Malá and Velká Buková

Malá and Velká Buková form one of the landmarks of the region. The core of both peaks is hard volcanic rock, which came here in the Tertiary period under dramatic circumstances. Hot magma penetrated the Mesozoic sedimentary rocks and cracked them into columnar shapes as they cooled. Over millions of years, the harder volcanic rock (basalt) then resisted erosion much better than the surrounding sandstone. Thanks to this, we can admire this beautiful double peak today.

In the upper part, the basalt penetrates to the surface in the form of smaller outcrops with columnar detachments. These were formed as the hot basalt magma cooled and shrank. Sandstone rocks can also be found on the summit, but they differ in composition and colour – the ochre ones are made of quartz sandstone, while the white ones are made of sandstone that is highly calcareous, in which small fossils have been preserved as a reminder of the Mesozoic sea.

In the upper parts, beautiful beech trees rise to the sky. The origins can, once again, be traced to volcanism. The mineral-rich geology of the volcanic rocks is also linked to the richer forests. The local flowery beech trees form a kind of oasis in the midst of the pine monocultures. In addition to the species-rich flora, there are also some endangered animal species – such as the Alpine longhorn beetle.