Vysoké Tatry (High Tatra) - Slovakia

Extent: 74111 ha

In north part of Slovakia, along borders with Poland, in districts of Kežmarok, Liptovský Mikuláš, Poprad and Tvrdošín, there is situated mountain range of special character – High Tatra. It belongs, together with Belianske Tatra, to complex of East Tatra Mountains.

Highest peak: Gerlachovka (2655 m).

Surface: it is formed with dense forests, pine woods. In higher sites, there are to be found dwarfish pine woods, plough-tails and lichens. Alp-meadows are located in places where the trees are missing.

Climate: mostly cold, 0 Celsius degrees. The snow remains on surface nearly all year round, on some places does not thaw at all.

Mountain nucleus is formed with granites and crystalic slates, on surface with limestones and sandstones, with appearance of quartz.

Mountain relief is very rough, including steep shields and combs.

We find here caves with karst appearances, waterfalls, lakes (plesa), healing springs, rare plants and many animals, in form of great mammalia.

High Tatra Mountains were declared as Tatra National Park in 1948. Later, in 1993, declared as biospherical reservation within scope of international UNESCO programme.

Lomnický Peak (2634 m) was taken for the highest from all Tatra peaks for long time in past. Nevertheless, we know that the highest one is those of gerlach peak (2655 m). Lomnicky Peak - (or Grandfather named by old Tatra inhabitants) - or Tatra King (named by Poles), belongs to most beautiful peaks of High Tatra Mountans.

Up to its top, where you can enjoy, apart from mountain bar and marvellous outlook terrace, you can be taken comfortably by means of cabin rope railway. So, thanks to this rope railway, even standard tourists, including families with children, old persons or handicapped people, are able to reach easily the peak. The only momemt you have to overcome, it is a freight against height, as the view to rope railway, hanging on the rope, without any supporting pillar, is really colossal.

Classical cabin rope railway takes you from Tatranská Lomnica to Skalnaté pleso (Rocky Lake), via Start Station, where you are not obliged to go out. Further, in Skalnaté pleso, you get into great red cabin (it is really for courageous persons only) and this cabin takes you up to the top.

We decided, with our friends, to take advantage of the possibility of accommodation directly at Lomnicky Peak, the highest situated room in Central Europe. So, I would like to present you some photos from such unforgettable excursion. You can find there different outlooks from the top, the pictures were made during a day or at night. Apart of this, you can have a look into observatory, where the scientists follow the sun, or have a look at the highest situated hotel-room, where we spent a night.

At Lomnický Peak, it is always a place of Sun Embassy for the whole Planet of the Earth. It is some type of play, where the persons can present the gifts with sun shines to each other, and so, to be nominated as Sun Ambassadors. The profit from such activity is donated for an operation of  one from most known Slovak Charity systems, known as „Dobrý Anjel („Good Engel“).

Text/photo: Olga Kubáčková