Západné Tatry - Roháče (West Tatra Mountains) - Slovakia

Extent: 400 km²

West Tatra Mountains form part of Western Carpathian Mountains, and are situated in north part of Slovak Republic. Its part – Roháče – has Alps´ character.

Highest peak: Bystrá (2248 m).

Surface: afforested, pines, in higher sites, there are to be found dwarfish pine-woods, olough-tails and lichens.

Climatic zone: mostly cold.

Mountain nucleus is formed with granites and crystalic slates, on surface with limestones and dolomites.

On a territory with rare fauna and flora, there are to be found mountain lakes (plesa), tourist communities and well marked tourist trails into valleys or to the tops (peaks).

A part of West Tatra Mountains became a part of Tatra National Park in 1987.

The adjacent southern ridge of the Western Tatras, which stretches from Babky Hill to the north to Sivy Hill, offers wonderful walks with beautiful views of the surrounding area. From Babky (1 566 m above sea level) there are nice views of the Liptovska basin, the Low Tatras and the dominant hills in the area of the main ridge of the Western Tatras. For the hill Ostra (1 764 m above sea level) are characteristic views of the Chocske Hills, as well as the nearby Sivy Hill and the rock town forming part of the main Tatra ridge - Radove Rocks. The gray hill is highest among the mentioned hills and reaches a height of 1 805 m. From its rocky peak, which is built with triassic limestones and dolomites, beautiful panoramic views of Orava and Liptov, the main ridge of the Western Tatras, as well as the Bobrovec and Dry Valley valleys. If there is good visibility, at the horizon we can recognize the ridges of Large and Small Fatra or the hill of Babi mountain (1 725 m above sea level).

Text and photos: Radoslav Biskupič