Commune: Lewin Kłodzki (pow. kłodzki, woj. dolnośląskie) , Szczytna (pow. kłodzki, woj. dolnośląskie)
Framework element or context represented:
One of the characteristic type of structural relief in the middle part of the Sudetes.
Primary geological/geomorphological interest:
Table mountains with numerous groups of sandstone tors.
Comparative assessment justification:
The described area is an excellent and unique example of the table mountains (rocky town) in Poland. They continuous to the large area of sandstone rocky towns in Czech Rep.
Protection status and accessibility:
The Stołowe Mts National Park established in 1993 occupied area 6340 ha and has a large buffer zone about 10515 ha.
Character of site: Table mountains.
Area: 6339.7 ha
Altitude: 450 - 919 m a.s.l.
Lithology: sandstones, marls, shales, silstones, claystones
Discipline: Geomorphology, Stratigraphy of Phanerozoic
Process Age: Quaternary, Paleogene, *all periods
Bedrock Age: Cretaceous, Triassic, Permian, Carboniferous, *all periods
Description of primary interest:
The Stolowe Mts constitute a homogenous geological and geomorphological unit divided by the national, Czech - Polish border. In geologic approach, the Stołowe Mts comprise central and southern areas of the Intra-Sudetic Synclinorium, major parts are composed of the terrigenic marine sediments deposited during Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanien, Turonian and Coniacian). Each of the mentioned geological periods is developed as a thick series of sandstones, mudstones and marls. Here, interesting sedimentary structures, sedimentary cycles, different types of bedding, bioturbations, etc. Although, the Cretaceous sediments are the youngest fillings of the Intra-Sudetic Synclinorium, they constitute, due to high resistance to weathering, its highest, partially uplifted part. This is a clear example of relief inversion. In some places the Upper Cretaceous sediments overlie relatively thin layers of the Lower Triassic sandstones and/or underlying Permian sandstones and shales. In the Permian this area was a place of volcanic activity. Geological setting of the Stołowe Mts is very well reflected by their characteristic relief. The Upper Cretaceous marine sediments consist of the thick layers of resistant sandstone interbedded with thinner layers of impervious, less resistant shales and marls. Extensive denudation and erosion processes have firstly been following the fissure and crack system subsequently resulted in formation of a very characteristic landscape abundant in the remnants of the dissected plateau: buttes, flat-topped hills with steep slopes, groups of tors, etc. Krucza Kopa consist of the Upper Carboniferous granite and granodiorite, with a number of tors and cliffs.
Literature:
BOBIŃSKI W., GAWLIKOWSKA E., KŁONOWSKI M. 1999–Important geosites of the Polish Sudetes. Pol. Geol. Inst., Spec. Papers, 2: 19-25. GAWLIKOWSKA E. 2000–Geodiversity conservation of the Lower Silesia (English sum.). Pol. Geol. Inst. Warszawa. JERZYKIEWICZ T. 1968–Sedimentation of the youngest sandstones of the intrasudetic Cretaceous basin (English sum.). Geol. Sudetica 4: 409-462. PULINOWA M. Z. 1989–Rzeźba Gór Stołowych. Pr. Nauk. UŚl. w Katowicach 1008: 1-218. RADWAŃSKI S. 1959–The geological structure of the Duszniki Basin and the eastern part of the Stołowe Mountains (Heuscheuergebirge) in the Sudeten (English sum.). Biul. Inst. Geol. 146: 5-56. WOJEWODA J. 1987–Sejsmotectonic deposits and stuctures in the cretaceous sandstones of the Intra-Sudetic Basin (English sum.). Prz. Geol. 35: 169-175.