Tatra Mountains

Todd Sain Sr.

2 days ago

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Tatra Mountains Facts

The simple term of Tatra Mountains serves as the most frequently used name for these amazing constructions of geological processes. It’s not the only title they hold, though. It also holds several other, shorter one’s. These include the Tatrasa or Tatra.
Those, however, merely represent the english language appellations for the marvels of Nature. In some of the other languages common to the region in which they sit, they hold others. Two tongues native to the area call it the similar name of Tatry.
Regardless of which of these epithets one chooses to employ, the formation remains an impressive structure. Together, they also constitute a subset of a more extensive range of peaks. Collectively, though, these qualify as the highest group in the range.
Fortunately, the magnificent Tatra Mountains now enjoy a special status. The set of mountains forms a natural border between the two countries in whose language it’s known as Tatry. Both nations now recognize the region as a special National Park.
This creates a unique situation, though. Each country created a Tatra National Park containing the portion of the range on their side. Due to this status, UNESCO officially recognized the two sites jointly as a single, transboundary biosphere reserve.

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Tatra Mountains Physical Description

The mesmerizing Tatra Mountains never fail to capture the attention of those fortunate enough to visit the site. The geological wonder does so for a variety of reasons, though. That’s true since they boast both remarkable beauty and impressive physical statistics.

Intriguingly, the breathtaking marvel extends in an almost straight line. That further stretches for approximately 35 mi (56.3 km). Its width naturally varies along its course, though. But, at its widest point the formation measures roughly 12 mi (19.3 km) across.

Overall, this majestic work of Nature contains a total area equaling about 303 sq mi (785 sq km). Of that, however, roughly 77.7% lies within the borders of one country. The remaining 22.3% therefore falls inside the national boundaries of the other nation sharing it.

The Tatra Mountains are renowned for the ruggedness of the terrain, and rightly so. Each peak juts strongly upward. Most possess a covering of snow at the top for much of the year. The majority also have numerous sharply created ridges, both lateral and forked.

A large percentage of individual sites in both nations also boast substantial measurements. The highest point in one, named Gerlachovský štít, has an altitude of 8,710 ft (2,655 m). Yet, the tallest site located in the other country, named Rysy, stands 8,200 ft (2,499 m) tall.

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Tatra Mountains Location, Formation, and Ecology

Nature and time created the stunning Tatra Mountains in a region of the earth’s surface already renowned for its abundance of geological wonders. That precise setting therefore comes as no surprise. It formed as part of what’s now the very beautiful continent of Europe.

More specifically, its creation placed it in the approximate central region of the landmass. There, these amazing structures straddle the borders of the countries of Poland and Slovakia. They themselves, however, form part of the larger Carpathian Mountains.

Interestingly, the origins of this site are a combination of both relatively recent and ancient. That’s because the underlying structure, an outcropping of granite formed during the Mesozoic Period. That places its beginings between 250 – 100 million years ago.

Above that, however, other layers subsequently formed later. Between about 65 – 1.8 million years in the past, igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks formed. The latter type, though, now form the basis of the surface, including limestone, dolomite, and sandstone.

Despite their generally rugged nature, however, the magical Tatra Mountains still possess a thriving ecosystem. Their placement puts them in the general temperate zone of the continent. This allows for moderate levels of precipitation throughout the entire year.

More than 3,000 species of plants, fungi, and lichens reside on the slopes. These vary with altitudes, though. Due to the abundance of flora, fauna also does well here. Those include numerous mammals, as well as a few reptile and amphibians, plus fish and insects.