Mecsek

Mecsek
Some mountains viewed from Máré Castle, near Magyaregregy.
Location	Baranya and Tolna counties, Hungary
Territory	500 km²
Highest point	Zengő, 682 m (2238 ft)
Terrain	Lower mountains

Location of Mecsek (in red) within physical subdivisions of Hungary

Mecsek (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈmɛtʃɛk]; Croatian: Meček, Serbian: Meček or Мечек; German Metscheck) is a mountain range in southern Hungary. It is situated in the Baranya region, in the north of the city of Pécs.

Geography

The mountains cover an area of approximately 500 km². The highest peak in the mountain range is Zengő (literally translates to 'resonant'), which has an elevation of 682 metres (2238 feet). The Mecsek Hills consist of plateau-like block mountains of a broken, folded structure. Its basis is crystalline rock of variscian origin surmounted by Triassic and Jurassic limestone and dolomite and Tertiary formations that form the main block. The mountains are divided by a structural fault running NW to SE. The eastern part consist mainly of high ridges of sedimentary rock. The west has extensive limestone plateaux and areas dominated by sandstones of the Permian-Triassic period. There are important karst phenomena to be found on the limestone plateaux. Mecsek is rich in minerals (including uranium) compared to other territories of Hungary. The climate is mixed and represents elements of the mediterranean and continental climate. The territory gives home to 20-30 plant species which are unknown in other parts of the Carpathian Basin.

Political and cultural history

The Mecsek Hills were the scene of pitched battles during the Hungarian Revolution in November 1956 between Hungarian units dubbed "the Mecsek Invisibles" and the invading Soviet forces.

Parts

Mecsek is divided to two parts:

• Eastern Mecsek
• Western Mecsek

Settlements

Abaliget	Apátvarasd	Bakonya	Bános
Berkesd	Bodolyabér	Bogád	Budafa
Cikó	Császta	Cserkút	Egyházbér
Ellend	Erdősmecske	Erzsébet (village)	Fazekasboda
Feked	Hidas	Hird	Hosszúhetény
Husztót	Jánosipuszta	Kárász	Kátoly
Kékesd	Kisbattyán	Kisbodolya	Kishajmás
Kishertelend	Kismányok	Kisújbánya	Kisvaszar
Komló	Kovácsszénája	Kővágószőlős	Kővágótőtős
Lovászhetény	Magyaregregy	Magyarhertelend	Magyarszék
Mánfa	Martonfa	Máza	Mecsekfalu
Mecsekjánosi	Mecseknádasd	Mecsekpölöske	Mecsekrákos
Mecsekszakáll	Mecsekszentkút	Nagykozár	Nagymányok
Nagypall	Óbánya	Ófalu	Orfű
Oroszló	Pécs	Pécsvárad	Pereked
Pusztakisfalu	Püspökszentlászló	Romonya	Szalatnak
Sásd	Szászvár	Szatina	Szellő	Szilágy (village)
Tekeres	Váralja	Vékény	Zengővárkony
Zobákpuszta	Barátúr

Gallery

• Mecsek sight hun.jpg

  Around the Jakab peak

• 

  Mecseknádasd - Castle from above

• 

  Forest near Óbánya

• 

  Megalodon tooth of Mecsek (Miocene)

• Hills in baranya county, hungary.jpg

  Hills at Mecseknádasd

See also

• Komlosaurus carbonis
• Geography of Hungary

External links

• Mecsek-1956-History