Quaternary ENG

Quaternary is the youngest geologic period. It is typical for quick repeating rotation of high and low temperature – the so-called glacial and inter-glacial periods. During the cold periods, huge continental glaciers were formed that caused decreasing of the sea level and exposing of new lands, which was flooded again during the warmer periods. This climatic variation created very difficult living conditions for the fauna and flora; animals and plants were forced to move frequently and many species became extinct during Quaternary, leading to decreased diversity in flora and disappearance of many big mammals (mammoths, deer, woolly rhinoceros, etc.) as well as the Neanderthals. In our territory, which was affected by the continental glacier only marginally, many mountain glaciers and valley glaciers were formed. The huge amount of material was weathered, transported and embedded by water streams and wind. Recent soil cover of the land is also product of Quaternary period.