Bohemian Forest

Related Category: Central European Physical Geography

Czech Český Les, Ger. Böhmerwald, mountain range, extending c.150 mi (240 km) along the S Czech-German border and extending into Austria. The Czech name for its southern section is Sumava. A thickly wooded area, it rises to 4,780 ft (1,457 m) in the Grosser Arber (Czech Javor). There are many marshes, swamps, and peat bogs in the Bohemian Forest. Agriculture is limited because of the harsh climate; grazing is common. Coal, graphite, kaolin, and granite are extracted. The region is known for its glassmaking and woodworking.