Horní Blatná – Vlčí jámy
Ancient tin mines below Blatenský Vrch Hill
A nature trail leads from the royal mining town of Horní Blatná through the old tin mining district of Conrad, situated between the Blatenský Vrch and Jelení Vrch Hills. One of the largest and most important tin mines in the central part of the Krušné Hory Mts. was located here. Its importance lies in the fact that it merged small mine workings into a single extensive complex, which was very modern at that time in terms of exploration, development and technical equipment.
The water that was needed to operate the mining equipment and to transport timber and firewood was channelled in by the Blatenský Leat. This 12 km long artificial leat is fed by Černá Stream, located about 2 km west of Boží Dar.
After ascending Blatenský Vrch Hill, where an observation tower is located, the nature trail leads to the ravines of the old tin stopes called Vlčí Jámy and Ledová Jáma, which were declared a natural and cultural monument.
Extensive tin mining occurred in a number of other areas in the wide surroundings, traces of which are mostly visible on the nearby Sněžná Hůrka (the Zuzana and Svatý Duch Mines, and others).
