Abstract
The study area is situated on the border of the Cheb (Eger) Basin and the Krušné Hory Mts. (Erzgebirge). This border is known to have had recent seismic activity.
The West Bohemia region and the Vogtland region are monitored by the seismic networks and by GPS geodynamic network GEONAS. The geological and morphological conditions in this area have not yet been sufficiently studied.
A morphostructural analysis was carried out in this area with the aim of finding the structural factors that control the relief. Our study focused on mapping the valley forms and the drainage patterns, and their correlation with dislocations (faults, joints).
The valley relief was found to be strongly influenced by the structural conditions and by the position on the border between morphologically different units. The Mariánské Lázně Fault Zone divides the area into two different parts: the Cheb Basin and the Krušné Hory Mts.
Two main fault systems are dominant in the Krušné Hory Mts.: NW-SE (as Mariánské Lázně Fault Zone) and NE-SW (as Eger/Ohře Rift Zone). Both directions can also be seen in the drainage pattern.
The tectonic effect is obvious in the asymmetric cross profiles of most of the valleys in the northern part of the Cheb Basin and adjacent areas. There are changes of direction of all water flows on the Mariánské Lázně Fault Zone.
Recent tectonic activity is also reflected in the existence of mineral springs and moffetes along the main fault zones. Recent manifestations of the evolution of the relief can be seen on the slope deformations, mainly along the Mariánské Lázně Fault Zone or newly described Počátky-Plesná Fault Zone (N-S orientation) in the Cheb Basin.
Several faults were filled with clay-rich gauge.