Kleiner Kranichsee


The Kleiner Kranichsee is one of the most important raised bogs in the Ore Mountains of Central Europe. The bog straddles the German/Czech border; the part lying in the German state of Saxony has been protected since 1930, whilst the Czech part was declared a nature reserve in 1962.

Location

The raised bog is located at an elevation of 930 metres above sea level in a clearing in the highland forest southwest of the town of Johanngeorgenstadt. The border between Germany and the Czech Republic runs through the bog and continues over the mountain of Buchschachtelberg.

Name

The name of the raised bog is linked to the Czech word granica "meaning border". The Kleiner Kranichsee was first mentioned in historical records in 1551.

Significance

It is a watershed- and krummholz raised bog that is drained towards the north by the Steinbach stream, to the west by the Große Bockau, to the south through the Buchschachtel ditch and to the east by the Lehmergrundbach stream. To the west lies the Großer Kranichsee, a bog whose heart lies on the Czech side of the border.

Vegetation

By the turn of the century, the Ore Mountain Club branch at Johanngeorgenstadt laid a corduroy road into the bog and set up a viewing stand, which has since been replaced several times. Its location was moved about 30 years ago by several metres to better protect nature.