The Central European Highlands consist of the high mountains of the Alpine Mountains and the Carpathian Mountains systems and also mountainous ranges of medium elevation (between about 1,000–2,000 m (3,300–6,600 ft) a.s.l.), e.g. those belonging to the Bohemian Massif, still prevailingly of mountainous character.
Both types of mountains act as "water towers". Their high elevation brings about high precipitation and low evaporation, and the resulting surplus of water balance feeds large European rivers and other important water sources. Beside the mountains, large areas of Central Europe are occupied by highlands or peneplains of lower altitude (400–800 m (1,300–2,600 ft)) in which the surplus of annual water balance is less noticeable.
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Badura, Janusz; Jary, Zdzisław; Smalley, Ian (May 2013). "Sources of loess material for deposits in Poland and parts of Central Europe: The lost Big River". Quaternary International. 296: 15–22. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2012.06.019.
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