Veľká Fatra

Coordinates: 48°55′N 19°04′E / 48.917°N 19.067°E / 48.917; 19.067
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Veľká Fatra
Typical terrain of the Hôľna Fatra
Highest point
PeakOstredok
Elevation1,596 m (5,236 ft)
Coordinates48°53′57″N 19°04′54″E / 48.89917°N 19.08167°E / 48.89917; 19.08167
Dimensions
Length45 km (28 mi) NE-SW
Width20 km (12 mi) NW-SW
Geography
Veľká Fatra is located in Slovakia
Veľká Fatra
CountrySlovakia
RegionsŽilina and Banská Bystrica
DistrictsRužomberok, Turčianske Teplice and Banská Bystrica
SubdivisionsHôľna Fatra, Braľná Fatra, Šípska Fatra, Zvolen and Revúcke podolie
Range coordinates48°55′N 19°04′E / 48.917°N 19.067°E / 48.917; 19.067
Parent rangeFatra-Tatra Area
Borders onLesser Fatra, Turiec Basin, Žiar, Kremnica Mountains, Low Tatra and Chočské vrchy

Veľká Fatra (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈʋeʎkaː ˈfatra]; also Great Fatra or Greater Fatra; Hungarian: Nagy-Fátra) is a mountain range in the Western Carpathians in Slovakia.[1] The Veľká Fatra lie to the southeast of the better known Malá (Lesser) Fatra mountains and are less developed, as well as being lower.[2]

Geology

In the geomorphological system, it is a part of the

Lesser Fatra mountains are situated to the north west of the range and the Low Tatras
mountains are in the east. It can be divided into seven parts: Šípska Fatra, Šiprúň, Lysec, Hôľna Fatra, Revúcke podolie, Zvolen and Bralná Fatra.

The highest mountain is

Low Tatra Range. One of the largest ski resorts in Slovakia - Skipark Ružomberok and Donovaly
- lies beneath it. There are several other tourist and skiing resorts in the range.

A considerable part of the range is made of various

Harmanec Cave
is one of the best known caves in Slovakia.

Scenery

Nearly 90% of the area is covered by forests – beech and beech-fir forests, in some places replaced by spruce plantations and relics of pines. The area of Harmanec is the richest yew-tree site in Europe. The original natural upper borderline of forests was lowered during the Wallachian colonization. There are many extensive upland pastures, where cattle is raised in the summer.[3]

Most of the area was protected by the Veľká Fatra Protected Landscape Area since 1973, and the most valuable parts are included in the Veľká Fatra National Park since 2002. The rest of the former protected landscape area serves as a buffer zone now.

The ruins of Blatnický and Sklabinský castles are located in this area. Also, the traditional architecture of Vlkolínec (a UNESCO's World Heritage Site) and Liptovské Revúce and the Ľubochňa and Turčianske Teplice spas can be found here.

Viewpoints

  • Rakytov (1,567 m)
  • Krížna (1,574 m) - the best view of the southern mountains -
    Vtáčnik
  • Tlstá (1,208 m) - view of
    Turiec basin

Gallery

  • Ploská
    Ploská
  • Typical rocks of the Bralná Fatra
    Typical rocks of the Bralná Fatra
  • Gader Valley
  • Borišov
  • Ploská
  • Malinné ski resort
    Malinné ski resort
  • Panorama of Veľká Fatra
    Panorama of Veľká Fatra
  • Rakytov
    Rakytov
  • Čierny kameň
    Čierny kameň

See also

References

  • Brandos, Otakar (2004). Veľká Fatra, Šípska Fatra. Ostrava: SKY. .

References

  1. ^ Lonely Planet Czech & Slovak Republics Lisa Dunford, Brett Atkinson - 2010 Page 57 "Central Slovakia ranges include the Low Tatras, reaching about 2000m, and the Malá Fatra and Veľká Fatra."
  2. ^ Lonely Planet Czech & Slovak Republics Lisa Dunford, Brett Atkinson - 2010 Page 310 "To the southwest [sic] the Veľká (Greater) Fatra mountains are far less popular and developed."
  3. ^ Rough Guide to The Czech & Slovak Republics Rob Humphreys, Tim Nollen - 2003 - Page 489 "Hiking in the Velka Fatra : To the east of the Turiec valley lie the Velka Fatra, a line of craggy mountain tops surrounded by a sea of uninhabited, undulating forest. The ridge of brittle limestone peaks from Krizna (1574m) to Ploska (1532m), via the highest of the lot, Ostredok (1592m), is the most obvious area to aim for, but the thin craggy valleys leading up to the mountains are actually much more enthralling to walk along: the two most accessible and geologically exciting are the Gaderska dolina and the Blatnicka dolina."

External links