A remarkable natural phenomenon in the Czech Republic’s Giant Mountains (Krkonoše) continues to captivate scientists and visitors alike. Recent measurements reveal a snow depth of 7.74 meters at the southern slope of Studniční hora, in an area famously known as the ‘Map of Republic’.
According to Josef Harčarik, a botanist at the Krkonoše National Park Administration, the site is under careful monitoring using modern technology, including drones. “Our goal is to understand how the snowcover influences the microclimate and vegetation in the lee of Studniční hora, and to track changes in snow depth and distribution over time,” he explains.
Despite its location on a southern slope, which typically sees early snow melt, this area paradoxically retains snow longer than almost anywhere else in the Giant Mountains. This unusual phenomenon is attributed to the terrain’s formation and wind patterns of the Bílé Labe anemo-orographic system, which regularly deposits massive amounts of snow in the area.
The site earned its nickname due to its unique melting pattern, which resembles the historical borders of Czechoslovakia. As spring progresses, the snow formation gradually loses its shape, first melting away the region representing Subcarpathian Ruthenia, followed by Slovakia, until only the central Bohemian region remains.
While this winter’s snow depth might seem impressive, it actually ranks among the milder seasons in the park’s records. For comparison, the winter of 1999/2000 saw an extraordinary depth of 15.7 meters, with the final traces of snow persisting until early August.