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47-524: The Southern Carpathians are the second highest group of mountains in the Carpathian Mountain range (after Tatra ), reaching heights of over 2,500 meters. Although considerably smaller than the Alps , they are classified as having an alpine landscape. Their high mountain character, combined with great accessibility, makes them popular with tourists and scientists. The highest peaks are: Despite

94-501: A book of adventures and excursions in the Tatras titled Ungarischer Oder Dacianischer Simplicissimus, Vorstellend Seinen wunderlichen Lebens-Lauff, und sonderliche Begebenheiten gethaner Raisen, Nebenst Wahrhafter Beschreibung dess vormals im Nor gestandenen und offters verunruhigten Urgerland , which translates roughly to Hungarian or Dacian Simplicissimus, presenting his strange life and the peculiar events of his adventures, together with

141-527: A connection with a Herzegovian highland called Tatra , thus taken from local inhabitants. The name is also close to the Ukrainian word for gravel, toltry . The Tatras are a mountain range of a corrugated nature, originating from the Alpine orogeny , and therefore characterized by a relatively young-looking lie of the land, quite similar to the landscape of the Alps , although significantly smaller. It

188-865: A rocky ledge in one of the trails near Zakopane. The highest point in the Tatra Mountains that can be freely accessed by a labeled trail is Rysy . Most of the peaks in the Western Tatras (on both sides of the border), including the main ridge are freely accessible by hiking trails. In the Slovak part of the Eastern Tatras, only seven peaks (out of 48 with prominence of at least 100 m) are accessible by hiking trails ( Rysy , Svinica/Świnica , Slavkovský štít , Kriváň , Kôprovský štít , Východná Vysoká , and Jahňací štít ). Two of these ( Rysy and Svinica/Świnica ) are located on

235-914: A series of mountains within the Western Carpathians that form a natural border between Slovakia and Poland . They are the highest mountains in the Carpathians . The Tatras are distinct from the Low Tatras ( Slovak : Nízke Tatry ), a separate Slovak mountain range further south. The Tatra Mountains occupy an area of 785 square kilometres (303 sq mi), of which about 610 square kilometres (236 sq mi) (77.7%) lie within Slovakia and about 175 square kilometres (68 sq mi) (22.3%) within Poland. The highest peak, called Gerlachovský štít , at 2,655 m (8710 ft),

282-477: A true description of the ancient lands that once stood in the north and were often troubled . The author was later discovered to be Daniel Speer of Silesia, who lived in the sub-Tatra region for about six years. A popular tourist destination in Poland is Zakopane but the developed tourist base also includes Kościelisko , Poronin , Biały Dunajec , Bukowina Tatrzańska , Białka Tatrzańska , Murzasichle , Małe Ciche , Ząb , Jurgów , Brzegi . In Slovakia,

329-425: A year on average. Maximum snow cover on the summit amounts to: Peaks are sometimes covered with snow or ice throughout the year. Avalanches are frequent. Extreme temperatures range from −40 °C (−40 °F) in the winter to 33 °C (91 °F) in warmer months. Temperatures also vary depending on the altitude and sun exposure of a given slope. Temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F) last for 192 days on

376-512: Is located north of Poprad , entirely in Slovakia. The highest point in Poland, Rysy , at 2,500 metres (8,200 ft), is located south of Zakopane , on the border with Slovakia. The Tatras' length, measured from the eastern foothills of the Kobylí vrch (1,109 metres (3,638 ft)) to the southwestern foot of Ostrý vrch (1128 m), in a straight line, is 57 km (35 mi) (or 53 km (33 mi) according to some), and strictly along

423-612: Is located within the park. It is also the highest point in the Tatra Mountains and the Carpathian Mountains . Bystrá is the highest mountain in the Western Tatras at 2,248 metres (7,375 ft), and Havran mountain (English: Raven) is the highest point in the Belianske Tatras at 2,152 metres (7,060 ft). There are more than a hundred tarns , or mountain lakes, in the park. Veľké Hincovo pleso

470-811: Is the biggest with an area of 0.2 km , and the deepest at 58 metres (190 ft). The area around the settlement of Štrbské Pleso is a drainage divide for two drainage basins . To the east of this divide, streams are the headwaters of the Poprad River , of the Baltic Sea drainage basin. To the west of the divide streams are tributaries of the Váh , of the Black Sea drainage basin. The most popular waterfalls include Studenovodské vodopády , Kmeťov vodopád , Vajanského vodopád , Roháčsky vodopád , and Vodopád Skok . About 300 caves are located within

517-655: Is the highest mountain range within the Carpathians . It consists of the internal mountain chains of: The overall nature of the Tatras, together with their easy accessibility, makes them a favorite with tourists and researchers. Therefore, these mountains are a popular winter sports area, with resorts such as Poprad and the town Vysoké Tatry (The Town of High Tatras) in Slovakia created in 1999, including former separate resorts : Štrbské Pleso , Starý Smokovec , and Tatranská Lomnica or Zakopane , called also "winter capital of Poland". The High Tatras, with their 24 (or 25) peaks exceeding 2,500 m above sea level, together with

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564-561: Is unclear what form the Slovak term took before the 17th century when the first references to Tatry appear, probably as a loan word from Polish that later found its way into Czech and Hungarian. The term Tatra also appears as a general term in Slovak for barren or stony land and also in Ukraine for small stones in a river. Machek stresses that the name has no Slavic origin and mentions Rozwadowski's theory of an Illyrian origin because of

611-573: The Diocese of Prague with Tritri mountains. Still another is in 1125, where the Kosmas chronicles ( Chronica Boemorum ) mention the name Tatri . Machek in 1931 favored the theory of the Polish linguist Rozwadowski with a syllabic r like in the words chrt (Czech hound), smrt (Czech death) . In Czech this syllabic is sometimes with vowels i , e or u for example črný – černý , so

658-595: The Podolia , an Austrian army entered into Polish land and formed a cordon sanitaire , seizing Sądecczyzna , Spiš and Podhale . Two years later, the First Partition of Poland allocated the lands to Austria . In 1824, Zakopane region and area around Morskie Oko were purchased from the authorities of the Austrian Empire by a Hungarian Emanuel Homolacs. When Austria-Hungary was formed in 1867,

705-661: The Southern Carpathians , represent the only form of alpine landscape in the entire 1,200 kilometres (746 miles) length of arc of the Carpathians. By the end of the First Polish Republic , the border with the Kingdom of Hungary in the Tatras was not exactly defined. The Tatras became an unoccupied borderland. On 20 November 1770, under the guise of protection against the epidemic of plague in

752-483: The Tatra Mountains . The park is important for protecting a diverse variety of flora and fauna, with many endemic species, including the Tatra chamois . The Tatra Mountains form a natural border between Slovakia to the north and Poland to the south, and the two countries have cooperated since the early 20th century on efforts to protect the area. Poland created an adjoining national park , and UNESCO later designated

799-432: The Tatra chamois , Alpine marmot , Tatra marmot , snow vole , brown bear , wolf , Eurasian lynx , red deer , roe deer , and wild boar . Notable fish include the brown trout and alpine bullhead . The endemic arthropod species include a caddis fly , the spider Xysticus alpicola and a springtail . There are records of tourist visits to the Tatras as early as 1565. In 1683, an anonymous author published

846-424: The temperate zone of Central Europe . They are an important barrier to the movements of air masses. Their mountainous topography causes one of the most diverse climates in that region. The highest precipitation figures are recorded on the northern slopes. In June and July, monthly precipitation reaches around 250 mm (10 in). Precipitation occurs from 215 to 228 days a year. Thunderstorms occur 36 days

893-482: The Czech reconstruction from Tritri/Tritry would be Trtry. In Polish , the term Tatry is firstly mentioned in 1255. Syllabic r often has vowels on both sides in Polish, so in case of Tarty we can reconstruct the name to Tartry , where the vowel a originated before the syllabic r which dissimilated . This theory is supported by Hungarian forms Turtur , Turtul and Tortol from 12th to 14th centuries. It

940-555: The Danubian Units represent units with both a metamorphic basement and a sedimentary cover, while the Severin Nappe includes only a sedimentary sequence. The Getic Nappe and the Danubian Units sediments include a Palaeozoic sequence (Upper Carboniferous, Lower Permian) and a Mesozoic sequence (Lowermost Jurassic – Middle Cretaceous). The Supragetic Nappe comprises mainly metamorphosed rocks (gneisses, micashists), while

987-728: The Polish and Slovak parks a transboundary biosphere reserve in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves , under its Man and the Biosphere Programme . The first written record of the name is from 999, when the Bohemian Duke Boleslaus II , on his deathbed, recalled when the Duchy of Bohemia extended to the Tritri montes . Another mention is in the 1086 document from Henry IV , wherein he referred to

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1034-422: The Polish part of the Tatras, was conceived in 1901 by Franciszek Nowicki , a Polish poet and mountain guide, and was built between 1903 and 1906. Over 100 individuals have died on the route since it was established. The path is marked with red signs. The death of Polish philosopher Bronisław Bandrowski is often used by guides as a cautionary tale for tourists. He committed suicide after he was trapped for days on

1081-676: The Severin Nappe includes only Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous sediments. From east to west, four mountain groups can be identified, separated by different river valleys. The first two groups are steepest on the North side, and the last two are steepest on the South side. Tatra Mountains The Tatra Mountains ( pronounced ), Tatras ( Tatry either in Slovak ( pronounced [ˈtatri] ) or in Polish ( pronounced [ˈtatrɨ] ) - plurale tantum ), are

1128-619: The Slovak TANAP's status of a national park because of the large investments (mainly in skiing infrastructure) in the park, which seriously interfere with the landscape and nature. (Alphabetical by surname) Tatra National Park, Slovakia Tatra(s) National Park ( Slovak : Tatranský národný park ; abbr. TANAP ) is one of the nine national parks in Slovakia . It is situated in North Central Slovakia in

1175-754: The Supragetic, Getic, Severin and Danubian Units. The Getic Nappe was identified by Murgoci (1905), while the general understanding over the Alpine structure of the South Carpathians was later refined by Codarcea (1940), Codarcea et al. (1961), Năstăseanu et al. (1981), Săndulescu (1984), Săndulescu and Dimitrescu (2004), and Mutihac (1990). The first to apply the global tectonics concepts for the Romanian Carpathians were Rădulescu and Săndulescu (1973). The Supragetic, Getic Nappes as well as

1222-499: The Tatra Mountains have become a natural border between the two states of the dual monarchy, but the border itself still has not been exactly determined. In 1889, a Polish Count Władysław Zamoyski purchased at auction the Zakopane region along with the area around Morskie Oko. Due to numerous disputes over land ownership in the late 19th century, attempts were made at the delimitation of the border . They were fruitless until 1897, and

1269-572: The Tatra Mountains. After several years of border conflicts, the first treaty (facilitated by the League of Nations ) was signed in 1925, with Poland receiving a small northernmost part of the Spiš region, immediately outside (to the north-east of) the Tatra Mountains, thus not changing the border in the mountains themselves. During the Second World War there were multiple attempts by both sides of

1316-523: The border ridge. The nearest road border crossings were Tatranská Javorina - Łysa Polana and Podspády - Jurgów in the east, and Suchá Hora - Chocholów in the west. Indeed, those who did cross elsewhere were frequently fined or even detained by border police of both countries. On the other hand, the permeable border in the Tatra Mountains was also heavily used for cross-border smuggling of goods such as alcohol, tobacco, coffee, etc. between Poland and Czechoslovakia. Only in 1999, more than 80 years after

1363-425: The border with Poland and accessible from the Polish side. The rest of the peaks on the Slovak side (including the highest one, Gerlachovský štít) can only be accessed when accompanied by a certified mountain guide. Members of UIAA mountain clubs can climb them without a certified guide. In the Slovak part most of the hiking trails in the Tatras are closed from 1 November to 31 May. Only trails from settlements up to

1410-558: The border, but where crossing remained illegal. This situation finally improved in 2007, with both countries accessing the Schengen Area . Since then, it is legal to cross the border at any point (i.e. no further official checkpoints were designated). Rules of the national parks on both sides of the border still apply and they restrict movement to official hiking trails and (especially on the Slovak side) mandate extensive seasonal closures in order to protect wildlife. The Tatras lie in

1457-580: The border. The Slovak Tatra National Park ( Tatranský národný park ; TANAP) was founded in 1949 (738 km , 285 sq mi), and the contiguous Polish Tatra National Park ( Tatrzański Park Narodowy ) in 1954 (215.56 km , 83.23 sq mi). The two parks were added jointly to the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve list in 1993. In 2013, the International Union for Conservation of Nature threatened to cancel

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1504-578: The buffer zone around the park covers an area of 307 km (118.5 mi ); 1045 km together. The park offers 600 km of hiking trails and 16 marked and maintained bike trails. The Western Tatras are divided into Osobitá , Roháče , Sivý vrch (literally Grey Mountain), Liptovské Tatry (Liptov Tatras), Liptovské Kopy , Červené vrchy (Red Peaks). The Eastern Tatras consist of High Tatras ( Vysoké Tatry ) and Belianske Tatras ( Belianske Tatry ). The highest peak in Slovakia at 2,655 metres (8,711 ft) in elevation, Gerlachovský štít ,

1551-630: The case went to an international court which determined on 13 September 1902 the exact course of the Austro-Hungarian border in the disputed area. A new round of border disputes between Poland and Czechoslovakia started immediately after the end of the First World War , when these two countries were established. Among other claims, Poland claimed ownership of a large part of the Spiš region. This claim also included additional parts of

1598-761: The combined effort a transboundary biosphere reserve . The Tatra National Park protects the Slovak areas of the High Tatras mountain range in the Eastern Tatras ( Východné Tatry ) ranges, and areas of the Western Tatras ( Západné Tatry ) ranges. The west part of the Tatra National Park is situated in the Žilina Region and the east part in the Prešov Region . The national park covers an area of 738 km (284.9 mi ), and

1645-517: The conflict to occupy more land, but the final treaty signed in 1958 (valid until present day) preserved the border line agreed in 1925. With the collapse of the Austrian Empire in 1918 and the creation of Poland and Czechoslovakia, the Tatra Mountains started to be divided by international border. This brought considerable difficulties to hikers, as it was illegal to cross the border without passing through an official border checkpoint, and for many decades there were no checkpoints for hikers anywhere on

1692-577: The dissolution of the Austrian Empire, the governments of Poland and Slovakia signed an agreement designating several unstaffed border crossings (with only irregular spot checks by border police) for hikers and cyclists on the 444 km-long Slovak-Polish border. One of these border crossings was created in the Tatra Mountains themselves, on the summit of the Rysy peak. However, there were still many other peaks and passes where hiking trails ran across

1739-478: The genus Ranunculus , glacier crowfoot , Dianthus glacialis of the genus Dianthus , Gentiana frigida of the gentian genus, Primula minim of the genus Primula , yellow mountain saxifrage , dwarf willow , net-leaved willow ( Salix reticulata ), and others. Animals are represented by 115 species of birds, 42 mammals, 8 reptiles, and 3 amphibians. There are also many invertebrates . Notable ice age relicts are Branchinecta paludosa fairy shrimp ,

1786-799: The heights, some of the most accessible passages in the Carpathians in Romania are along the rivers, which cross the mountain range (the Olt River ) or form wide valleys (along the Prahova River Valley or along the Jiu River Valley). The South Carpathians represent an intricate pile of tectonic nappes, overthrusted from west eastwards during the Austrian (Middle Cretaceous) and Laramian paroxysmal phases, corresponding to various plate fragments. The napes are (from west eastwards):

1833-600: The local ecology is fully recovered. The Tatra Mountains have a diverse variety of plant life. They are home to more than 1,000 species of vascular plants , about 450 mosses , 200 liverworts , 700 lichens , 900 fungi , and 70 slime moulds . There are five climatic-vegetation belts in the Tatras. The distribution of plants depends on altitude: The Tatra Mountains are home to many species of animals: 54 tardigrades , 22 turbellarians , 100 rotifers , 22 copepods , 162 spiders, 81 molluscs , 43 mammals, 200 birds, 7 amphibians and 2 reptiles. The most notable mammals are

1880-589: The main ridge, 80 km (50 mi). The range is only 19 km (12 mi) wide. The main ridge of the Tatras runs from the village of Huty at the western end to the village of Ždiar at the eastern end. The Tatras are now protected by law by the establishment of the Tatra National Park, Slovakia and the Tatra National Park, Poland , which are jointly entered in UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves . In 1992, UNESCO jointly designated

1927-459: The most important tourist base is the city Vysoké Tatry , consisting of three parts: Štrbské Pleso , Starý Smokovec and Tatranská Lomnica . The Polish "national mountain" (featured prominently in myths and folklore) is Giewont , while the Slovak one is Kriváň . Orla Perć is considered the most difficult and dangerous mountain trail in the Tatras, a suitable destination only for experienced tourists and climbers. It lies exclusively within

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1974-579: The mountain huts are open. In Poland, the trails are open year-round. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the mountains were used for sheep grazing and mining. Many trees were cut down to make way for humans. Although these activities were stopped, the impact is still visible. Moreover, pollution from the industrialized regions of Kraków in Poland or Ostrava in Czech Republic, as well as casual tourism, cause substantial damage. Volunteers however initiate litter removal events frequently, on both sides of

2021-518: The national park became a part of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme , jointly with the adjoining Tatra National Park of Poland . The areas of the park and its buffer zone were adjusted in 2003. Since 2004, the national park belongs to the Natura 2000 ecological network. The geological composition, soil properties and climate conditions all contribute to the original flora and fauna in

2068-452: The national park, however Belianska Cave ( Belianska jaskyňa ) is the only one open to public. It is located near the village of Lendak . The longest cave system discovered to date is the Cave of Javorinka. Tatra National Park was established on 1 January 1949 and it is the oldest national park in Slovakia. In 1987, a section of the Western Tatras was added to the national park. In 1992

2115-586: The park, of which 37 are endemic to the Tatras , 41 are endemic to the Western Carpathians and 57 are endemic to the Carpathians. Notable plants endemic to the Tatras include Tatra scurvy-grass ( Cochlearia tatrae ), yellow mountain saxifrage ( Saxifraga aizoides ), Erysimum wahlenbergii of the wallflower genus, Cochlearia tatrae , Erigeron hungaricus of the genus Erigeron , and others. Ice age relicts include Ranunculus alpestris of

2162-518: The park. Almost two thirds of the park are covered with forests, mainly with spruce and Norway spruce ( Picea abies ). The most widespread tree is the Norway spruce , followed by the Scots pine , Swiss pine ( Pinus cembra ), European larch ( Larix decidua ), and mountain pine . Leafy trees, especially maples , mainly grow in the Belianske Tatras. About 1,300 species of vascular plants grow in

2209-504: The summits. The average wind speed on the summits is 6 m/s (13.4 mi/hr). On 19 November 2004, large parts of the forests in the southern Slovak part of the High Tatras were damaged by a strong wind storm . Three million cubic metres (1,864 square miles) of trees were uprooted, two people died, and several villages were totally cut off. Further damage was done by a subsequent forest fire , and it will take many years until

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