Tatra Mountains

Tatra Mountains

The Tatra Mountains, or simply the Tatras (Polish: Tatry ,

Tatry[[Category:Slovak language|]] [[Category:Language icon templates|]]

), are a mountain range that form a natural border between Slovakia and Poland. They are the highest mountain range in the Carpathian Mountains. The Tatras should be distinguished from the Low Tatras (Slovak: Nízke Tatry) which are located south of the Tatra Mountains in Slovakia.

Geography

The Tatra Mountains occupy an area of 785 square kilometres (303 sq mi), of which about 610 square kilometres (236 sq mi) (77.7%) lie within Slovakia and about 175 square kilometres (68 sq mi) (22.3%) on the territory of Poland. The highest peak, called Gerlach, at 2,655 m (8710 ft) is located north of Poprad. The highest point in Poland, Rysy, at 2,499 m (8200 ft) is located south of Zakopane.

Geology

The Tatras are a mountain range of a fault-block type, originating from the Alpine orogeny, and therefore characterized by a relatively young and high relief. They consist mainly of granite, gneiss, and limestone.

Flora and Fauna

The Tatra Mountains are home to a rich variety of flora and fauna. They are particularly known for the Tatra chamois, a type of goat-antelope, and the Tatra marmot, a large ground squirrel. The region is also home to a number of endemic plant species, including the Tatra scurvy-grass and the Tatra bellflower.

Tourism

The Tatra Mountains are a popular destination for hiking, skiing, mountaineering and wildlife watching. The two main resorts for these activities are Zakopane in Poland and Poprad in Slovakia.

See also

• High Tatras
• Western Tatras
• Zakopane
• Poprad

References

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