Kriváň (peak)

Kriváň

The mountain Kriváň ( German Krummhorn or ox horn, Hungarian Kriván ) is located in the Tatra National Park ( Mountains High Tatras) and is a national symbol of Slovakia. With its 2494 m above sea level Kriváň is one of the highest elevations in Slovakia and in the Carpathians. The particularly striking shape of the mountain is the subject of various myths and legends of Slovak culture.

In 1840 were loyal to the emperor Hungarian monarchists build on top of the Kriváň an obelisk, which should serve to the ascent of the king Friedrich August II of memory. This obelisk was of Slovak patriots after a short time at one of the "people's trips " - destroyed again - a kind of Slovak national pilgrimage. The first popular excursion took place with the participation of Ľudovít Štúr and Michal Hodža on 16 August 1841.

Štefan Marko Daxner organized in the year of 1861, the largest hike memorandum on the Kriváň.

Since 1955, the hikes are dedicated to the Kriváň the Slovak National Uprising.

The climb to the Kriváň is possible on marked trails of Podbanské, tri studničky or Štrbské Pleso.

In December 2005, a picture of the mountain was selected as a back for the Slovak one, two and five euro cent coins.