Nízký Jeseník, Planation surface, Cenozoic volcanism, Slate mines, Military landforms

The Nízký Jeseník is a large flat upland area situated in the north-eastern part of the Bohemian Massif. Despite being rather uniform geologically, its geomorphic diversity is very specific as it includes structural, depositional, erosional, volcanic, periglacial and man-made landforms. The Nízký Jeseník consists chiefly of Lower Carboniferous sedimentary flysch rocks: greywackes (sandstones and conglomerates) alternating with slate or siltstones, which were folded and thrusted during the Variscan orogeny. During the successive long-term evolution the whole massif was shaped by various processes with a long-standing geomorphic impact, including protracted denudation that led to the formation of a vast planation surface. Gradual tertiary tectonic uplift caused deep incision of rivers. Neogene?Pleistocene volcanic eruptions formed conical volcanoes, lava flows and a lava-dammed lake. Pleistocene evolution under the conditions of periglacial climate shaped asymmetric valleys?dells, whereas gullies and alluvial fans were formed in the Holocene. Finally, the area has been recently affected by human impact, as testified by diverse surface and underground mining and military landforms.