Diversity of Habitats
The landscape of Saxon Switzerland derives its character from an amazingly fragmented cragterrain and its exceptional diversity of landforms. Constant transitions in morphology - from ravines and fields to flat-topped mountains, rockwalls and tertiary basalt out-crops - takes place over a small area. This represents a unique case among central European mountains and provides the conditions for a great diversity of entirely distinct habitats and biotopes.
The extreme variations in elevation within the Elbe Sandstone Mountains lead to a highly interesting ecological phenomenon: a reversal of the typical central-European sequence of altitudinal belts. Thus, a mixed montane forest with corresponding montane plants grows in the moist cliff shadows and at the bases of gorges, which remain cool in the Summer. Also of interest are the flowering plants and the plant communities, especially considering the specific ecological relationships which result from such a high diversity of habitats.
In terms of the quantity of vascular plants, Saxon/Bohemian Switzerland isn't as species-rich as some other protected areas in Europe. Nevertheless, it remains a highly interesting botanical landscape, being best known as an area rich in ferns, mosses and other groups of cryptogams.
