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.

We would like to invite you to a walk to Nový and Starý Smokovec which are part of the biggest town in Slovakia - the town of High Tatras. From pensions decorated with hundreds of blossoms we move through narrow stone sidewalks along well-known sanatoriums and health resorts to churches. From here we continue to the memorial of a natural disaster which not so long ago hit the whole area. And now we are in the centre of tourism in Slovakia. Beautiful and unique Tatranian architecture set in the diverse and sharp strip of Tatranian ridges will amuse you and you will feel respect to the nature and people living in these settlements, or rather parts of town.

Text a photo: Oskar Mažgút

Translation: Maxim Kucer