Central Uplands

In the Carboniferous, i.e. about 350 million years ago, Variscan mountain ranges were formed in central Europe by the uplifting caused by tectonic plate collision.

With the beginning of the Cenozoic era, some 70 million years ago, the process of erosion of the Hercynian mountain ranges changed.

As these rocks were already folded, further tension led to cracks and fractures, which in turn created fault blocks.

Thus the German Central Uplands exhibit the widest variety of forms, something that is also attributable to the erosion of sediments from the Mesozoic (Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous).

The table lists the ranges peaking over 300 m above sea level widely seen as part of the Central Uplands.