The Historical Educational Trail “Jáchymov Hell”
Jáchymov Forests
You are on the historical educational trail „Jáchymov Hell“, which leads little known, beautiful sites containing unforgettable history. The trail was created by the mining association “Barbora” in Jáchymov with the support of the Confederation of Political Prisoners and the Club of Czech Tourists.
In natural forests prevailed beech admixed by spruce and fir. The undergrowth consist mainly of reedgrass and blueberries stands. Unilateral attempt to increase the production of this „factory wood“ in the past replaced natural forest monotonous, species-poor spruce forests. This, however, suffers emissions bark beetle, wind calamities or eaten by forest animals. Interesting plant species from the banks of streams, we can observe the massive alpine blue-sow-thistle plants and several species of ferns, such as Broad Buckler-fern or Alpine Lady-fern. The mountainous nature of the forest shows the occurrence of the smallest owls Europe – pygmy, who rather hear this than we see in the bright early spring. A typical representative of mountain insect fauna is the beetle Carabus linnei.
Alpine Blue-sow-thistle
Alpine Blue-sow-thistle reaches on average 80 centimetres (31 in) of height, with a minimum height of 50 centimetres (20 in) and a maximum height of 150–200 centimetres (59–79 in). The stem contains a kind of latex. It has many blue-violet to purple flowers in clusters. The flowering period extends from June to September.
Broad Buckler-fern. Photo by Dirk Franke
Eurasian Pygmy Owl. Photo by Artur Mikołajewski
The Eurasian Pygmy Owl is the smallest owl in Europe. These owls are dark reddish to greyish-brown, with spotted sides and half of a white ring around the back of their neck.
