Yes, these are not the Alps, nor the Pyrenees! The Tatra Mountains are located in the southern Poland, right on the current border with Slovakia and they are the only high mountains in the country. It is a polish treasure, though. Different culture, beautiful views and uniqueness on the area of Poland makes this place very special. I dare even say, that almost every Pole was there at least once.
I will not bore you with a history of the national park located at this place. All you need to know, that is it one of the oldest in Poland, established in 1955. The interesting part is nature. The views may seem similar to the alpine landscape, but the real mountain fan can see the difference between them. High density of the hiking trials will help to get to the most beautiful parts of the range. And find out the magic of this place. So let's hike around a bit!
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| Czarny Staw |
The Chochołowska Valley
The longest and the biggest valley in the polish Tatras and the place where in 1938 people tried to beat the record of the highest baloon flight in the world. Tried. But it is not the reason why you should came here. Arrive in early spring and you will not regret. View of the vast purple carpet of crocuses is breathtaking. The pictures cannot even express the real beauty of this place in that specific period. To prove this opinion it is worth to mention that it was the most favourite touristic spot of the pope John Paul II. And that is the reason why:
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| Source: plangenerator.pl |
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| Source: polskalokalna.pl |
The Valley of the Five Polish Ponds (Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich)
One of the most popular valleys in the Tatras, where the very first tourists appeared even in 19th century. As the name says during the hike you will find five small ponds - paradoxically one of the deepest lakes in Poland reaching even 79 m under the surface. Where did they come from? The reason is hidden in the past. Back in time the Tatra Mountains were glaciated - the lakes are the remainings of the glaciers, which modelled the area around - including mentioned valley.When the ice has melted, the ponds appeared. The biggest of them is Wielki Staw Polski. The valley has interesting flora as well - you may find here many endemic species, which cannot be found in any other place around the world.
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| Siklawa waterfall on the way to the Valley |
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| Wielki Staw |
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| Source: mojetatry.pl |
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| Source: myzakopane.pl |
Morskie Oko
The biggest and absolutely the most famous lake in the Tatras with one of the oldest shelters in the mountains nearby, built in 1908. How famous? In 1873 Walery Eljasz has written that "being in the Tatras and not to see Morskie Oko is like to be in Rome and not to see the pope". The place was even a subject of a dispute between Galicia and Hungary in 19th century. As a popular spot it must have its own legend - it is said that the lake has a connection to the Adriatic Sea. The proof of that meant to be the bottle "fished out" from the lake, which came from the sunken ship... The name of that pond might be confusing as well. In fact "Morskie Oko", which means "Sea's Eye" comes from german "meerauge". The Germans used to call like that every lake in the Tatras in the past and the real polish name is Biały Staw (White Pond) or Rybi Staw (Fish Pond). The second name has a simple explanation - it is a lake, where the fish are living in natural conditions - they were not "planted" here by the people. Nevertheless... Maybe some pictures of the place as an encouragement?
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| Source: fabianka.flog.pl |
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| Source: turystyka.wp.pl |
Rysy
The hightest peak in Poland - 2499 meters asl. When Dutch people, who live -70 meters below sea level, would die there due to lack of the air at this elevation, the Austrians would say that they have never been so low in their lives trying to understand, how something below 4000 meter can be consider as "high". Anyway in Poland it is equal to "the biggest" and it would be difficult to change, but polish poeple do not complain. This is an another specific spot with unique, endemic flora, where the hiking trial leads. Imagine, that above the elevation of 2483 you still may see 63 different species of flowering plants and many of them could be found only in the Tatras. The view from the peak is astonishing. During good weather conditions from the top you may see Cracow, which is about 100 km away!
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| Source: turnia.pl |
Giewont
There is no Poland, if there is no cross somewhere. Even in the mountains. The peak of Giewont is the symbol of Zakopane - the city located at the foot of the Tatras. The legend says, that it is a sleeping knight - and its appearance may really resemble a lying body. Giewont had many sibilings - one of them was Osobita, his sister. The brave knight's task was to keep the family safe, so when the king Mróz (Frost) wanted to get closer to her he kept him away. It made him angry, so with his mistress they planned a ruse. She [the mistress] tried to seduce Giewont. And when he replied for the flirt the king Mróz has frozen his feet and they made him fell on the back. And Giewont sleeps until today. Nevertheles it is famous pilgrimage point because of the mentioned 17-meter cross from 1901 on the top.
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| Source: wikimedia.org |
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| The sleeping knight. Source: wikimedia.org |
If you are interested in wintersports you will find a place for you as well. Kasprowy Wierch with a famous ski lift and the destination of the skiers of Poland. But let's be honest - you cannot compare that to the Alps or even to the Slovak part of the Tatras.- it is the only place where real alpine sking "occures" in Poland. So maybe you will give it a try? Anyway, it was just a brief presentation of that mountain range, but you should come here on your own and discover its beauty. I am sure that many of you even have not considered the existance of the views like that in this country. But well... there is still so much to describe!
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