Tatra National Park, Poland
Tatra National Park | |
---|---|
Tatrzański Park Narodowy | |
Location | Tatra Mountains, southern Poland |
Nearest city | Zakopane |
Coordinates | 49°10′N 19°55′E / 49.167°N 19.917°E |
Area | 211.64 km2 (81.71 mi2) |
Established | 1954 |
Governing body | Ministry of the Environment |
Official name | Glacial lakes in the Tatra National Park |
Designated | 11 December 2017 |
Reference no. | 2340[1] |
Official name | Peat bogs in the Tatra National Park |
Designated | 11 December 2017 |
Reference no. | 2341[2] |
Tatra National Park (
The Tatra Mountains form a natural border between Poland to the north and
Park history
The first calls for protection of the Tatras came at the end of the 19th century.[5] In 1925, the first efforts to create a national park, in cooperation with Czechoslovakia, took place. The park was formally created in 1937, on an area that belonged to the state forests authority. In 1947, a separate administrative unit, Tatra Park, was created.
In 1954, by decision of the Polish Government, Tatra National Park was created.
In 1992, the Polish and Slovakian national parks in the Tatras were jointly designated a transboundary
Geography
- Mountains
The National Park covers one of the two
- Caves
There are around 650 caves in the park, of which the
- Water
There are several streams, the longest stream reaching 20 kilometres (12 mi). Waterfalls, such as Mickiewicz Falls are popular with tourists. The highest waterfall is Siklawa Falls at 70 metres (230 ft) followed by Black Lake Falls 40 metres (130 ft) and Siklawica Falls 24 metres (79 ft).
The park has over 30 mountain lakes, called staw (Polish: pond). These water bodies are an important part of the High Tatra landscape. The largest lakes are: Morskie Oko with an area of 349,000 m2 and maximum depth of 50.8 metres (167 ft)); and Wielki Staw with an area of 344,000 m2 and maximum depth of 79.3 metres (260 ft)).
Biology and ecology
Flora
Up to 1,250 metres (4,100 ft) there are mainly silver fir (Abies alba) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica) forests. Higher levels, up to 1,550 metres (5,090 ft), are covered with European spruce (Picea abies) forests, which turn into meadows and grasslands at higher elevations up to 1,800 metres (5,900 ft). The highest elevations, above 1,800 metres (5,900 ft), have alpine flora habitats.
Other typical species include
Fauna
The National Park contains several
Culture
The Górale
The
Environment
The area of the Tatra mountains was exploited by human activities in the past. During summer, domestic animals such as goat, sheep, and cows pastured on the meadows, which contributed to soil erosion. In the 18th and 19th centuries, several mines and ironworks were built here, industries that used substantial harvests of local timber.
Current environmental threats include: the proximity of the fast-developing town of
The high number of tourists is the largest threat to the park's ecosystem currently. Also, the infrastructure, such as hotels and car parks, is not sufficient for the current volume of visitors.[citation needed]
Tourism
Tourism was first developed in the Tatras in the late 19th century, and continues in the 21st. It is the most visited
There are more than 270 kilometres (170 mi) of hiking trails in Tatra National Park.[3]
Gallery
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A field ofcrocuses in the Goryczkowa Valley, Western Tatras
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Mnichy Chochołowskie
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Hala Gąsienicowa
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Czarny Staw pod Rysami and Morskie Oko lakes
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Snow covered Tatras in May 2019
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Chochołowska Valley in winter
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Tatra Marmots
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European brown bear
See also
- Tatra National Park, Slovakia — biosphere reserve partner.
- Western Carpathians Ranges
- List of national parks of Poland
References
- ^ "Glacial lakes in the Tatra National Park". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ "Peat bogs in the Tatra National Park". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d e en.poland.gov: Tatra National Park . accessed 5.12.2013
- ^ "Biuletyny Informacji Publicznej". bip.malopolska.pl. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- ^ a b "Poznaj". Tatrzański Park Narodowy (in Polish). 2021-01-14. Archived from the original on 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- ^ "Europe & North America: 297 biosphere reserves in 36 countries". Ecological Sciences for Sustainable Development. Archived from the original on 2015-08-05. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
- ^ Kardaś, Rafał M. (2014). "Jaskinie Polski". Archived from the original on 2023-01-23.
- ^ National Geographic Magazine; "The Górale People"; c. 1980s issue; pp 105 - 130.
External links
- Official Tatra National Park website — (English)