the slopes of the mountain on nearly all streams are a major attraction. Reaching them is challenging and requires the use of detailed maps.

Climate

At the summit, harsh climatic conditions prevail (the average annual temperature is about 2.2°C, the average annual precipitation is about 1,200 mm, and the snow cover on the mountain remains for about 180 days a year).

Nature protection

The summit area and parts of all slopes are within the (), which is part of the designated protected area known as the (). This reserve was established to protect rock, soil, and plant formations as well as rare animal species. No nature monuments have been established on the slopes.

Along the red tourist trail, an educational path named ''With Koprníček on an excursion to the Keprník Mountains'' () has been created, with 13 observation points, running from Červenohorské sedlo to .

Šerák-Keprník National Nature Reserve

The Šerák-Keprník National Nature Reserve is located at elevations ranging from 1,300 to 1,423 m above sea level, covering an area of (with a protective buffer zone of up to 1,169.83 ha). Established on 31 December 1933, the reserve protects a series of preserved rock and soil formations formed during the harsh climate of the Ice age, such as cryoplanation terraces, frost ribs, and hummockss, along with the flora and fauna found within these areas. The reserve is open to tourists, with both hiking and cycling trails as well as an educational path running through it.

Tourism

Tourist trails

The Czech Tourist Club has marked four tourist trails:

Červenohorské sedlo – Červená hora – spring – Sedlo pod Vřesovkou pass – Keprník-JV – ''Trojmezí'' – Keprník summit – Sedlo pod Keprníkem pass – Šerák mountain – – Černava mountain – Ramzová

Branná – Tři kameny – mountain – Volská louka pass – mountain – ''Trojmezí''

Branná – Pekelec mountain – Pekelec-SV summit – Alojzovské louky pass – Troják-JZ mountain – Hučava stream valley – Troják mountain – Vozka summit – Sedlo pod Vřesovkou pass

Lipová-lázně – Sněhulák mountain – Strmý mountain – – Šerák Mountain – Sedlo pod Keprníkem pass – mountain – mountain – Filipovice

Cycling and skiing trails

A small section at the foot of the northeastern slope features the only designated cycling trail:

''Spojená cesta'' – mountain – mountain – Šumná-JV – Šumná mountain – Nad Borovým mountain – Borový potok valley – Bělá pod Pradědem – mountain – Šumný mountain – Sedlo pod Keprníkem pass – Šerák mountain – Mračná hora – Černava mountain – Ostružná – Petříkov

During snowy periods, cross-country ski trails are marked along the hiking and cycling trails (except the green tourist trail), including a trail named ''Jesenická magistrála''. No downhill skiing trails are marked within the mountain area.

Notes

References

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One-thousanders of the Czech Republic
Mountains and hills of the Czech Republic