Sudety Mountains are a 30-45 km wide mountain range, stretching for over 300 km from the Elbe Sandstone Mountains in the north-west extending southeast wards to the Moravian Gate. Sniezka at an altitude of 1602 m is the highest peak with the average height of the entire range being approximately 1200 km. The mountains consist mainly of granite and crystalline with a climate as varied as it is landscape. While there is as in most valleys a mild, temperate climate, the Jizera Montains are the coldest place in Poland and the Giant Mountains is the windiest and foggiest mountains in Europe. Sudetes have their own unique plant life with rare species such as Sardinian Mouflon proliferating in the Owl Mountains. Her rare beauty is reflected by the establishment of two national parks; The Giant and Table Mountains National Parks and nine conservation areas. In short, Sudety Mountains satisfies the wishes of today’s and tomorrow’s travellers, offering a good-value alternative to the more expensive and over-populated Alpine and similar European low mountain ranges, encompassing a multi-sport environment. Hikers can use over 3500 km of marked trials including the trans-European route E-3 which runs from the Atlantic to the Black Sea. There are more than 2000 km of bike trials, mainly natural bike paths leading through national parks, nature reserves and past the major attractions of the region. In the Sudetes many national and international mountain bike marathons take place, where all participants are welcome in growing numbers, the largest being the “Sudetes MTB Challenge”. Those cyclists who prefer flatter ground will also find their suitable domain. Particularly interesting routes are “Liczyrzepa”in the Western Sedetes, “Bobr Valley” which run along the river. Of the favoured places for rock climbers there are Rudawy Janowickie and Sokoliki Mountains and experienced climbers may also scale the steep cliffs of the Strzeliniec Wielki (919 m ) and the Sniezne Kotly in the Giant Mountains. In these areas, water plays a significant role also in the mountains and valleys. Odra River tributaries from the basis for kayak tours over a length of some 600 km. Some mountain streams are especially suitable in the spring for white-water kayaking and rafting. In the winter the tourists have the use of hundreds of miles of cross-country, trails and ski-lifts are available to over 60 villages. The best known ski-resorts in the Giant Mountains are:  Janske Lazne, Vrchlabi, Spindleruv Mlyn, Pec pod Sněžkou, Szklarska Poreba and Karpacz, in the Jizera Mountains; Liberec and Swieradow Zdrój, in Eagle Mountain; Zieleniec, Destne and Ricky, in Jeseniky; Cervenohorske Sedlo and Karlova Studanka, in Śnieżnik Mountains ; Czarna Góra, in the Owl Mountains: Rzeczka, and Sokolec, in Table Mountains; Karlów (only cross-country).The minerals found in Kaczawskie and the Jeziera Mountains include: agates, amethyst, nephrite, garnets, opal, jaspers, crystals, topaz and magnesite. Other minerals such as gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, zinc, uranium, marble and coal are also abundant in the Sudetes and in medieval Europe most of the gold was extracted from the Sudetes.