The Jizera river flows more than 165 km from its source in the Jizerské mountains to join the Labe (Elba) river near Brandýs nad Labem, 20 km northeast of Prague.

The river takes its name from the Celtic word ‘Isera’ – meaning fast flowing river, although the warlike Celts were actually not major long term settlers in the Český ráj area. Other earlier tribes from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages were actually more prolific settlers along the banks of the upper Jizera.

The Jizera has changed course several times over the past couple of million years. Together with its local tributary streams, the Jizera has influenced the sandstone landscape of Český ráj more than any other natural feature, carving deep canyons into the sandstone plateau and accelerating the break up of the sandstone blocks into the individual ‘rock cities’ that we see today.

The Jizera’s most picturesque section is probably where it flows through the sandstone rock formations of the Český ráj, just before it opens out into a wide flood plain after Turnov. The guide has a number of walks with sections along this stretch of the Jizera.