Western Tatras

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Bystrá (right)

The Western Tatras (also Western Tatras, Slovak:. Západné Tatry, Polish: Tatry Zachodnie ) is a mountain range on the border between Slovakia and Poland. It is part of the Tatras, which in turn belongs to the Inner Western Carpathians.

The Western Tatras lies west of the better-known High Tatras. It occupies an area of ​​approximately 400 km ². Its highest peak is the Bystrá with 2248 m.

Demarcation

The Western Tatras is limited

  • In the north of the valley floor Podtatranská Brázda (Polish Row Podtatrzański )
  • In the east of the High Tatras,
  • In the south from the valley of Podtatranská kotlina
  • The west by the mountains Chočské Hills.

The border to the High Tatras is seen according to the current geomorphological structure in the saddle Ľaliové saddleback (Polish Liliowe ), the Hills to the Chočské in the passport Hutianske saddleback.

Structure

The Slovak part of the mountain is divided into six geomorphic subunits:

  • Osobita (highest peak: Osobita, 1687 m)
  • Sivý vrch ( Sivý vrch, 1805 m)
  • Liptovské Tatry ( Bystrá, 2248 m)
  • Roháče ( Banikov, 2178 m)
  • Červené Hills ( Kresanica, poln Krzesanica, 2122 m)
  • Liptovské kopy ( VeLka kopa, 2122 m)

Roháče refers to the central part of the Western Tatras; in Slovakia, this term is sometimes used in everyday language for the entire mountain.

In Poland, four areas can be distinguished:

  • Grześ,
  • Kasprowy Peak,
  • Czerwone Wierchy (corresponding to Červené Hills )
  • Ornak.

Character

The Western Tatras consist of both lime as well as of crystalline rocks. This diversity led to both a variety of landscapes, but also to a quite distinct plant diversity. The main ridge of the mountain is about 30 km long and runs in an east-west direction. The branching off of him side combs are - as in the High Tatras - in the north a bit longer than in the south. The central part - Roháče - is mostly rocky and has over the other parts of the West Tatra most high mountain character. The tree line is at about 1500 m; also extends to about 1800 m is an overgrown by dense coppice. Above these dominate meadows and rocks.

Tourism

Despite their impressive landscape is the West Tatras - as far as the interest of visitors - in the shadow of the High Tatras. In the mountains, there is a dense network of hiking trails. Also the main ridge is - up to a 5 km long section in the eastern part - walkable. Major tourist bases in the Western Tatras are the Zverovka settlement in the northwest and the refuge Žiarska chata in the south.

Conservation

On the Slovak side of the Tatra National Park ( Tatranský Národný park, TANAP ) was founded in 1949. This contains - in addition to the High Tatras and the Belianske ( Belianske Tatry ) - first kopy only the eastern part of the West Tatra on the mountain groups Červené Hills and Liptovské. In 1987, the National Park was then extended to the entire West Tatras. Inner and outside the national park have been put under stricter protection a number of particularly valuable areas:

  • Brestovská Cave,
  • Juráňova dolina,
  • Kotlov zľab,
  • Macie diery,
  • Medzi bormi,
  • Mních,
  • Osobita,
  • Roháčske PLESA,
  • Sivý vrch
  • Sucha dolina,
  • Ticha dolina,
  • Úplazíky.

In Poland since 1954, the National Park Tatra Park Narodowy (TPN ). Specially protected areas are here

  • Bobrowiec,
  • Koryciska,
  • Pisan, Tomanowa, Pyszna,
  • Pod Kominami,
  • Starorobociańska, Jarząbcza, Chochołowska Wyżnia,
  • Tereny ponad Gorna Granica lasu,
  • Wyżnia Mała Łąka, Wantule.

Significant elevations

  • Bystrá, 2248 m
  • Jakubina, 2194 m
  • Baranec, 2184 m
  • Banikov, 2178 m
  • Plačlivé, 2126 m
  • Ostry Roháč, 2088 m
  • Volovec, 2064 m
  • Kasprov vrch (Polish Kasprowy Peak ), 1985 m
  • Sivý vrch 1805 m
  • Osobita 1687 m

Some localities in the surroundings

  • Zakopane
  • Pribylina
  • Jakubovany
  • Liptovsky Ondrej
  • Žiar
  • Zuberec
Geomorphological division of Slovakia Regions of Poland Kasprowy Wierch
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