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This article is about the historical region. For the Polish administrative region see Lower Silesian Voivodeship. Lower Silesian Voivodeship (also known as Lower Silesia Province or by its Polish name of województwo dolnośląskie {{IPA-pl|d|o|l|n|o|'|ś|l|ą|s|k|j|e}} For the former Prussian province see Province of Lower Silesia. The Province of Lower Silesia (Provinz Niederschlesien was a province of the Free State of Prussia from 1919 to 1945
Coat of arms of Lower Silesia.
Coat of arms of Lower Silesia.
Traditional Silesian clothing
Traditional Silesian clothing

Lower Silesia (German: Niederschlesien; Latin: Silesia Inferior; Polish: Dolny Śląsk) is the northwestern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia; Upper Silesia is to the southeast. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Polish ( język polski, polszczyzna) is the Official language of Poland. Etymology One theory claims that the name Silesia is derived from the Silingi, who were most likely a Vandalic (East Germanic people Upper Silesia (Horní Slezsko Oberschlesien Latin: Silesia Superior; Górny Śląsk Silesian: Gůrny Ślůnsk) is the southeastern part Throughout its history Lower Silesia has been under the control of medieval Poland, Bohemia, Austria, Prussia, and Germany, and after 1945 was split between Poland and Germany. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Bohemia (Čechy; Bohemia Czechy is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands, currently the Habsburg Monarchy (alternatively Habsburg Empire) refers to the territories ruled by the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg, and then by the successor The Kingdom of Prussia (Königreich Preußen was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918 and from 1871 was the leading state of the German Empire, comprising Deutsches Reich was the name for Germany from 1871 to 1945 in the German language.

The southern border of Lower Silesia is mapped by the mountain ridge of the Sudetes, which are located on the Polish-Czech border. The Sudetes (suˈdiːtiːz is a Mountain range in Central Europe. The Czech Republic ( ˈt͡ʃɛskaː ˈrɛpuˌblɪka short form in Česko ˈt͡ʃɛskɔ also called Czechia, The western border is outlined by the Lusatian Neisse River, the northern by the Barych River and the southern by part of Greater Poland. Neisse redirects here for other meanings see Neisse (disambiguation The Lusatian Neisse (Lužická Nisa Lausitzer Neiße Nysa Łużycka Greater Poland or Great Poland, Polish Wielkopolska (Großpolen Latin: Polonia Maior) is a historical region of west-central Poland

Polish Lower Silesia, the bulk of the historical region, is located mostly along the Oder River and is divided between the Lower Silesian, Lubusz and Opole Voivodeships. The Oder (known in Czech and Polish as Odra) is a River in Central Europe. Lower Silesian Voivodeship (also known as Lower Silesia Province or by its Polish name of województwo dolnośląskie {{IPA-pl|d|o|l|n|o|'|ś|l|ą|s|k|j|e}} Lubusz Voivodeship (also known as Lubusz Province or by its Polish name of województwo lubuskie or simply Lubuskie) is a voivodeship (province Opole Voivodeship (also known as Opole Province or by its Polish name of województwo opolskie or simply Opolskie; Woiwodschaft Oppeln/Oppelner Schlesien Parts of the former Prussian Province of Lower Silesia on the western side of the Neisse are located in the Niederschlesischer Oberlausitzkreis, the town of Görlitz and the former Hoyerswerda district within Oberspreewald-Lausitz in eastern Germany. The Province of Lower Silesia (Provinz Niederschlesien was a province of the Free State of Prussia from 1919 to 1945 The Niederschlesischer Oberlausitzkreis (German for district of Lower Silesian Upper Lusatia) was the easternmost Kreis ( District) Görlitz ( is a town in Germany on the Lusatian Neisse River in the Bundesland Hoyerswerda ( Upper Sorbian Wojerecy, Lower Sorbian Wórjejce, Czech Hojeřice) is a town in the German Oberspreewald-Lausitz is a Kreis (district in the southern part of Brandenburg, Germany. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. That region historically belonged to Saxon Upper Lusatia, which became part of Prussian Silesia in 1815 after the Napoleonic Wars. The Kingdom of Saxony (Königreich Sachsen lasting between 1806 and 1918 was an independent member of a number of historical confederacies in Napoleonic through post-Napoleonic Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of The Province of Silesia (Provinz Schlesien Prowincja Śląsk was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1815 to 1919 the territory had been conquered from The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815 involved Napoleon's French Empire and a shifting set of European allies and opposing coalitions

Contents

History

Ancient history

At the close of the Ice Age, the first man appeared at the Silesian Lowland. An ice age is a period of long-term reduction in the Temperature of the Earth 's surface and atmosphere resulting in an expansion of continental Ice sheets In the Lower Paleolithic (7,000 years ago), the first nomadic people settled in Lower Silesia lived in caves and primitive chalets. The Lower Paleolithic (or Lower Palaeolithic) is the earliest subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age. They were collectors, hunters, and fishers, and use weapons and other tools made of stone and wood. In the Mesolithic (7000-4000 BC), the oldest human remains of the nomadic people, which were 40,000 years old, were found in a tomb in Tyniec on the river Slęża. The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age was a period in the development of human technology in between the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age and the Neolithic or New Stone Age Tyniec Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship Tyniec - a historic village in Poland on Vistula river today a borough of Kraków.

In the Neolithic (4000-1700 BC), the process of transformation into a settled way of life began. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos The first rural settlements were made. People began to breed animals and farm. Mining, pottery, and weaving were dated to this period. Serpentinite quarries came into existence, of which Silesian hatchets were made, and near Jordanów Sląski people extracted nephrite that was transformed into diverse tools. Serpentinite is a rock composed of one or more Serpentine Minerals Minerals in this group are formed by serpentinization a hydration and metamorphic In the Bronze Age (1700-1500 BC), the evolution of different cultures developed to the existence of unetice culture that had an impact on the existence of Trzciniec culture. The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for The Trzciniec culture was an ancient tradition that subsisted in central Europe In next periods, since about 750 BC, it encompasses all of Europe.

Early history

Silesia was recorded in Magna Germania two thousand years ago with a number of Germanic tribes among them the Vandals, Lugii and the Silingians. Germania was the Latin Exonym for The Germanic peoples are a historical group of Indo-European -speaking peoples originating in Northern Europe and identified by their use of the Germanic For Polish place-names see Ługi. The Lugii, Lugi, Lygii, Ligii, Lugiones, Lygians

A number of groups of people came into eastern Magna Germania from Sarmatia, Asia Minor, and the Asian steppes during the Great Migrations at the beginning of the 6th century. The Sarmatians, Sarmatae or Sauromatae ( Old Iranian Sarumatah 'archer' Σαρμάτες Anatolia (Anadolu Ανατολία Anatolía) or Asia minor, comprising most of modern Turkey, is the geographic region bounded by the Black

The Bavarian geographer (ca. The Bavarian Geographer (Geographus Bavarus is a conventional name given by Jan Potocki in 1796 to the author of an anonymous Medieval 845) reported the Ślężanie (from whom Silesia (Śląsk) probably takes its name) and Dziadoszanie tribes, while a document of the Bishopric of Prague (1086) listed the Zlasane, Trebovane, Poborane, and Dedositze tribes. Ślężanie was a Tribe of West Slavs, specifically of the Lechitic / Silesian groups inhabiting territories of Lower Silesia, near At the same time Upper Silesia was inhabited by the Opolanie, Lupiglaa, and Golenshitse tribes. In the 9th and 10th centuries the territory was subject to the Great Moravian and then Bohemian rulers of the neighbouring area covered by today's Czech Republic. Great Moravia (see Name section was a Slavic state that existed in Central Europe from the 9th century to the early 10th century Bohemia (Čechy; Bohemia Czechy is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands, currently the The Czech Republic ( ˈt͡ʃɛskaː ˈrɛpuˌblɪka short form in Česko ˈt͡ʃɛskɔ also called Czechia, In 990 Silesia was conquered and incorporated into an area later called Poland by the duke Mieszko I. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Life In 965 Mieszko married Dobrawa (Dobrava Dubrawka daughter of Boleslav I, Duke of Bohemia.

Feudal fragmentation of Poland

Silesia was split into lower and upper parts in 1172 during the period of Poland's feudal fragmentation, when the land was divided between two sons of High Duke Władysław II. In the first centuries of its existence the Polish nation was led by a series of strong rulers who converted the Poles to Christendom, created a strong Central European This article refers to the 12th century Polish monarch For the 14th century founder of the Jagiellon dynasty see Jogaila, and for other monarchs with similar names Bolesław the Tall ruled over Lower Silesia with his capital in Wrocław (then known as Vratislav or Prezla) and Mieszko Plątonogi ruled over Upper Silesia with his capital in Opole. Bolesław I the Tall ( Polish: Bolesław I Wysoki; 1127 - December 7 or 8 1201 was imperial Duke of Silesia, 1163 - 1172 Wrocław (Breslau Vratislav Vratislavia or Wratislavia Yiddish: ברעסלוי) is the chief City of the historical region of Lower Silesia Mieszko I Tanglefoot ( Polish: Mieszko I Plątonogi; Mieszko I of Racibórz; ca Upper Silesia (Horní Slezsko Oberschlesien Latin: Silesia Superior; Górny Śląsk Silesian: Gůrny Ślůnsk) is the southeastern part Opole (Oppeln is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River (Odra

Later Silesia was divided into as many as 17 duchies. A duchy is a territory fief, or domain ruled by a Duke or Duchess.

Duchies of Lower Silesia in the 14th century (German names in italics):

The Bohemian Crown and Austria (1348-1742)

In 1348 most of the Silesian duchies were ruled by the Silesian Piast dukes under the feudal overlordship of the Bohemian kings, and thus became part of the Crown of Bohemia. The Duchy of Brzeg (Księstwo Brzeskie or Duchy of Brieg (Herzogtum Brieg (Knížectví Břežské was one of the Duchies of Silesia. The Duchy of Oels or Duchy of Oleśnica (Ducatus Olsnensis Herzogtum Oels Księstwo Oleśnickie was one of the Duchies of Silesia, with the capital in The Duchy of Legnica (Księstwo Legnickie or Duchy of Liegnitz (Herzogtum Liegnitz was one of the Duchies of Silesia. Duchy of Ziębice was one of the Duchies of Silesia. It was created during Fragmentation of Poland in Lower Silesia, it existed from 1321/1322 to 1742 The Duchy of Głogów or Duchy of Glogau (Herzogtum Glogau Księstwo Głogowskie was one of the Piast Duchies of Silesia. The Duchy of Nysa (Księstwo Nyskie or Duchy of Neisse (Herzogtum Neisse was one of the Duchies of Silesia. Żagań ( French and Sagan is a Town in western Poland, with 26665 inhabitants (2004 Szprotawa (Sprottau is a town in Poland, in Lubusz Voivodeship, in Żagań County. Not to be confused with Krosno in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship Krosno Odrzańskie (Crossen an der Oder is a city on the east Ścinawa (Steinau an der Oder is a town and municipality in Poland, in Lower Silesia, on the Oder River. Piast dynasty is the name used since the 17th century for Polish Royal Dynasty that ruled Poland from its beginnings as Duchy ruled by Mieszko This is a list of rulers of Bohemia. Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, and Lusatia are territories which are or have Bohemia (Čechy; Bohemia Czechy is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands, currently the In 1476 the Crossen district became part of the Margraviate of Brandenburg, when the widow of the Piast ruler, Barbara von Brandenburg, daughter of Elector Albert Achilles, inherited Crossen. The Margraviate of Brandenburg (Markgrafschaft Brandenburg was a major Principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1157 to 1806 In 1526 Silesia was acquired by Austria's Habsburg Monarchy after the death of King Louis II of Bohemia. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich Habsburg Monarchy (alternatively Habsburg Empire) refers to the territories ruled by the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg, and then by the successor Brandenburg contested the inheritance, citing a treaty made with Frederick II, Duke of Brieg, but Silesia largely remained under Habsburg control until 1742.

19th century coat of arms of Lower Silesia.
19th century coat of arms of Lower Silesia.

In Prussia (1742-1945)

Most of Silesia, including all of Lower Silesia, became part of the Kingdom of Prussia in 1742 after the First Silesian War and was turned into the Province of Silesia, divided into the districts of Lower Silesia (Liegnitz), Middle Silesia (Breslau), and Upper Silesia (Oppeln). The Kingdom of Prussia (Königreich Preußen was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918 and from 1871 was the leading state of the German Empire, comprising The Silesian Wars were a series of wars between Prussia and Austria (and their changing allies for control of Silesia. The Province of Silesia (Provinz Schlesien Prowincja Śląsk was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1815 to 1919 the territory had been conquered from Legnica (Liegnitz is a City on the Kaczawa river in Lower Silesia in south-western Poland. Wrocław (Breslau Vratislav Vratislavia or Wratislavia Yiddish: ברעסלוי) is the chief City of the historical region of Lower Silesia Opole (Oppeln is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River (Odra

The area around Görlitz in Upper Lusatia was added to Lower Silesia in 1815 following the Napoleonic Wars. Görlitz ( is a town in Germany on the Lusatian Neisse River in the Bundesland Upper and Lower Lusatia Upper Lusatia ( Oberlausitz or Hornja Łužica) is today part of the German state of Saxony except for a small part east of The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815 involved Napoleon's French Empire and a shifting set of European allies and opposing coalitions

By the beginning of the 20th century Lower Silesia had a predominantly German-speaking population. After World War I, Upper Silesia was divided between Germany, Poland, and Czechoslovakia, while Lower Silesia remained in Germany. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The term Weimar Republic ( ˈvaɪmarɐ repuˈbliːk is used by historians to signify the democratic and Republican period of Germany from 1919 to 1933 The Second Polish Republic or interwar Poland is the Republic of Poland between World War I and World War II. Czechoslovakia may also refer to what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Prussian Province of Silesia was reorganized into the Provinces of Lower Silesia and Upper Silesia. The Province of Lower Silesia (Provinz Niederschlesien was a province of the Free State of Prussia from 1919 to 1945 The Province of Upper Silesia (Provinz Oberschlesien Górny Śląsk Silesian: Górny Ślonsk) was a province of the Free State of Prussia created

After 1945

Following the end of World War II, Lower Silesia east of the Lusatian Neisse was placed under Polish administration according to the Potsdam Conference in 1945. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Neisse redirects here for other meanings see Neisse (disambiguation The Lusatian Neisse (Lužická Nisa Lausitzer Neiße Nysa Łużycka The Potsdam Conference was held at Cecilienhof, the home of Crown Prince Wilhelm Hohenzollern, in Potsdam, Germany, from July 16, The territory's German and Czech population was expelled and replaced with Poles, many of whom had themselves been expelled from Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union. The German people (Deutsche are an Ethnic group, in the sense of sharing a common German culture, descent and speaking the German language as Czechs (Češi ˈt͡ʃɛʃɪ archaic Čechové) are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic The expulsion of Germans after World War II was the Forced migration and Ethnic cleansing of German nationals ( Reichsdeutsche) and ethnic The Polish people, or Poles, (Polacy) are a Western Slavic Ethnic group of Central Europe, living predominantly in Poland. After the Soviet invasion of Poland following the corresponding German invasion that marked the start of World War II in 1939 the Soviet Union annexed

The Red Army's Northern Group of Forces occupied part of the region till 1991, such as much of the city of Legnica, part of Świdnica, many air-fields, barracks, and one large proving ground. The Red Army ( Russian: Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия R aboche- K rest'yanskaya K rasnaya A rmiya The Northern Group of Forces was the military formation of the Soviet Army stationed in Poland from the end of Second World War in 1945 until 1993 when Legnica (Liegnitz is a City on the Kaczawa river in Lower Silesia in south-western Poland. Świdnica (Schweidnitz Svídnice is a Town in south-western Poland.

From 1945-1975 Lower Silesia was administered within the Wrocław Voivodeship. Wroclaw Voivodeship ( Polish: województwo wrocławskie was a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland in years 1975 &ndash 1998 As a result of the Local Government Reorganisation Act (1975), Poland's administration was reorganized into 49 voivodeships, four of them in Lower Silesia: Jelenia Góra, Legnica, Wałbrzych, and Wrocław Voivodeships (1975-1998). This article concerns both historical and contemporary voivodeships in various countries Jelenia Gora Voivodeship (województwo jeleniogórskie was a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland in the years 1975 &ndash 1998 Legnica Voivodeship (województwo legnickie was a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland in the years 1975 &ndash 1998, superseded Walbrzych Voivodeship (województwo wałbrzyskie was a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland in the years 1975 &ndash 1998 As a result of the Local Government Reorganisation Act of 1998, these four provinces were joined into the Lower Silesian Voivodeship (effective 1 January 1999), whose capital is Wrocław. Lower Silesian Voivodeship (also known as Lower Silesia Province or by its Polish name of województwo dolnośląskie {{IPA-pl|d|o|l|n|o|'|ś|l|ą|s|k|j|e}} New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar)

The section of Lusatia belonging to Lower Silesia since 1815, west of the Lusatian Neisse, which remained in Germany is divided between the districts of Görlitz (urban) and Niederschlesischer Oberlausitzkreis in Saxony and Oberspreewald-Lausitz in Brandenburg. Görlitz ( is a town in Germany on the Lusatian Neisse River in the Bundesland The Niederschlesischer Oberlausitzkreis (German for district of Lower Silesian Upper Lusatia) was the easternmost Kreis ( District) The Free State of Saxony (Freistaat Sachsen ˈzaksən Swobodny Stat Sakska is the easternmost federal state of Germany. Oberspreewald-Lausitz is a Kreis (district in the southern part of Brandenburg, Germany. Brandenburg ( Lower Sorbian: Bramborska; Upper Sorbian: Braniborska) is one of the sixteen states of Germany.

Towns

Towns with over 20,000 inhabitants:

Geography

Sudetes

The Sudetes are geologically diverse mountains that stretch for 280 kilometers to Brama Łóżycka on the East and to Brama Morawska on the West. Wrocław (Breslau Vratislav Vratislavia or Wratislavia Yiddish: ברעסלוי) is the chief City of the historical region of Lower Silesia Legnica (Liegnitz is a City on the Kaczawa river in Lower Silesia in south-western Poland. Jelenia Góra ( Hirschberg im Riesengebirge Latin Hyrsbergensium is a city in Lower Silesia, south-western Poland. Wałbrzych (Waldenburg is a city in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in south-western Poland, with 125773 inhabitants (2006 Zielona Góra Łódź Voivodeship Zielona Góra (Grünberg in Schlesien is a City in Lower Silesia, in western Poland, with 118730 inhabitants within Nowa Sól (Neusalz an der Oder is a Town on the Oder River in Lubusz Voivodeship, western Poland. Głogów (Hlohov (rare Glogau rarely Groß-Glogau) is a Town in southwestern Poland. Świdnica (Schweidnitz Svídnice is a Town in south-western Poland. Lubin Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Lubin (Lüben is a town in south-western Poland, on the Zimnica River. Oleśnica (Oels or Öls) is a Town in the Trzebnickie Hills in southwestern Poland with 38900 inhabitants (1995 Bolesławiec Łódź Voivodeship Bolesławiec (Bunzlau is a town in southwestern Poland with 40837 inhabitants (2006 The Sudetes (suˈdiːtiːz is a Mountain range in Central Europe. The Moravian Gate (Moravská brána Brama Morawska Mährische Pforte is a Geomorphological feature in Moravia, Czech Republic. The Sudetes topographically are divided into West and East Sudetes. In the region of the Sudetes, the Jizera Mountains are spread (Wysoka Kopa, 1,126 m) along with Zaroślak, 560 m, the Karkonosze (Śnieżka, 1,602 m), Rudawy Janowickie (Skalnik, 945 m) and the Kaczawskie Mountains (Skopiec, 724 m) with Ostrzyca, 501 m. The Jizera or Izera Mountains (Jizerské hory Isergebirge Góry Izerskie are part of the Western Sudetes on the border between the Czech Republic The Karkonosze ( Polish) or Krkonoše ( Czech) also known as the Giant Mountains (Riesengebirge is a Mountain range in the The Rudawy Janowickie (Landeshuter Kamm is a Mountain range in Western Sudetes in Poland. The Kaczawskie Mountains (Góry Kaczawskie Katzbachgebirge is a Mountain range in Western Sudetes in Poland. They are surrounded by Kotlina Jeleniogórskąa (420-450 m).

Silesian Lowland

The Silesian Lowland includes Nizina Śląska and Nizina Śląsko-Łużycka. These two lowlands are separated with each other by Dolina Kaczawy, and from the Sudetes by steep morphological edge located along the Sudetic Marginal Fault, extended from Bolesławiec (the Northwest) to Złoty Stok (the Southeast). The Sudetes (suˈdiːtiːz is a Mountain range in Central Europe. Bolesławiec Łódź Voivodeship Bolesławiec (Bunzlau is a town in southwestern Poland with 40837 inhabitants (2006 Złoty Stok (Reichenstein Rychleby is a town in Ząbkowice Śląskie County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. The southern part of the Lowland includes The Sudeten Foreland, consisting of quite low Wzgórze Strzegomskie (232m), Grupa Ślęży (Mount Ślęża, 718m), and Wzgórza Niemczańsko-Strzelińskie (Gromnik Mountain, 392m). Ślęża ( German: Zobten or Zobtenberg, also Silingi) is a mountain in the Sudetes foothills ( Pogórze Sudeckie) Lower hills occur also in areas of Obniżenie Sudeckie, Świdnik, and Kotlina Dzierżoniowska. The eastern part of Silesian Lowland consists of wide Silesian Lowlands, located along banks of Oder River. The Oder (known in Czech and Polish as Odra) is a River in Central Europe. The eastern part includes also Równina Wrocławska with its surroundig lands: Równina Oleśnicka, Wysoczyzna Średzka, Równina Grodkowska and Niemodlińska. Dolina Dolnej Kaczawy (Kotlina Legnicka) separates Nizina Śląska from Nizina Śląsko-Łużycka, which includes Wysoczyzna Lubińsko-Chocianowska, Dolina Szprotawy, and wide areas of Bory Dolnośląskie, located to the north from Bolesławiec-Zgorzelec road. From the North, the lowlands are delimited by Wał Trzebnicki, consisting of hills that are 200km long and over 150m high, in comparison to neighboring lowlands (Kobyla Mountain, 284m). The range of hills includes: Wzgórza Dalkowskie, Wzgórza Trzebnickie, Wzgórza Twardogórskie, and Wzgórza Ostrzeszowskie. Obniżenie Milicko-Głogowskie, with Kotlina Żmigrodzka and Milicka, is located in the northern part, within the hills.

The region of lowlands is coated with thick layer of glacial elements (sand, gravel, clay) that covers more diverse relief of the older ground. Clay is a naturally occurring material composed primarily of fine-grained Minerals which show plasticity through a variable range of Water content, and Generally flat and wide bottoms of the valleys are padded with river settlements. Slopes of the hills over 180-200m are coated with fertile clays and therefore, to begin with the Paleozoic era, they became the lands for people to settle and cultivate intensively. The Paleozoic or Palaeozoic Era (from the Greek palaio (παλαιο "old" and zoe (ζωη "life" meaning "ancient life" Later form of economy caused almost complete deforestation of the slopes. Deforestation is the conversion of Forested areas to non-forest land for use such as Arable land, Pasture, urban use logged area or wasteland Not only fertile grounds, but also mild climate is conductive to development of agriculture and market gardening. Annual average temperature of Wrocław area is 8 degrees Celsius. Wrocław (Breslau Vratislav Vratislavia or Wratislavia Yiddish: ברעסלוי) is the chief City of the historical region of Lower Silesia Average temperature of the hottest month (July) is 18 degrees Celsius, and -1. 5 degrees Celsius of the coldest month (January). The average amount of rainfall is between 500-620mm, with its maximum in July and minimum in February. The snow layer disappears after 45 days. The winds, similar to those appearing in the West side of Poland, are West and Southwest.

Sudeten rivers are characterized by changeable water rates, and high pollution resulting from large industrialization of the area. The greatest rivers are Nysa Kłodzka, which is the source of drinking water for Wrocław (the water is drawn by special channel); Stobrawa, Oława, Ślęza, Bystrzyca with its tributaries – Strzegomka and Piława; Widawa, Średzka Woda, Kaczawa with Nysa Szalona and Czarna Woda. The Nysa Kłodzka (- Polish, German: Glatzer Neiße, Czech: Kladská Nisa) is a River in southwestern Poland, Varietal of Polish Potato ( Stobrawa, Mila Glada used for food and Vodka distilling Oława ( is a town in south-western Poland with 31078 inhabitants (2005 Ślęza (- Polish, German: Lohe) is a 786 km long River in Lower Silesia, southern Poland, a left tributary of the Bystrzyca is a common Polish toponym derived from the Slavic root *-bystr denoting speed or fast flow Widawa Łódź VoivodeshipThe Widawa (Weide is a River in Poland, a right-bank Tributary of the Oder River. The Kaczawa (Katzbach is a small River in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship in Poland. The Nysa Szalona (Wütende Neiße or Jauersche Neiße is a River in Poland. Czarna Woda (Schwarzwasser is a town in Starogard County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland, with 3223 inhabitants (2004 There is also the largest right-bank tributary of the area - Barycz. The Barycz (Bartsch is a River in western Poland. It is a right tributary of the Oder River. The other guite large rivers - Bóbr, Kwisa, and Nysa Łóżycka – flow into Oder River beyond Lower Silesia borders. Majority of the rivers is regulated and their basins are improved, which is conductive to the proper water economy. The characteristic feature of the lowlands landscape is the lack of lakes. Region of Legnica is the only place where a dozen or so of small lakes survived, but majority of them is already disappearing. Legnica (Liegnitz is a City on the Kaczawa river in Lower Silesia in south-western Poland. The largest one is Jezioro Kunickie (95ha), Jezioro Koskowickie (50ha), Jezioro Jaśkowickie (24ha) and Tatarak (19. 5ha) . In contrast to the number of lakes, there are large groups of artificial ponds founded in Barycz basin, in the Middle Ages. Their total area amounts around 80km square, and the largest ponds (Stary Staw, Łosiowy Staw, Staw Niezgoda, Staw Mewi Duży, and Grabownica) come to 200-300ha.

The primeval flora has been transformed significantly as a result of deforestation and cultivation. Deforestation is the conversion of Forested areas to non-forest land for use such as Arable land, Pasture, urban use logged area or wasteland The largest forest complexes are Bory Dolnośląskie (3 150 km²), Bory Stobrawskie in Stobrawa and Widawa areas, and smaller fragments of forests in Barycz and Oder River valleys. Varietal of Polish Potato ( Stobrawa, Mila Glada used for food and Vodka distilling Widawa Łódź VoivodeshipThe Widawa (Weide is a River in Poland, a right-bank Tributary of the Oder River. The Barycz (Bartsch is a River in western Poland. It is a right tributary of the Oder River. The Oder (known in Czech and Polish as Odra) is a River in Central Europe. These forests are kind of multi-species deciduous forests, occurring in fertile grounds. Botany Autumn leaf color. See --> In Botany and Horticulture, deciduous Plants, including Oder River valley is reach in groups of mixed forests (beech, oak, hornbeam, sycamore maple, and pine). For the babyfood see Beech-Nut. Beech ( Fagus) is a genus of ten Species of Deciduous Trees in the The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of about 400 species of Trees and Shrubs in the Genus Quercus (from Latin Plants in the genus Carpinus ( Cár-pi-nus) are commonly called Hornbeams. Acer pseudoplatanus ( Sycamore or Sycamore Maple to distinguish it from other plants called Sycamore) is a species of Maple native This article is about the tree For other uses of the term "pine" see Pine (disambiguation. These forests, with protected status, are: Zwierzyniec, Kanigóra near Oława, Dublany, Kępa Opatowicka near Wrocław, Zabór near Przedmoście, and Lubiąż. Zwierzyniec is a town on the Wieprz river in the Zamość County, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland. Oława ( is a town in south-western Poland with 31078 inhabitants (2005 Wrocław (Breslau Vratislav Vratislavia or Wratislavia Yiddish: ברעסלוי) is the chief City of the historical region of Lower Silesia Przedmoście may refer to the following places in Poland: Przedmoście in Gmina Głogów, Głogów County in Lower Silesian Voivodeship Lubiąż (Leubus is a village on the east bank of the Odra (Oder River, in the administrative district of Gmina Wołów, within Wołów County, Lower The other forest areas are: Natural Park in Orsk, the areas of Jodłowice, Wzgórze Joanny near Milicz, and Gola near Twardogóra. Such types of forest like those up to 1. 2m high, which are the mainstay for wild game, or nurseries, are inaccessible because of permanent fire hazard. Territories partly accessible (marked specially) are located in areas of Góra Śląska, Oborniki Śląskie, Wołowa, in Oder River valley, and in Wzgórza Niemczańsko-Strzelińskie.

Flora

The flora of Lower Silesia is specific and different for each zone. From the bottoms to the tops, plants form groups that are arranged in wide or narrow belts, called floral zones. Subsequently, these zones are divided into narrower belts, called vegetation belts. The zone of mountain forest is divided into two belts: subalpine and lower subalpine forest. The term subalpine refers to the biotic zone immediately below Tree line around the world Above, there is forestless zone divided into subalpine belt with dwarf pine, and alpine belt without shrubs. This vegetation is Glacial, the former one – from Tertiary – was destroyed by the climate of Ice Age. "Glacial" and "Glaciation" redirect here For the geological periods see Glacial period. The chuprichondira geological time interval covers roughly the time span between the demise of the non- avian Dinosaurs and beginning of the most recent Ice Age, approximately An ice age is a period of long-term reduction in the Temperature of the Earth 's surface and atmosphere resulting in an expansion of continental Ice sheets Along with glaciation from the North, some tundra plants appeared, for example: Lapland Willow (Salix Lapponum) and cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus). The cloudberry ( Rubus chamaemorus) also called bakeapple in Newfoundland and Labrador, Cape Breton Island and southern Nova Scotia is The flora of Lower Silesia is strongly influenced by geological and climatic history. The vegetation is formed by species deriving from various geographic regions. Particular regions are represented by:

Lower subalpine forest

Lower subalpine forest (450-1000m) Polish: Regiel Dolny is characterized by deciduous or mixed forest. Pedicularis is a genus of perennial green root parasite plants belonging to the broomrape family Orobanchaceae. Polish ( język polski, polszczyzna) is the Official language of Poland. The fragments of forests similar to natural complexes of pine-fir-beech with admixture of larch, sycamore maple and lime occur near the Szklarski waterfall, in the Jagniątkowski complex, and Chojnik Mountain. This article is about the tree For other uses of the term "pine" see Pine (disambiguation. Firs ( Abies) are a genus of between 45-55 species of Evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. For the babyfood see Beech-Nut. Beech ( Fagus) is a genus of ten Species of Deciduous Trees in the Larches are Conifers in the genus Larix, in the family Pinaceae. Acer pseudoplatanus ( Sycamore or Sycamore Maple to distinguish it from other plants called Sycamore) is a species of Maple native Chojnik Lesser Poland Voivodeship Chojnik Castle (Kynastburg is located in Sobieszów, part of the city of Jelenia Góra, southwestern Poland. Particular species of trees have different climatic requirements. The lowest parts are covered with oak and ash (up to 500m). On the level of 500-600m occurs pine; in the higher parts (up to 800m), there occurs European larch and above 800m – fir and beech. European Larch ( Larix decidua) is a species of Larch native to the mountains of central Europe, in the Alps and Carpathians,

Despite of transformation of the basic tree vegetation, the same form of undergrowth survived. There occurs: daphne mezereum, red elderberry, hazel, platanthera bifolian, sweet woodruff, herb paris, cranberry, wood sorrel, chickweed wintergreen, common cow-wheat and lily of the valley. Daphne mezereum is a species of Daphne in the Flowering plant family Thymelaeaceae, native to most of Europe and western The hazels ( Corylus) are a genus of Deciduous Trees and large Shrubs native to the temperate northern hemisphere Woodruff ( Galium odoratum) is a Herbaceous Perennial plant in the family Rubiaceae, native to Europe, North Africa and western Cranberries are a group of Evergreen dwarf Shrubs or trailing vines in the genus Vaccinium subgenus Oxycoccos Oxalis is the largest Genus in the wood sorrel family Oxalidaceae. Trientalis europaea is a plant in the Primulaceae family, called by the common name chickweed wintergreen or Arctic starflower Convallaria majalis, commonly known as the Lily of the Valley or Lily-of-the-Valley, is the only species in the genus Convallaria The parts over 800m are mainly covered with grasses, purple small-reeds, cranberries, and willow gentian.

In highlighted places, on meadows, and along roads, there occurs: spotted orchid, bugleweed, yellow archangel, arnica montana, sword-leaved helleborine, rosebay willowherb, groundsel, and foxglove. Lamiastrum galeobdolon, commonly known as Yellow Archangel, is a widespread wildflower in Europe and has been introduced elsewhere as a garden plant Arnica montana (also known as leopard's bane, wolf's bane, mountain tobacco and mountain arnica) is a European The Sword-leaved Helleborine, Cephalanthera longifolia, is a terrestrial Orchid found in much of western and southern Europe. Fireweed or (mainly in Britain) Rosebay Willowherb ( Epilobium angustifolium) is a perennial Herbaceous Plant in the willowherb Senecio vulgaris, often known by the common name Common groundsel, a humble in appearance member of the Asteraceae family and Senecio Along riversides, there occurs white butterbur.

Pine forests are rich in spruces, which are permanently weakened by atmospheric factors. Frayed roots are easily infected by harmful fungus and insect. A fungus (ˈfʌŋgəs is a eukaryotic Organism that is a member of the kingdom Fungi (ˈfʌndʒaɪ Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described The most damaging is honey mushroom, with edible specimen, which grows in pulp – between the bark and timber - causing the death of tree. Honey fungus or Armillaria is a Genus of parasitic fungi that live on trees and woody shrubs In Biology, a specimen is an individual Animal, part of an animal Plant, part of a plant or Microorganism used as a representative to Bark, also known as periderm is the outermost layer of stems and Roots of Woody plants such as Trees It overlays the Wood and consists Lumber or timber is Wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural Material for Construction, or The other damaging fungus is bracket fungus, which destroys roots and trunks from the inside. Bracket fungi, or shelf fungi, are fungi, in the phylum Basidiomycota. The honey mushroom devastates the tree within a few months, and the bracket fungus – within a few years – as a result of mechanic changes in wood structure.

Sources

See also

External links

Silesia Walls ( Wały Śląskie, Dreigräben) are a line of three (or sometimes fewer parallel earthen ramparts and ditches that run through Lower Silesia The Chrobry fortified village ( Polish: Gród Chrobry, German: Wallburg Chrobry) named contemporarily for King Boleslaw Chrobry
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