Snow White
Śnieżka – the highest peak in the Krkonoš Mountains at 1602 m above sea level, and simultaneously the highest in the whole Sudetes, overlooks the Jelenia Góra Valley, which is bustling with visitors in the summer. In winter, it often becomes a deserted area, as adverse weather conditions make it a challenging summit to conquer.
Śnieżka is characterized by very harsh conditions, resembling those found beyond the Arctic Circle: low temperatures, gusty winds, and abundant rainfall and snowfall. One distinctive feature is the fog that occurs here for over 300 days a year; however, under favourable conditions, visibility can reach up to 200 km. Śnieżka is a place where you can observe meteorological phenomena rarely seen elsewhere, such as St. Elmo's fire, the Brocken spectre, or Glory.
At the summit of Śnieżka, there is the High-Mountain Observatory of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, established in 1974. Systematic meteorological observations on Śnieżka have been ongoing since 1880. Next to the Observatory, there is the Chapel of St. Lawrence, built in 1665. There is no shelter here, thus tourists cannot stay overnight.
In 2001, a monument was unveiled along the trail leading to the Czech side of the summit, commemorating the victims of the air crash of the Junkers aircraft that crashed here in February 1945.
Author of the photographs and text:
Katarzyna Krajewska
Author's website - www.fotofiszka.eu
