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The Tatras are the highest part of the Carpathian mountain range, and for centuries they were Poland's natural border in the south. Arriving in Poland by air, the granite peaks rear up out of the clouds, slashing the skies like the claws of some mythic beast.
Traditionally, the lands beyond here belonged to Hungary, but by the mid-seventeenth century, the Ottoman Empire - Poland's traditional foe - had crept all the way up to the Tatras. As the Sultan's Empire crumbled, the Hungarians moved back in, and they enjoyed warm relations with the Poles. Today, it is the goodly Slovakians who live beyond the mountains, and border skirmishes are not likely to interfere with your hiking trips.
The Tatra mountains cover some 785 square kilometres, three quarters of which lie in Slovakia. The highest Polish peak is Mount Rysy, which rises to 2499 metres above sea level. However, the most distinctive peak is Giewont, which is known affectionately as the 'Sleeping Knight'.
The Polish part of the Tatras was formally declared a national park in 1955. The lower and middle parts of the range are cloaked in forest. Beechs, which were traditional in this area, are now rarer, being superceded by larches, and above all spruces. These continue to grow beyond 1250 metres, along with stone pines, and it is in this area that wildlife is at its richest. Deer, wild boar, lynx, wolves and bears are to be found, as well as a great variety of birds and the Apollo butterfly.
Higher up, in the rockier areas, live the chamois and the alpine marmot and vole. The golden eagle is now very rare. However, as country dwellers know, it is quite likely that you won't see any mammals at all, as they are shy of humanfolk. In this case you may have to make to do with the slightly surreal stuffed collection in the Tatra Museum.
There are rare types of flowers on the starker rock faces, but the richest flowers can be seen in the meadows and down in the valleys, where yellow crocuses form carpets in Spring. It is in the valleys too, that you can discover the caves. These are a very popular aspect of the Tatras, and steeped in legend. Much like the English band of Robin Hood, the region was once inhabited by outlaws - the famed 'zbojnicki'. Seven caves are open to the public, six of which lie in the beautiful Koscieliska valley. Another popular feature of the range are the lakes, most famously the vast Morskie Oko, the 'Eye of the Sea.'
For skiers, the Kasprowy Wierch Peak is serviced by cable-car, and there are chairlifts in the Goryczlowa and Gasienicowa valleys. For hikers, there are 250 kilometres of trails in the park, ranging from leisurely strolls to hair-raising ascents for serious climbers. Entrance to the valleys is possible by bus, but from there you must continue on foot to the heart of the Tatras. Mountain bikes are permitted only on a few paths. Owing to the unpredictability of Mother Nature, there are basic safety precautions which are essential to bear in mind.
With the collapse of the Iron Curtain, border relations are now freer than ever. Thus for dedicated hikers, the opportunity to explore the region in depth is very much an option. Poles are the first to say how wonderful the Slovakian Tatras are, and it's well worth bearing this in mind if you want to get a full flavour of this wild region. | | | |
 | | "i love it. i have been there several times. i even made love at the top" | abucada
Albania
May.07.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Iève been there itès AWESOME!" | Monika
Canada
May.01.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Very stunning and breathtaking" | lenas
United States
Apr.30.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "dat looks fun to be on top of nd scary" | ashley
United States
Apr.28.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | " After seeing this picture of Mountains i feel that Nature is the only almighty God , A miracle ,,,,,,,,,, A friend who is always behind me and supporting me forever in this World........... " | Mr. Rajesh V. Bhosale , M & E Officer ,
India
Apr.09.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | " After seeing this picture of Mountains i feel that Nature is the only almighty God , A miracle ,,,,,,,,,, A friend who is always behind me and supporting me forever in this World........... " | Mr. Rajesh V. Bhosale , M & E Officer ,
India
Apr.09.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "killah " | wayne
United States
Apr.07.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "This is a really good page. The picture is brill" | jessica
United States
Mar.13.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "hi there its cool" | ravi kumar
United States
Mar.13.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "that is really pretty i would love to that" | T-baby
United States
Mar.11.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "buitiful picture!" | alex
United States
Mar.06.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "wow dat is real cool its very interestin" | idk
United States
Feb.26.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "WOW!!the mountains are amazing i love them . what moutains are thay ???" |
United Kingdom
Feb.04.2008
rates this page 5/5
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| | "Combined a Krakow city break and visit to Zakopane to see the ski jump world cup as its only a 2hr bus trip from krakow city centre.Have been hear in spring and winter fab place with great atmosphere anytime of year!!!!" | franticfox
United Kingdom
Jan.30.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "It's a really great place from what i've heard and i wish i could go there and have a little visit!!!!!!" | anon
United Kingdom
Jan.19.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "It's a really great place from what i've heard and i wish i could go and visit it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" | anon
United Kingdom
Jan.19.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "C'est super cool! " | Laura
United States
Jan.14.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "love love love love love love it!" | nicnac nicole! =)
Poland
Jan.02.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "it is so beautiful, even if me and my family cant come to a beautiful place like tahat .... all i can say, it's very beauiful..." | rizzabelle
Philippines
Dec.09.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "we have been looking at the pictures on the net and it looks great we have booked a week in feb but not sorted ski-ing out yet can anyboby help us out with this bit of our holiday" | sue
United Kingdom
Nov.17.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "We had a breathtaking experience in the Zakopane/Tatra region. Mountain walking, rafting, excellent food, good accommodation, being with friends... all the ingredients for a memorable visit! Must be a great place for skiing.... We'll come back for sure...." | Bert Geukens
Belgium
Oct.04.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "tary sa najlepsze... i ja najbardziej teskne za nimi bo z nich pochodze..:D but i think pretty soon as winter comes ill be bak there and hitting the kasprowy snowbarding style.." | Tomek W
United States
Oct.03.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "The Tatras just boast so much natural beauty. Zakopane is a beautiful town too. Yes it's a little touristy but wherever in the world is good to go, people will find it and it will become popular. Great mountain food - and vodka!" | Glen
United Kingdom
Sep.05.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "I don't really have any reviews to post here. I just wanted to say how beautiful, wonderful and awesome this picture is. It really shows the nature. =)
I'm a nature-lover and most of the time I find myself exploring various pictures of nature on the net and simply admire them. . Yes, this picture is superb =)" | Ellen Bicar
Philippines
Aug.26.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Just come back from Zakopane and it was great - climbed Rysy and it was the hardest thing I have ever done. We walked from the bus stop and then up and down the mountain - I would recommend staying at the hostel as starting point as otherwise its a very long day - but worth it for the views.
For Jubilee - Gubalowka is the hillside overlooking zakopane (access by cable car) The Goral talk is probably the local languauge which even native Poles have trouble with and the sleeping Goral may refer to the Giewont mountain which looks like someone on their back sleeping?
Great place can't wait to go again " | Derek
United Kingdom
Aug.17.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Goral talk is the type of polish lingo spoken in zakopane. Its not quite traditional polish as there is a different accent there! its pretty kool actually, and the gorale themselves are cool too - you cant miss them they really stand out and are often dressed in traditional clothing!" | Anna
Australia
Jun.26.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "cool... but what, if anyone can tell me, is "Goral" talk? Or the "Sleeping Goral?" I'm trying to de-cypher some vacation notes made by a relative who visited "Guba Lowka" and can't make heads or tails out of the comment." | Jubilee
United States
May.23.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "jan05 kids in love with place be back in month 4a week stay in lodge this time friends family 13 of us,so look out mad irish gang will be mighty crack cant wait.." | mick rogers (bonzo)
Ireland
Jan.17.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
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