Geomorphology of sandstone mesas in the Broumovská vrchovina region, NE Czechia

Despite their great scientific and tourist importance, sandstone tablelands surprisingly rarely become the subject of geomorphological mapping. Here, we address this research gap by presenting a geomorphological map of Hejda and Ostaš – two of the best-known mesas within the Czech part of the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin, one of the world’s most renowned sandstone rock city landscapes. These tabular hills are of diverse morphologies, featuring gently inclined upper surfaces, partly dissected to the form of a rock city, rock cliffs around their perimeters, and concave outer slopes mantled with extensive boulder covers. The map (1:5000 scale) provides a thorough presentation of the complex relief of the mesas, and hence, it represents a proposal of a methodical approach to geomorphological mapping of such features worldwide. In addition, it serves as a fundament for further investigation focused on the origin and development of sandstone landforms in platform settings.