Hercynian Mountains were formed during the Hercynian orogeny, caused by the collision of the supercontinents Euramerica and Gondwana during the Devonian and Carboniferous periods (Paleozoic, 390-310 Ma), i.e., "shortly" after the Caledonian orogeny (520-400 Ma). Originally, it was a chain of several thousand meters high mountains stretching across the new supercontinent Pangaea. However, these mountains did not last long and were already eroded during the Permian (end of the Paleozoic, 299–251 Ma). Many of today's mountains in the Hercynian geological area (e.g., Krkonošsko) gained their height much later when they were uplifted along fault lines during the Alpine orogeny. Their summit areas still show a flattened Paleozoic surface. The Hercynian Mountains include large parts of southwestern Europe (including the Pyrenees, French Massif Central, Corsica, and Sardinia) and central Europe (including the Czech Highlands, Central German Uplands, and Polish Uplands). The highest peak is Monte Cinto (2706 m) in Corsica.