Ještěd-Kozákov Ridge

Ještěd-Kozákov Ridge (Czech pronunciation: [ˈjɛʃcɛt ˈkozaːkof]) is part of the Western Sudetes mountain range in the Czech Republic.

The ridge is almost 60 km long, the width does not exceed 15 km. In the north-west it starts in a saddle between hills Pískový vrch (547 m) in the Lusatian Mountains and Ostrý vrch (514 m) already in the Ještěd-Kozákov Ridge. The altitude of the hills gradually escalates above 800 meters and culminates with Ještěd (1012 m). Ještěd is the highest peak of the ridge and the only peak above 1000 m as well. The ridge continues to south-east. It is intersected by deep valleys of Mohelka and Jizera. The last hill above 700 m is Kozákov (744 m).

The range mostly consists of various quartzites, some parts are formed from sandstone. Almost the entire Ještěd ridge is covered by forest up to the valley of Mohelka. The other part is a mosaic consisting of forests, meadows and fields. Most notable are beech forests, often protected as natural reserves. Ještěd-Kozákov Ridge is not protected as a whole, however natural parks Ještěd and Maloskalsko and several smaller reserves and were created.